Tackling environmental vulnerabilities 1/20/2010 After the earthquake, UN agency aims to strengthen a devastated Haiti´s weakest points.

The United Nations Environment Program said Jan. 20 that it will lead efforts to prevent further disasters in quake-ravaged Haiti by including environmental issues into disaster response plans.

The 7.0-earthquake that struck outside Haiti´s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Jan. 12 has left more than 75,000 confirmed dead, and tens of thousands homeless.

But more than a week after the earthquake hit, fears of water-bourne diseases and other potentially deadly health threats are rising, as the distribution of emergency aid proves slow and chaotic.

“Immediate priorities remain medical assistance, clean water and sanitation, emergency shelter, and food,” the UNEP said in a statement.

The World Health Organization said the extreme population displacement after the earthquake can pose a major risk for overcrowding, which may cause “certain communicable diseases that are spread from person to person through respiratory droplets such as measles, diphtheria and pertussis, and acute respiratory infections,” in addition to waterbourne diseases.

The UNEP said it will lead an effort and coordinate with the local government for environment-related post-disaster efforts.

“Initial assessments conducted by UNEP have not indicated acute environmental emergency situations, but major issues are anticipated in the early recovery phase. The most urgent issues include waste management, mass burials and disposal of demolition material,” it said.

Haiti has been hit hard by natural disasters, that have left more than 18,000 dead between 2001 and 2008.

UNEP said it will continue a long-term Haiti Regeneration Initiative program “aimed at reducing poverty and vulnerability to natural hazards through the restoration of ecosystems and sustainable natural resource management.” --Latinamerica Press.