Six months on from the 12 January earthquake in Haiti, tangible signs of recovery are beginning to emerge. Supported by agencies such as the Haitian Red Cross Society, many communities now have access to clean water, basic sanitation, healthcare and shelter.

Led by the Haitian Red Cross, the IFRC and numerous National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have provided 40 per cent of all basic humanitarian assistance supplied since the earthquake.

But these needs are immense and will remain for many months to come. Recovery from this crisis will take between seven and ten years. The IFRC, in support of the Haitian Red Cross, will be in Haiti for the long term.

Finally, there is always the possibility of a secondary emergency as Haiti faces an active hurricane season in 2010. The Red Cross Red Crescent has emergency response teams on standby, emergency supplies have been stockpiled, and, most importantly, communities are being supported to identify and address their vulnerabilities in the event of storms or floods.