In 2004, Viva Rio became a consultant to the United Nations Development Program’s Peacekeeping operation in Haiti. The United Nations has been present in Haiti since the 1991 coup. When the internal conflict re-escalated in February 2004 and turned towards street violence, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1542 establishing a new peacekeeping operation in Haiti. Under these conditions Viva Rio has established itself in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and has engaged local residents through various social programs. Between 2004 and 2010 Viva Rio has coordinated, with the help of the local population, various social projects. These projects include the following: the purification and distribution of potable water; providing basic sanitation by installing latrines and waste management systems; and the establishment of a sports campaign aimed at keeping kids from gang violence. The January 2010 earthquake temporarily halted such projects. As a result, Viva Rio focused its efforts on mobilizing disaster relief. Throughout Brazil, charity events, such as Benex Festival in Rio de Janeiro, which gathered 13 tons of nonperishable goods in 2 days, have provided Haitians with basic necessities.