Short Supplies-Hitting Haiti Hard
It’s now almost a month since areas around Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince were devastated by a massive earthquake, yet conditions continue to deteriorate.
The current lack of food and water shows no signs of improving anytime soon. And even where food is available it’s in limited amounts and sold on the street- many families simply do not have the money to pay for it.
[3rd February 2010]
On ground reporter tells what’s really happening in Haiti.
The man moved to the front of the line outside Quisqueya Chapel, Convoy of Hope’s main distribution point in Port-au-Prince. He looked desperate and scared.
Clinging to his neck was his three-year-old daughter. When Paul Coroleuski, director of field services, saw the girl he told her father, “As soon as one of the beds in the clinic opens up we’ll get her in.”
A few minutes later the girl was on a table in the makeshift clinic, which was located in the shade of trees in the church’s courtyard. The girl’s breathing was labored and she was lethargic. After examining her one of the medical team members told her father to get her to a hospital immediately because her condition was beyond the range of services the clinic could address.
The man said a hospital had sent him and his daughter to the clinic, where Convoy of Hope was assisting a medical team from Mission of Hope, one of Convoy of Hope’s long-time partners in Haiti.
Slowly, the man scooped up his daughter and carried her away. One of the clinic doctors said that if the girl wasn’t taken to a hospital, that could meet her needs, she would be dead in a few hours.
The little girl’s story is one of the many cruel realities that play out each day in Haiti. People are suffering and even dying because they cannot get the help they need.
Convoy of Hope is committed to eliminating as much death and despair as it can in Haiti. With your help we’ve already distributed more than 350,000 meals and installed 30 water filters that will provide clean drinking water for countless people for many years to come.
“We are absolutely amazed and extremely grateful for those who have given to Convoy of Hope so that we can meet the many needs represented in Haiti,” says Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope. “Each day through our distribution points in Port-au-Prince we are able to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Donaldson notes that those who had already been giving to Convoy of Hope before the earthquake struck in Haiti played a part in helping Haitians immediately after the earthquake struck.
“Our warehouse in Haiti had just been restocked with food and supplies before the earthquake,” says Donaldson. “That allowed us to begin meeting needs in Haiti immediately… That warehouse was stocked with food and supplies in part because generous donors gave sacrificially.”
Convoy of Hope has 1 million pounds of food and supplies currently headed to Haiti.
“We’ll send more in the coming days and weeks,” says Donaldson. “We have made a long-term commitment to Haiti and we will be depending heavily on our friends to help us help Haiti.”
Multiple Shocks in Haiti last week have left one million rendered homeless. The 7.0 Magnitude earthquake last Tuesday has caused severe devastation to the already poverty stricken country. With declining conditions and rise in civil unrest within the city, camps have been set up to accommodate the growing number of refugees.
Masses are leaving Port-au-Prince, heading to refugee camps set up outside the city as resources grow thin and conditions deteriorate. Over 10,000 people are estimated to be fleeing the city and finding refuge elsewhere.
A total of 50,000 bodies are currently accounted for, but the Haitian government expects the numbers to rise between 100,000 and 200,000. Search and rescue personnel, numbering to 1,500 across the city continue their search for victims trapped under thick ruble with the help of over 100 cadaver dogs.
Haitians and aid teams are faced with complicated issues such as lack of fuel, dumped waste and even bodies laying uncovered.
“Major health concerns continue to grow as bodies accumulate in the streets and contaminate water sources” reported a field-worker with Convoy of Hope. “Lack of fuel is also a major concern within the city..as we do our best to work out logistical issues for our teams.”
Although, efforts have still been made as ACC World Relief’s project partner Convoy of Hope were already significantly prepared. “Our Convoy of Hope team is in six locations, 64,000 meals were distributed yesterday. Saturday, our team was able to distribute 100,000 meals in five different locations. In addition, we have given a weeks worth of food rations to 500 families.
Convoy of Hope is establishing an emergency command center just outside of Port-au-Prince where food, water and supplies will be distributed to victims of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on Tuesday.
“Our Haiti country director is on the ground and working closely with our partners to check on the children we feed and also to assist victims with immediate needs,” says Hal Donaldson, founder and president of Convoy of Hope. “We have a warehouse in Haiti and have food and supplies immediately available to those in need. We will send more shipping containers in the coming days.”
Initial reports indicate that many buildings, homes and walls toppled under the strain of the earthquake. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Many of its nearly 10 million residents live in abject poverty.
For several years Convoy of Hope has worked in Haiti and currently feeds 7,000 children there each day.
ACC World Relief has currently launched an appeal to help the estimated 3 million people who are in need of emergency aid, particularly water, food, shelter and medical assistance.
All funds raised will be passed onto our partner organization, Convoy of Hope, who are already working on the ground in Haiti. Convoy of Hope has been working in Haiti for several years and their fully stocked warehouse has enabled them to respond immediately by distributing food, water and supplies to victims of the earthquake.
ACC World Relief recently partnered with Convoy of Hope in the 2009 Samoa Tsunami relief efforts.
For further information and updates-
Its time now to get involved in the 5th Birthday Action run by Micah Challenge, as the 2010 Federal Elections draw nearer.
But last year, 8.8 million children still died before their 5th Birthday, most from easily preventable causes. For example, 22% of these children died from diarrhoea and 21% from pneumonia. So we want to make sure these issues stay on the minds of our leaders into 2010.
A 5th Birthday Party is a great way to engage your church, school or wider community, your local media, and your MP, to encourage our Government to do its fair share towards making sure that every child can survive to their 5th Birthday – and beyond. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made to reduce poverty, while also highlighting the urgent need to do more.
For more information on the Micah Challenge and how you could be involved click here.
ACC World Relief are calling for volunteer builders to help build houses for families who lost their homes in the September Tsunami.
The goal is to build all 400+ homes before the end of June 2010.
When: Places are available on teams which are departing from January 19th 2010 until June 1st.
How long: Each team will spend a duration of 2 weeks.
Cost: The cost is $1,000 plus airfare Australia-Auckland return.
The $1,000 cost is payable to ACC World Relief and covers: return airfare Auckland to Apia, Apia airport departure tax, all in-country transport including airport transfers and travel to building sites, food and water for 2-week stay, medical insurance with Chubb Medex, 3 x ACC World Relief T-shirts and basic accommodation (mattress and mosquito net).
Volunteers need to book their own return airfares Australia-Auckland or, if you like, ACC World Relief can do this for you.
If you want to join an existing team, register a new team or go by yourself, contact the office on 1300 997 502 or (03) 9837 2277 or email info@accinternationalrelief.org
ACC World Relief are calling for volunteer builders to help build houses for families who lost their homes in the September Tsunami.
We are partnering with Habitat for Humanity and AOG Samoa in the Samoa Government’s rebuilding program. The goal is to build all 400+ homes before the end of June 2010. Funds raised through ACC World Relief’s Samoa Tsunami Appeal
will contribute directly to the cost of building 33 houses including two Pastors homes. Building these houses is dependent upon skilled volunteer labour.
When: Places are available on teams which are departing from January 19th 2010 until June 1st.
How long: Each team will spend a duration of 2 weeks.
Cost: The cost is $1,000 plus airfare Australia-Auckland return.
The $1,000 cost is payable to ACC World Relief and covers: return airfare Auckland to Apia, Apia airport departure tax, all in-country transport including airport transfers and travel to building sites, food and water for 2-week stay, medical insurance with Chubb Medex, 3 x ACC World Relief T-shirts and basic accommodation (mattress and mosquito net).
Volunteers need to book their own return airfares Australia-Auckland or, if you like, ACC World Relief can do this for you.
If you want to join an existing team, register a new team or go by yourself, contact the office on 1300 997 502 or (03) 9837 2277 or email info@accinternationalrelief.org
ACC World Relief aims to raise a total of over $220,000 for emergency relief projects in Indonesia, Samoa and the Philippines. Needs Assessment Teams have recently returned reporting widespread devastation throughout all areas.
The Samoa team has returned with a clear plan of how ACC World Relief could best assist the people in affected areas. Teams handed out bottled water and storage tanks, but villages are still in need of mosquito-proof shelters to protect them from dengue fever and malaria. On November 1st, 40 tents will arrive in Samoa along with clothes and other household goods to give immediate shelter and protection to those affected.
The Indonesia Assessment team, led by Ps Michael Murphy from Shire church, South Sydney, toured Pariaman, an outlying suburb of Padang where 540 people were literally swallowed up after massive rains and the devastating earthquake. Only 30% of businesses have managed to re-open. Across the nation 100,000 homes were destroyed, 50,000 homes badly damaged, and 50,000 homes sustained minor damage. The team helped a radio base station get established in the area which serves as the primary means for government communications. They also distributed funds to families in most need.
The Philippines Needs Assessment team reported standing on rooftops which had been under 10 meters of water when the tropical storm hit only days before. They met with the two local mayors of Fairview district which was one of the worst hit areas in Manila.
‘Restart Packages’ are to be distributed to 200 families- between 1,000 to 2,000 individuals- in Indonesia and the Philippines. These parcels contain much needed items such as rice, cooking utensils, school uniforms and mattresses. Packages are estimated at about $500 each and will be providing families with not only the essentials they need to get through these devastating times but understanding, support and hope as many cope with the loss of their homes, livelihoods and loved ones.
A brothel in South East Asia was shut down last week after enough evidence was gathered to organise a raid rescuing 11 girls, who were victims of trafficking and enslavement.
The raid, which was held in the middle of the night, led to the arrest of two owners and an agent who were involved in the trafficking and exploitation of the girls, including that of a 15 year old.
Two of the girls held were sisters, tricked into believing they would gain legal employment, but instead were immediately forced into prostitution on arrival in the destination country.
All girls are now receiving medical attention and will be repatriated back to their home country where our project partners can follow them up.
ACC World Relief funds Houses of Hope in South East Asia, India, Sri Lanka and Africa where children and young women are at risk of trafficking, enslavement or abuse receive care, education and a chance to live full and free lives.
