Haiti – After the Earthquake
On the Ground Today
More than two months after the quake, the Haitian government is estimating the number of deaths at 222,517 and the number of injured at 310,928.
On February 28, more than 654,215 people were displaced from Port-au-Prince to other departments in search of safety, shelter or income prospects. It is now estimated that 1,301,491 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living in makeshift or more organized camps in the areas affected by the disaster.
After two months, more than 4.3 million people have received food aid and 1.2 million have received daily rations of drinking water. More than 300,000 people, children and adults, have been vaccinated. About 56% of the 1.3 million people needing shelter assistance have had access to emergency shelter materials.
The main challenges currently being faced are supplying all temporary sites with clean water, installing sanitary facilities at the sites and providing transitional housing for displaced populations so they can face the rainy season in safety and prevent the outbreak of epidemics.
For the displaced populations, the rains, alongside stagnant pools of water and pools of waste water, represent a significant health risk and an increase in respiratory infections.
A recent needs assessment in emergency food security estimates that more than 50% of the population requires food aid in the earthquake-affected areas (70% in the camps for displaced persons). Seeds are currently being distributed to farmers and communities and this distribution will continue until the end of April.
Development and Peace Emergency Relief
Development and Peace, as well as its entire network in Canada, mobilized quickly and extensively in response to the earthquake in Haiti. The organization has raised over $19 million to date.
The campaign was launched on the morning of January 13 and media response was very positive. The campaign for Haiti was supported by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as by many dioceses all across Canada. Collections were organized quickly in the churches and the dioceses’ various Websites invited the public to make online donations to Development and Peace.
As of March 23, 67% of the funds raised ($12,889,185.27) were from the dioceses; close to a million dollars ($925,839) was collected in schools (330 schools participated) and the religious communities contributed $635,145;
More than $2 million came from individual donations (from the general public); the Haiti emergency has caused more than 8,000 new donors to put their trust in Development and Peace.
Development and Peace in Haiti
to be continued…
Have a blessed Holy Week and Happy Easter!
