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.
Across the provinces men and women, young and old, of all ways of life and religion are coming together to reach out to the suffering in Haiti and provide what they can to the rehabilitation of an injured Haiti.
From coast to coast, Canadians are coming together to show their support for the Haitian people:
In Fort McMurray, Alberta, St. Anne School has raised more than $6,000 in the past week through their “Walking to Haiti” initiative where students and staff alike spend their school breaks walking laps around school grounds in exchange for community pledges and donations towards the Haiti cause. The final goal is to complete an accumulated 5328.24 kilometers, the equivalent distance from Fort McMurray to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
This same drive is shared by O’Gorman Intermediate Catholic School in Timmins, Ontario, where an Olympic connection is raising awareness and funds. Travelling to local elementary schools, Principal Weltz is offering students a chance to hold and take a picture with an Olympic torch for just $3 going to Development and Peace in Haiti, with a final fundraising goal of $4,000.
Over in Alberta, the Haiti Association of Calgary organized a benefit concert series featuring singer-songwriter Lindsay Ell and Haitian musician Georges Gabriel amongst others. During the performance at St. Cecilia’s Church on January 28th, 2010, many large donations were made through Development and Peace for the Haiti emergency.
Janis Power, an Ontario teacher led the cause at her school, Woodslee’s St. John the Evangelist elementary school, organizing student-produced bead bracelets throughout the school. At a minimum donation of $2 each, she found the community ordering 200 bracelets.
Finally, one of the most powerful stories of selfless individuals reaching out to Haiti, is that of Sister Marguerite Laliberté’s initiative in Old Montreal’s Acceuil Bonneau homeless shelter. So far, the Grey Nuns have raised about $500 for the Haitian emergency, most of which was donated by those coming in for a hot meal. Laliberté tells of one man who collected tin cans every night for a week, then donated the full $150 proceeds to those suffering in Haiti.
I want to share with you all the great news about Haiti fundraisers. We have 4 million raised and the cheques keep arriving. School boards across Canada have been doing amazing work. Everyday I hear of a new initiative for Haiti that makes me feel proud to be working with youth in Canada.
News of your fundraising ideas have been coming in by email, by newspapers, and through websites. Among other super school communities in Canada (hi Red Deer!), the Ottawa Catholic School Board got organized and had fundraisers in almost ALL their high school and elementary schools.
Their fundraising ideas were super smart and engaging. Here’s some highlights of great activities:
St. John the Apostle School
Students and staff held a HOPE for HAITI focus week, launched by a special prayer service. Members of School Council invited students to do some special chores around their homes or to give up their electronic gadgets for the week to collect donations from their parents/relatives/friends.
Holy Cross School
Students have been collecting ”Toonies for Haiti” every Thursday, and each donation allows the students to display their names on a paper toonie on a wall of dedication. Students have raised over $500 so far.
Pope John XXIII School
Students and staff raised over $1,150 in just one day, by making voluntary contributions in exchange for being allowed to chew gum all day long! Proceeds are being directed to Development and Peace.
Thomas D’Arcy McGee Catholic School
Students and staff wore Haiti’s official national colours – red and blue – and raised over $690 for Development and Peace.
St. Jerome School
Students held a Hope for Haiti liturgy, welcoming the entire school community, including parents and friends. Grade 6 students selflessly donated part of the funds they has already raised for a Montreal trip to Development and Peace as part of their “Walk for Justice.” The school has raised over $2,300 so far!
St. Francis Xavier High School
Students began collecting funds as soon as they could, and have raised over $4,000 so far for Development and Peace.
Send us news about your Haiti fundraising and we will be happy to share them here on our blog!
OUR STRENGTH: SUSTAINABLE AND PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT
If you made a donation to Development and Peace during our Haiti emergency campaign, we thank you for your solidarity. We would like to offer you the chance to do even more through our 2010 Share Lent campaign.
Ten percent of our annual Share Lent fundraising campaign is set aside for emergency relief. This means Development and Peace is able to provide immediate assistance when disaster strikes, as it did in Haiti on January 12, 2010.
The needs of the poorest throughout the Global South are plentiful, yet some stories will never appear on the front pages of our newspapers. ShareLent donation allows you to help those in the shadows participate fully in their own development.
The impact of your Share Lent donation will be multiplied through the long-term and participatory development practiced by our partners. This is the best protection people in the Global South can have against natural disasters!
On January 13 Development and Peace launched an emergency appeal to support humanitarian aid relief in Haiti.
To date $1 250 000 has been raised. $1 250 000 has been raised by people like you. We want to know how you did it. Tell us about your Haiti fundraising – what have you been able to accomplish with your school, your parish, you and your friends!
With the overwhelming generosity of Canadians, Caritas Haiti has taken truck loads of aid to the earthquake-hit town of Léogâne, 30km outside of Port-au-Prince. The convoy contained tents, plastic sheeting, blankets, water purification tablets and water containers. It will help 5,000 people. Another 5,000 thousand people also received food kits in a separate Caritas distribution in the town.
Send us your news – we at Development and Peace have been so moved and inspired by your commitment and solidarity. We would love to post your story – send us your experiences in gathering donations for Haiti to ggallant@devp.org.
We invite you to read up on the work of Caritas Haiti and Development and Peace partners through out main website. We also have regularly updated news from our 2 Montreal staff people on the ground. Read more…
See first-hand how survivors are getting the help they need:
