Ministries

Two months on: Caritas Assistance reaches 600,000 in Haiti

Two months after the deadly earthquake devastated more than 3 million lives in Haiti, Caritas Australia and our partners on the ground are planning for the nation’s future.

In the second month of the crisis Caritas, with strong support from Caritas Dominican Republic, has assisted another 350,000 people with clean food and water in Haiti. Caritas partners have treated over 16, 700 patients, completed vaccinations in 4 health facilities, and provided shelter assistance and kits to more than 43,000 people displaced by the disaster to date.

Caritas CEO, Jack de Groot says, “We’ve seen a remarkable emergency response effort coordinated by Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Haiti and Caritas Dominican Republic over the past two months, and the immediate relief effort continues daily.”

“Caritas Australia is now working with our partners in planning the longer-term reconstruction of the devastated nation. From our experience in emergency response we know there is at least three years of work ahead. ”

In preparation for the hurricane season in June, Caritas teams have assessed at-risk camps in the capital, with four camps identified for relocation or increased assistance before the onset of heavy rain and flooding.

“Planning has begun for the construction of rain and surface water drainage to be supported by Cash for Work programs which will empower individuals to start rebuilding their lives,” said Mr de Groot.

Efforts to ensure public safety, for children and women in particular, have also been ramped up in temporary camps as reports of sexual violence and kidnapping continue to filter through international media.

“As we start looking for long-term solutions to the ongoing humanitarian crisis, Caritas partners are urging the aid community build upon the existing 70 child-friendly spaces for more than 35,000 displaced children, coordinate tracing and reunification, and to provide support to orphanages in and around the capital,” said Mr de Groot.

This week, Haitian President René Préval called on the international community to reinvigorate the nation’s economy by reducing food aid and instead increasing support for the reestablishment of local food production; this week Caritas plans to distribute a final supply of food aid to 12,000 families.

“In a nation racked with unemployment, low literacy levels, and poverty, efforts to revive Port-au-Prince and affected communities in Haiti need to focus rebuilding permanent housing, establishing strong cash-for-work projects, rehabilitating the environment and reopening schools across the country.

“Caritas Australia is committed to long-term development that empowers communities to overcome entrenched poverty. Our Caritas partners in Haiti are now looking to implement a 3-5 year reconstruction programme focused on housing, education, and livelihoods, and we are eager to be a part of that process.”

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