Earthquake Relief
Even as there is still a need for acute attention (and there will be a need for a long time), the tragedy unfolding at the epicenter in Port-au-Prince is being attended to by the appropriate agencies and people. Meanwhile, Haitians are fleeing from Port-au-Prince to the north of the country, where countless communities are willing to receive them but themselves are already marginalized, lacking basic necessities. Now, they are called to absorb hundreds of quake casualties and refugees. In the past days, dozens of seriously wounded people have arrived in Borgne; and we are preparing to receive hundreds more in the ensuing days. This community is unable to absorb this influx without immediate additional outside support. H.O.P.E. is the only organization capable to efficiently respond. We have the community experience and support to make a real difference in the relief effort beyond the epicenter.
Our response has been prompt and efficient. Working with our medical staff in Borgne, we have mobilized a complete supply and distribution network from Rochester, Washington D.C. and California into Borgne. We have arranged the first two air shipments and will follow with multiple air/sea shipments. Through private donations we have already raised over $100,000 in cash, plus in-kind supplies/equipment. Our budget for this initial stage of relief is estimated at $250,000 – $300,000. This will carry us through the next three months. We are assessing the relief response from larger, better-funded aid agencies before preparing the longer term outlook/budget. We expect to continue to provide a highly efficient response that reaches areas and needs not fully addressed by these external organizations.
We are in Haiti for the long term and will be there for the capacity-building beyond the disaster as well. However, our immediate response is on two fronts:
Earthquake Casualties – In partnership with MSPP (Haiti’s Minister of Health in the North) we are implementing a three tier response. Urgent hospital care is directed to Cap Haitien’s more fully equipped hospitals. These urgently need medical supplies as well as medical professionals. Our center is designated as a community hospital, well positioned to reduce the load on the urban centers. By taking the less seriously injured and the post-op care patients into our system we optimize the capabilities of both. This model will also be used in other community hospitals in the North. The pre-earthquake supply chain is destroyed; and we have implemented a new one on the fly. Air shipments are underway. H.O.P.E. has small cargo loads into Cap on Monday followed by regular flights thereafter. All supplies will be shared across the entire health network in conjunction with our partners on the ground.
Refugees and Community Support – As the entire country’s systems are in disarray, inflation is spiraling upward as supplies of food and all critical commodities diminish. This will soon become a primary contributor to an escalating health crisis. The rural areas of Haiti are based on subsistence agriculture. They are in winter, which is the least productive crop cycle. All of this adds up to a collapse of the economic system. The direct consequence is that the already fragile economy that feeds rural Haiti has broken down. We work at all levels to alleviate food shortages, supply medications for chronic care (in addition to the emergency response) and provide other essential commodities. By being close to the ground, we can develop the most efficient and effective responses – and work through the peasant and other local leaders to continuously track the situation.
Our immediate focus is on food for the refugees and care for patients, both earthquake casualties and chronic care. Please refer to our website (www.hopehaiti.org) for additional perspective on H.O.P.E. As you’ll learn, we are a small, agile, and very dedicated group of professionals and volunteers. We concentrate all of our effort and resources ‘on the ground’ in Haiti, where we have done amazing work. All donations received in this effort are fully accountable and will go 100% to the communities in northern Haiti who desperately need them. We are completely non-parochial and share all resources with our partners in the region as needed to efficiently serve the communities.
Thank you for your support of Haiti’s relief efforts, and for consideration of our needs in this crisis.
Deseo colaborar para involucrarme con la Comunidad de Haití.
Por favor, indicarme qué tengo Posibilidades de hacerlo con ustedes.
Lo que ofrezco es mi personalidad y mi tiempo.
Gracias, Dios los bendiga
i pray for the victims of the horrible tradgety
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