Disaster Relief News

Please stay tuned to this page for updates about the disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

August 13, 2010 - $5,000 was allocated to repair St. Therese School in Thomazeau.

Other uses of the relief money are being studied and prioritized.  This is about $155,000.

These projects are made possible through your generosity.  On behalf of the people of Haiti, we offer thanks and gratitude.

April 12, 2010 - $12,000 was allocated to 6 schools in Thomazeau, Joineau, Grand Boulage, Noyau, Montalais and Marin. The money was allocated according to size of schools.  The money was intended to help with the increased cost of food, the need for tents and any possible minor repairs needed to facilitate the schools to normal status.

March 6, 2010 - Our first surgical team of 21 doctors, nurses, and support staff are doing four days of surgery at Double Harvest in Croix des Bouquets.  This is a   modern hospital in Haiti.  It is run by the Southwest Baptist Church.  The hope is that FoH will be able to go regularly and perform surgeries for the people seen at our clinics twice a year. 

A major relocation/construction project has been funded with $6,000 for the resettlement of Perrier.  It was a small community of 120 families on the side of a hill near Marin.  With no trees and vegetation, the terrain is vulnerable to mudslides and erosion in heavy rains.  The earthquake destroyed all the homes.  It is critical to relocate these families to a safe location where they will have access to education for their children, an opportunity to farm and raise goats and rabbits or do other work.  This will be a construction rather than repair project.  Funds will also be used for food and water and temporary shelter.  We are not aware of other help being provided to Perrier, but are hopeful for cement from Veterinarian Myriam Pasternak's cement fundrising in California.

March 4, 2010 - The first surgical mission has arrived in Haiti.  You can follow them on their blog:  www.friendsofhaiti.tumblr.com

As the dust settles a bit in Haiti, FoH is able to discern where best our donations can do the most good.

In February, $14,000 was sent to Benito Jasmine, a long time co-worker, who is also USAID Farmer to Farmer Country Coordinator.

$10,000- to help establish a tent city near Cap Haitian - away from the stench and death in Port au Prince.  It was used for gas for 27 buses to transport people from PAP, buy medications for two hospitals and help with food for over 200 patients.  Originally, they were feeding thousands; but turned that task over to other agencies.

$4,000 to help care for patients.  For transport back to the hospital for added care; and also to hire a nurse to care for them in the camps.

On February 10, the FoH board unanimously approved sending $10,000 to a hospital on the Dominican Republic border in Jimani.  It is being run by the all volunteer International Medical Alliance.  Carol Ehlinger Ritter, MD and Tom Ritter, DDS, worked with IMA many times in Katrina aftermath and again in Jimani after the earthquake  They are valued friends who also go on FoH medical missions.  When Tom apprised us of the need for food and supplies for recovering patients, it made sense to us to help sustain these patients to survive so they can help Haiti rebuild.  There is no sense in doing heroic surgery if you cannot sustain the patients afterward.

$5,000 will be sent to Matthew 25, guest house where our travelers always stay in PAP on their way to and from the mission sites.  From day one of the disaster, this has been transformed into a triage and rescue center and goes on caring for hundreds daily.  The house is damaged and everyone must sleep outside, although the kitchen and bathrooms can be used.  Food and medicine are used up rapidly.  Again, we chose to support those who make it possible for ours, and other teams, to come and go to the mission sites in outlying areas, where aid does not always reach.

$15,000 in relief funds have been added to the budget for medical supplies.  There will be a great need for antibiotics.  Measles, typhoid, many diseases are becoming rampant and the serious injuries will need much more than our ordinary supplies.