With early weather forecasts predicting a much busier hurricane season than last year, which lasts from June 1 to November 30, humanitarian organizations are packing up and mobilizing a new wave of aid to save the Haitian population from a new tragedy.
Mat Morgan, Communications officer of the American Red Cross, is one of those involved in disaster preventing operations in and around the capital Port-au-Prince.
Many Haitians are still living in tents or under tarps. Morgan explained that within four months of the earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12 the Red Cross and other relief groups distributed tarps and tents to provide emergency shelter to most of the estimated 1.5 million people left homeless. However, challenges with land allocation mean it will be months before most of them will be able to move to more solid shelters in less crowded spaces.
“As a result, and given meteorologists’ forecasts for one of the most active hurricane seasons in years, urgent preparations are underway to prevent another disaster affecting the Haitian people left most vulnerable by the earthquake. Flash flooding and landslides are particular concerns in camps built on steep hillsides affected by deforestation,” Morgan said.
As one of the world’s most prominent aid organizations, the Red Cross is currently conducting two key training programs with Haitians living in camps. One focuses on community-based health and first aid, while the second covers disaster response. Red Cross volunteers are currently directing camp residents to secure embankments, dig drainage ditches, and mark emergency evacuation routes from the camps; as well as how to use early warning systems including flags, bullhorns, and whistles.
Mat Morgan, Communications officer of the American Red Cross, is one of those involved in disaster preventing operations in and around the capital Port-au-Prince.
Many Haitians are still living in tents or under tarps. Morgan explained that within four months of the earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12 the Red Cross and other relief groups distributed tarps and tents to provide emergency shelter to most of the estimated 1.5 million people left homeless. However, challenges with land allocation mean it will be months before most of them will be able to move to more solid shelters in less crowded spaces.
“As a result, and given meteorologists’ forecasts for one of the most active hurricane seasons in years, urgent preparations are underway to prevent another disaster affecting the Haitian people left most vulnerable by the earthquake. Flash flooding and landslides are particular concerns in camps built on steep hillsides affected by deforestation,” Morgan said.
As one of the world’s most prominent aid organizations, the Red Cross is currently conducting two key training programs with Haitians living in camps. One focuses on community-based health and first aid, while the second covers disaster response. Red Cross volunteers are currently directing camp residents to secure embankments, dig drainage ditches, and mark emergency evacuation routes from the camps; as well as how to use early warning systems including flags, bullhorns, and whistles.
The programs were initially launched in nine camps in and around Port-au-Prince, which have the most vulnerable populations. Many of them are clustered in the areas of Bourdan Valley and Croix de Prez. The programs will be expanded to 25 camps by the end of June, and eventually reach 100 camps.
Red Cross is also prepositioning disaster-relief stocks in 10 cities and towns across Haiti, with additional stock being readied at the Red Cross’s regional disaster-response headquarters in Panama. These supplies are meant to be close at hand should a hurricane or other disaster strike. Supplies are being readied for 25,000 families, with a focus on Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien, Saint Marc and Hinche. The disaster-management operations center is located in Hinche, a city in central Haiti that is considered safer than other places.
Responders send teams to evaluate any areas without aid to see what is needed. However, available supplies are limited by funds, and fundraising has been decreasing since the time of the earthquake which struck Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010.
According to Morgan, the American Red Cross raised $450 million for relief and recover efforts in Haiti since January. He said $32 million was given through mobile texting, and 91 percent came within two weeks of the earthquake.
Through the funds, 450,000 people were given tarps, tents, and toolkits; relief items were given to 500,000 people; 120 million liters of clean water were distributed; and other services have been provided.
Despite the help, many people in Haiti are still in need of aid. “At the government’s request, food-aid distributions have stopped, so food is an ongoing issue for many people. The Red Cross continues to supply clean water—in many cases reaching Haitians who have never had clean water before,” Morgan said.
Red Cross is also prepositioning disaster-relief stocks in 10 cities and towns across Haiti, with additional stock being readied at the Red Cross’s regional disaster-response headquarters in Panama. These supplies are meant to be close at hand should a hurricane or other disaster strike. Supplies are being readied for 25,000 families, with a focus on Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien, Saint Marc and Hinche. The disaster-management operations center is located in Hinche, a city in central Haiti that is considered safer than other places.
Responders send teams to evaluate any areas without aid to see what is needed. However, available supplies are limited by funds, and fundraising has been decreasing since the time of the earthquake which struck Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010.
According to Morgan, the American Red Cross raised $450 million for relief and recover efforts in Haiti since January. He said $32 million was given through mobile texting, and 91 percent came within two weeks of the earthquake.
Through the funds, 450,000 people were given tarps, tents, and toolkits; relief items were given to 500,000 people; 120 million liters of clean water were distributed; and other services have been provided.
Despite the help, many people in Haiti are still in need of aid. “At the government’s request, food-aid distributions have stopped, so food is an ongoing issue for many people. The Red Cross continues to supply clean water—in many cases reaching Haitians who have never had clean water before,” Morgan said.
Rebuilding Communities
World Concern, a nonprofit humanitarian organization, has provided aid to more than 100,000 people since the Haiti earthquake, and has been committed to rebuilding the lives of families in Delmas, a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince. Among the work being done is assisting families with rubble removal, home repairs, new home construction, grants to restart businesses, and giving support to vulnerable people—particularly those affected by HIV and AIDS.
Derek Sciba, Marketing and Communications manager at World Concern said his organization is aware that the hurricane season has begun, but said he anticipates the situation will not become too bad until August. “We’re working as quickly as we can to repair and rebuild homes,” he said.
The organization is working to get homes prepared for the hurricanes. So far, World Concern has repaired more than 300 homes of their 1,000 goal, with additional plans to build an additional 1,000. Sciba said the organization is working with churches and neighborhood groups to find where help is most needed.
“We have responded to many disasters before, but in Haiti, they usually came in the way of hurricanes,” he said. “Still, this gave us a baseline of expertise to respond, as well as allowing us a stockpile of food and other goods that we could distribute quickly.”
World Concern is making efforts to reach areas outside those that are receiving the most help. One area in particular, Fort National, was hit hard. Sciba said that stabilizing the area will allow families camped around the capital building to return home.
“We want families to be in healthy communities, not in camps. In communities, people can move on with their livelihoods, gain stabilization for their children—and move on from the disaster,” he said.
Another issue faced in Haiti is that following the earthquake, an exodus of people from Port-au-Prince arrived in rural communities. Families have sought refuge with friends and family in rural areas, who have strained to provide them with enough food.
“We are working with these rural agricultural families to be equipped to plant more seed and have better yield through better farming practices,” Sciba said.
Similar to the Red Cross, World Concern received plenty of donations soon after the earthquake, but saw a drop not long after. “Now that other stories are in the news, like the Gulf oil spill, Haiti has all but disappeared from the news cycle—and our donations have slowed way down,” Sciba said, who added they are working to spend their funds wisely.
According to Sciba, they are not just spending money as quickly as possible, but rather focusing on projects that will have long-term effects. He said, “It is our goal to help families rebuild their lives—and that is not by constantly delivering emergency supplies of rice and beans.”
Another issue faced in Haiti is that following the earthquake, an exodus of people from Port-au-Prince arrived in rural communities. Families have sought refuge with friends and family in rural areas, who have strained to provide them with enough food.
“We are working with these rural agricultural families to be equipped to plant more seed and have better yield through better farming practices,” Sciba said.
Similar to the Red Cross, World Concern received plenty of donations soon after the earthquake, but saw a drop not long after. “Now that other stories are in the news, like the Gulf oil spill, Haiti has all but disappeared from the news cycle—and our donations have slowed way down,” Sciba said, who added they are working to spend their funds wisely.
According to Sciba, they are not just spending money as quickly as possible, but rather focusing on projects that will have long-term effects. He said, “It is our goal to help families rebuild their lives—and that is not by constantly delivering emergency supplies of rice and beans.”
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