Following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern Haiti on August 14, PADF quickly deployed a team of experts to the area, including engineers, GPS and drone specialists, community engagement professionals, and humanitarian aid personnel. To date, we have delivered life-saving supplies to over 2,600 families or 13,000 people, including food, sanitary items, tarps, flashlights, and clothing items. In response to the urgent need for clean drinking water, we have also delivered more than 1,200 cases of bottled water.
“The earthquake surprised me, and I had nothing to feed my children. This food kit arrived at the right time,” said Brunal Nienne, 36, who is raising her two children on her own. “My house was destroyed during the earthquake. I feel dizzy and have been sleeping under a tarp with my children and my father ever since. I hope to be able to rebuild my house and set up a small business to support my family.”
“These families have lost everything and have nowhere to go. The most vulnerable communities live in remote, hard-to-reach areas. Southwest Haiti is a very rural region and with the destruction of roads and key infrastructure, access remains a challenge. They feel overwhelmed and desperate. In the aftermath of the earthquake, there have been dangerous aftershocks, heavy rains, and landslides. We need to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to meet their immediate needs and bring some amount of safety and stability into their lives. But we cannot stop there, we must help them reclaim their lives and livelihoods,” said PADF Haiti Country Director Cédrelle Alexis Jean Louis.
Our team has identified specific needs and we ask for your generosity to help us provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Haiti.
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In addition to emergency assistance, our engineers and mapping experts continue to assess structural damage and work with local authorities to determine how to support these communities on their road to recovery. Ensuring that markets are functional, children can continue their education in spite of damaged schools, and people can restart their livelihoods are key priorities. For 35 years, PADF has worked as a trusted partner of the government and people of Haiti, addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and advancing rights and justice.
Following Hurricane Matthew in 2016, PADF worked extensively in southwestern Haiti in many of the same communities that have been hardest hit by the recent earthquake. These communities include Chardonnières, Les Anglais, Port-à Piment, and Tiburon. We repaired homes for those in temporary shelters, rebuilt damaged water and sanitation facilities, and operated a mobile health clinic. PADF worked hand-in-hand with local authorities, community organizations, and families to provide safe and reliable access to water, shelter, and health services.
PADF has responded to many of the most severe disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Hurricanes Eta and Iota in Central America (2020), Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas (2019), the Fuego Volcano eruption in Guatemala (2018), the earthquakes in Mexico (2017), Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean (2017), Hurricane Matthew in Haiti (2016), and the earthquake in Haiti (2010).
Haiti Country Director, Cédrelle Alexis Jean Louis, speaks with CBS on Haiti earthquake relief efforts:
