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The
7.0 earthquake and strong aftershocks that struck
near Port-au-Prince yesterday have added yet another
dimension to the humanitarian crisis and poverty
conditions faced by over 80% of Haitians. According
to Reuters, the quake hit at a shallow depth of
6.2 miles, just ten miles from the capital city.
A hospital and several schools on the island are
reported to have collapsed, according to regional
news sources. The local authorities have declared
the country in a state of emergency. The number
of affected persons is unknown. However, Haiti’s
ambassador to the U.S. has called the quake a
“catastrophe of major proportions.”
Habitat's
Immediate and Long Term Response
Basic
needs such as health care, food, water and shelter
are the most urgent following an event like an
earthquake, to try to mitigate harmful after-effects
such as spread of disease and insecurity. Habitat
for Humanity’s goal is to help low-income
families in need of decent housing because of
this disaster with an emergency humanitarian response
of shelter kits, clean-up and rehabilitation.
Habitat for Humanity International, our parent
organization, has been working in Haiti for 26
years and has over 2000 partner families in that
country. It will will use its local expertise
and mobilize resources as part of the long-term
recovery building efforts. Those efforts will
be similar to those it deployed during the Tsunami
recovery in Southeast Asia where Habitat built
or rebuilt over 22,500 homes.
How
YOU Can Help
Habitat
for Humanity of Greater Lowell is accepting donations
for the rebuilding effort in Haiti. 100% of your
donation will go toward these efforts. Please
be sure to write "HAITI" in the memo
line on your check or choose "HAITI"
in the drop-down on our donations
page. Checks may be sent to:
Rebuilding
Haiti
Habitat for Humanity of GreaterLowell
66 Tadmuck Road, Suite 5
Westford, MA 01886 |
