Haiti | Ain't Complicated

World Cheers CAM

World Magazine, that is.

The need for sturdier buildings in Haiti is the next challenge for rebuilding after the quake. As the hurricane season approaches, hundreds of thousands of displaced earthquake survivors will need to find shelter.

One organization has this long-term goal in mind, even as it currently provides for the immediate needs of the earthquake survivors. Christian Aid Ministries (CAM), an Anabaptist organization based in Ohio, has been making sure that survivors get the food, water, temporary shelter, and medical attention they need while also looking ahead to see how it can help the country rebuild and ensure that the destruction of Jan. 12 does not happen again.

[…]

When it does come time to begin building, CAM will supervise and provide materials while the local communities build their own houses. The organization stresses the importance of getting the local people actively engaged in the construction process because it gives the community pride of ownership of the project and creates jobs to many of the unemployed.

There will also be a micro-loan system in place to help earthquake survivors start their own small businesses. Many of the local people have lost their jobs as the factories have been damaged by the quake. With a low interest loan and classes on starting small business, Haitians have a chance to make a living. From there, the organization plans on rebuilding clinics, schools, and churches.

Source: Building blocks

You can help Christian Aid Ministries help Haiti!

Don’t Forget Haiti!

Here is the January 12 updated from Christian Aid Ministries:

This week, CAM sent three air-shipments and two 40′ sea-containers to Haiti. They contained 3,705 tarps, ropes, 652 hygiene kits, 224 comforters, 1,797 blankets, 104 pairs of crutches, 49 pallets of medicines and supplies, 32,000 pounds of rice, 3,780 pounds of beans, 1,200 cans of chicken. We also sent beans, canned chicken, and other items for our regular Haiti school program. Our regular programs must go on, in spite of the tremendous amount of earthquake needs.

Lisa Miller, staff member in Haiti, writes, We are still feeling tremors here occasionally. Tuesday evening we felt one; it lasted just long enough to make me wonder if the tremors are ever going to stop.

An unexpected blessing arrived yesterday. Another aid organization shipped down a pallet of baby formula with no way to distribute it. They contacted us, and we now have a pallet of baby formula to distribute to our clinics – a much needed item.

The need for cash donations to help the hurting in Haiti is urgent.

Please visit my Haiti page for more information and for donation options.

Haiti: Five Gallon Challenge

Makeshift schools popping up in Haiti

Makeshift schools are popping up all over the ruins of Port-au-Prince. Along with the government infrastructure, it will take a long time to rebuild Haiti’s education structure.

[…]

Steve Geurink with Worldwide Christian Schools says they’re partnering with CRECHE, a network of Christian groups with 231 schools in Haiti. “Over 200 schools were either damaged or destroyed in this earthquake, resulting in about 60,000 children not able to go to school and 1500-2000 teachers not able to teach.”

[…]

Getting schools up and running is critical for recovery on many levels. Geurink says, “Christian schools can best answer the questions for those children, so I think it not only is necessary to get children back into schools for a normal lifestyle for them, but it is the best method for the children even to be able to cope.”

The “Five Gallon Challenge” is simple: find a five-gallon bucket, fill it with donations, and give that donation through WWCS as part of this massive rebuilding project. Geurink explains, “This will be a yearlong campaign which would then result in us eventually sending our volunteer work teams to Haiti. We plan to be rebuilding in Haiti.”

One of life’s mysteries: A five-gallon bucket will hold much more than a ten-gallon hat. Go figure.

Haiti: Got a Tarp?

In yesterday’s news….

Today CAM received confirmation that another of our large air-shipments of medicines arrived safely in Port-au-Prince. These medicines will be distributed to clinics and hospitals in earthquake-stricken areas.

Our staff in Haiti requested 10,000 tarps for shelter material. Gary Miller writes, “The need continues for food, water, and shelter. Much of the population in Port-au-Prince is sleeping under sheets, if they have anything sheltering them at all.” CAM air-lifted more than 1,000 tarps this week, and many more will be sent week.

At our warehouse in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, staff are loading sea-containers with food parcels and bulk food items to ship to Haiti. A sea-container left our warehouse yesterday, and another is scheduled to leave today.

Source: CAM air-shipment lands in Port-au-Prince

Christian Aid Ministries: Haiti Update

an on-the-ground report from Tuesday --

The tremor that shook Port-au-Prince area Sunday night was strong enough to wake some of us here at the CAM base, but for others in the city the result was much more severe. One of the medical teams treated a man today who sustained head injuries when part of his house finally fell after being weakened by the quake and all the tremors. It is no wonder the streets continue to be filled with people fearful of moving back into their homes.

Three loads of meds (about 1,000 lbs.) went out this morning from the CAM warehouse. After having prayed for the arrival of this air shipment, staying up late sorting the medicines, and loading the trucks this morning, it is good to hear that the medicines are finally getting out to CAM’s clinics and the waiting people. Jeriah Mast, CAM staff member, visited three of the clinics CAM supports and discovered two of them were totally destroyed by the earthquake.

People continue to be very grateful for the water CAM is providing. […] Today while driving I saw a man scoop water out of a very muddy pothole in the street.

Today a patient wanted to show appreciation for the help she is receiving at the CAM mobile clinic. She brought a nice watermelon to the team as a thank-you gift. It is very humbling to receive gifts from these homeless people. Some patients tell the medical team they are praying for them and their families at home.

For the rest: Earthquake victims grateful for aid

Haiti: God’s Miracle for Darlene Etienne

Praise God! And bless the rescuers!

French rescuers pulled a teenage girl — very dehydrated, with a broken left leg and moments from death — from the rubble of a home near the destroyed St. Gerard University on Wednesday, a stunning recovery 15 days after an earthquake devastated the city.

Darlene Etienne was rushed to a French military field hospital and then to the French military hospital ship Sirroco, groaning through an oxygen mask with her eyes open in a lost stare.

“She’s alive!” said paramedic Paul Francois-Valette, who accompanied her into the hospital.

Authorities say it is rare for anyone to survive more than 72 hours without water, little alone more than two weeks.

Source: Stunning recovery: Haitian girl pulled from debris

Bless God for this wonderful miracle!

And kudos to the French rescue team who hadn’t quit yet.

From Haitians, With Love

The Dalles couple describes how they survived Haiti quake

They wandered the ruined city for 10 hours before ending up at the U.S. embassy where their wounds were dressed. Joel received about 20 stitches to his head.

The couple were changing clothes when the earth started shaking so they were only wearing underwear.

Joel and Rachel wandered through a horrifying scene. They say the bloody streets were dark with people dying all around them. In the midst of it all, they said the battered Haitian people offered them food, water and even the clothes off their backs.

“Haitians just kept running up to us saying here have my shirt, have my sweatshirt, you’re cold,” said Colbourne.

They said the love they felt from the battered Haitian people was humbling.

HT: EGerig (who just a few minutes ago also pointed me to the Livesay Haiti blog)