When the IDADEE Children’s Home opened its doors in 2011, one year after the devastating earthquake in 2010, these were the first children to move in. A few of them, like Emanuella, were in such poor health that the caretakers didn’t think they would survive.

Dr. Wislyn reported Tuesday that CHIDA’s team has treated 5,904 people since the earthquake, with 81 of those being patients who come back every day to have their bandages changed by a doctor from the team. In addition to treating patients with minor wounds, the team continues to treat more urgent injuries such as deep cuts, broken bones, and respiratory issues due to dust from the rubble.

It’s been just over a week since a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit southern Haiti. UNICEF now estimates that roughly 1.2 million people, including 540,000 children, have been impacted by the earthquake and tropical depression Grace, which brought heavy rain and substantial flooding to the region just days after the quake, further complicating the situation.

By now, you’re likely aware that a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Saturday at 8:30 am, with its epicenter about 7.5 miles northeast of Sait-Louis-du-Sud, in the southwest part of the country.

We’re glad to report that our staff, friends, and families in Haiti are currently safe and continuing their work to address the needs of their communities. We are working on filling two shipping containers with food and medical supplies to provide immediate assistance to our partners in Haiti.

We’re excited to introduce The Dream Team! The Dream Team is a community of passionate people (just like you) who believe that kids should have every opportunity to thrive.

Despite the rise of COVID-19 cases in Haiti, social distancing is near impossible. At this time, John Hopkins University reports 7,100 cases in Haiti, though that number is likely low due to a lack of testing.