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7.2 Earthquake in Haiti
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.
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.
As crews on the ground have responded to the disaster, more information has been released about the quake’s toll. According to Haiti’s civil protection agency, the death toll is currently at 724, with reports of 2,800 people injured. Additionally, the agency says that the quake destroyed 2,868 homes and damaged an additional 5,410. The southern cities and towns of Cayes, Jeremie, Aquin, and Petit Trou de Nippes have sustained most of the damage.
We are grateful for our friends and partners’ continued safety and protection in Cap-Haitien, where they felt the quake but experienced little damage. None of the children’s homes, schools, or the CHIDA hospital have sustained damage. However, cell phone service has been interrupted, making it difficult for our partners to reach family members in the affected region.
This earthquake is another blow to the already battered country, which is still dealing with an unstable political climate after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise and a continuing battle against Covid-19. Tropical Storm Grace is forecasted to produce heavy rain and wind along the entire coast of Haiti on Monday, which will further complicate rescue efforts.
Medical and sanitation supplies are the most critical needs after any natural disaster. Prime Minister Ariel Henry said, "When it comes to medical needs, this is our biggest urgency.” Dr. Wislyn and the staff at CHIDA are currently organizing an emergency response effort to aid in the treatment and care for those injured in the earthquake.
Please consider donating today to this effort. 100% of your donation will go to this emergency response and provide critical care for those who were injured in the earthquake.
Please pray for Haiti as a country. Pray for wisdom and perseverance for Dr. Wislyn, the staff of CHIDA, and all of the medical providers in Haiti as they treat patients and respond to these disasters. We will know more in the coming days and will share more information as we have it. We are in this together.
Donate to CHIDA’s emergency response effort
100% of your donation will be used in this urgent response.
Equipping our Haitian Partners for Crisis Response
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.
As the wealthiest nations of the world recover from the health and economic impacts of Covid-19, the story in much of the developing world is drastically different - especially so in Haiti. The country is currently facing numerous crises, including an ongoing food shortage, increased gang violence tied to political unrest, and a new wave of Covid-19 cases that quickly overwhelmed the already flawed healthcare system. With the shocking assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, the potential for further violence and political unrest is very real (Haitian Times).
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.
PKF began working in Haiti in the early 90s, and from the very start, we’ve focused on developing local strategic partnerships in Haiti. IDADEE, a Haitian-run community development organization, started as a dream of Remy Fils-aime in 1988. From the beginning, we’ve provided funding for a children’s home, schools, and CHIDA, a health clinic-turned hospital. Led by Dr. Wislyn Avenard, CHIDA has been instrumental in bringing affordable and often free healthcare to the surrounding community. Through its emergency room, pharmacy, and community health programs, CHIDA serves an average of 274 people per day.
The Food Crisis
According to a United Nations survey, acute malnutrition affects 217,000 children ages 6 to 59 months in Haiti. A recent U.N. food analysis estimated that more than 4.4 million Haitians, or 40% of the population, will need food assistance this year (Miami Herald). Remy Fils-aime, the president of IDADEE, is working around the clock to ensure there is enough food for the kids, staff, and members of the community. IDADEE and the CHIDA hospital work together to offer free food assistance to members of the local community. The shipping containers we are filling have combined space for 500,000 meals.
The IDADEE Campus
Remy Fils-aime, IDADEE President
The Health Crisis
Dr. Wislyn and the staff at CHIDA are working diligently to treat patients and stop the spread of Covid-19. Still, the simple truth is that no matter how dedicated the doctors and nurses are, the tools to treat patients effectively are not always available. As another wave of Covid-19 sweeps through the country, we’ve sent rapid tests and money for PPE and concentrated oxygen. We were recently able to provide vaccines for the CHIDA staff. This success sets CHIDA up as a possible vaccination site for the community it serves.
CHIDA Hospital
Oxygen tanks en route to CHIDA
Dr. Wislyn leads a community health worker meeting at CHIDA
Safety for the Community
Ongoing political unrest has led to an increase in gang violence throughout Haiti. While the city of Cap Haitien generally tends to be quieter than other areas, violence and unrest remain genuine concerns for our Haitian partners. Our long-time friend and partner, Daniel Beaugilus, was recently promoted to the top ranking officer in the central station in Cap Haitien, Haiti's second largest city. While this promotion is well deserved, it also brings an increased level of risk, especially as Haiti experiences such a tumultuous period.
Daniel and his family
The dedication of people like Remy, Dr. Wislyn, Daniel, and the many women and men who day after day continue to do the difficult work of responding to crisis after crisis is inspiring. Still, they’ll need additional support as the country works through this challenging time. As we continue to provide that support for our partners in Haiti, would you commit to praying for them, and if you’re able to, supporting them financially?
Clay in the Potter's Hands - Tami's Story
One of the things that became clear through Tami’s story is that being surrounded by a supportive community is incredibly important. Youth leaders play an important role in kids’ lives, and as the saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty vessel.”
At our Pittsburgh Kids Network meeting in March, Tami Weisner shared a short devotional about viewing God as the divine potter, and us as clay. She beautifully explained and expanded on this concept using her journey of motherhood to illustrate what it means to be clay in the hands of the potter.
One of the things that became clear through Tami’s story is that being surrounded by a supportive community is incredibly important. Youth leaders play an important role in kids’ lives, and as the saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty vessel.” That’s why we invest so heavily in local youth leaders through the Pittsburgh Kids Network. For decades, youth leaders all over the city have found a supportive community within the network.