After the Aftershocks in Haiti
This past August, Haiti was hit by another devastating earthquake. Sixty-seven kilometres west of the capital city of Port-au-Prince, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit killing 2,000 and injuring over 12,000 people.
A few years ago, I traveled to Haiti along with FAIR Director, Dan Shurr, and Associate Director, Norman Nielsen, to tour the development project in which FAIR and Église Baptiste Emmanuel de l’Ouest de l'île (Pierrefonds, QC) were partnering. This food security project was making a difference in the lives of 800 students in a primary and high school by providing them with a nutritious meal, which helped them to concentrate better on their studies. During my visit I witnessed the devastation from the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Years later, the devastation and debris was still visible.
In 2010, our Fellowship churches and donors raised over $600,000 toward relief and development projects in Haiti.
Shortly after Haiti’s recent August 14, 2021 earthquake, our FAIR department, in partnership with Tearfund Canada, made an appeal to our Fellowship family. While we are most grateful for the generosity of our churches and donors, I’m hopeful you’ll consider giving a donation this Christmas for this FAIR appeal. I’m praying our churches and donors can exceed $100,000 in gifts toward relief and development in Haiti.
I’ve asked Dan Shurr to describe the situation on the ground and explain why/how you can give before Christmas.
“On August 14th a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit southwestern Haiti. Over 100 aftershocks have been reported since. On August 17th, Tropical Depression Grace brought significant rains to communities devastated by the earthquake, increasing risk of mudslides and flooding.
“The Situation — Since August 14 over 2,200 people have died and another 12,000 injured. Over 800,000 people in the southwestern regions of the country have suffered devastation. Right now, 650,000 are in need of emergency humanitarian assistance.
“Funding — Our partner, Tearfund Canada, is part of a collaborative response alongside the Canada Foodgrains Bank matching donated funds on a 1:1 basis.
“The goal is to raise $1 million over a one-year period from August 2021 to August 2022.
“Work on the Ground — To ensure an effective, efficient, and sustainable response, we are working alongside of a network of Reformed churches in the southwestern, rural areas where no other agencies are at work.
“Needs assessments have been completed by teams identifying three key areas:
- Temporary shelter – tarps
- Clean water – aqua tubs
- Emergency food – rice and oil
“Planned Future Response:
- Emergency phase – until week six
- Early recover phase – six weeks to six months
- Recovery phase – seven to twelve months
“Please pray for teams distributing needed items. Prayerfully consider a financial gift to help this year-long recovery effort to reach the one-million-dollar goal. Your part will go a long way to help alleviate human suffering in Haiti.
“Thank you for giving and praying for a great relief effort in Haiti!”
Thank you for prayerfully considering a gift before Christmas. May the Lord bless you for being a blessing.