Devastated regions in Haiti receive urgent aid

PORT-AU-PRINCE (August 24, 2021) — World Vision sent a five-truck convoy of relief items on Monday and earlier this week sent essential supplies via helicopter to ensure the survival of thousands of families who lost their homes to the devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake that rattled Haiti on August 14.

“In the aftermath of this catastrophe that completely destroyed over 30,000 homes, 127 schools and thousands of buildings in the southern region of Les Cayes and Nippes, people must eat, and they need to ensure the best hygienic conditions possible to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases even amid such devastation,” said Marcelo Viscarra, national director of World Vision in Haiti.

With assistance of national authorities to secure road access to the affected areas, World Vision deployed trucks with 1,748 mattresses and 682 kitchen sets.

“We are trying to ensure that children and their families sleep in better conditions, not on the floor, nor on wet surfaces, as many currently are. Besides, kitchen sets will help families to prepare meals, an essential necessity in these initial stages of the emergency,” Viscarra said.

Focused on protecting the most vulnerable children, the shipment benefits families in Maniche, Twarat, Charisiy and La Rode – communities of Les Cayes, the earthquake’s epicenter. The cargo also included 1,309 baby kits containing diapers and other supplies for the care of infants, and 1,100 hygiene kits and 600 water purifiers.

“An emergency like the one experienced by Haiti directly affects supply chains that make it almost impossible to obtain essential goods for the care of families,” Viscarra said. “Those who looked forward to recovering some of their belongings buried under the rubble, completely lost hope after the heavy rains that tropical storm Grace dumped over Haiti a few hours after the quake. That is why we are providing at the fastest pace possible these immediate relief items,” he said.

“We want to thank all our donors, especially those who within a few hours after the emergency stood up and provided resources to make possible this response.”

The Coca-Cola Foundation, Working to Give LLC, Henkel, as well as generous donors from the United States, South Korea, and other countries were among those who helped.

“This is just the beginning of a journey to rebuild the country,” Viscarra said. “Children were supposed to start school in September; however, the infrastructure is gone. World Vision is committed in the long term to ensure opportunities and brighter futures for children and their families. We ask you to donate to continue our work in the field.”

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.