22^nd January, 2010 (Friday)

Salvation Army Teams in Haiti Continues to Provide Food and Medical Aid

A 6.1-magnitude aftershock struck Haiti on the 20^th of January near Port-au-Prince, the strongest tremor since the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit just over a week ago. The second earthquake is a rumbling reminder of Haiti’s instability, both literal and figurative, that plagues relief efforts. As aid workers face head-on the need of a country that was a disaster even on its best day, the world must realise that there is no such thing as a quick fix.

　

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, with as much as two-thirds of its population estimated to be unemployed. Malnutrition and diseases such as HIV, AIDS, and TB run rampant. Cities have no public sewage system, and only a minority of the population has access to drinking water services. Before the earthquake, Haiti had nothing. Now, it has less.

　

Relief Teams Reroute to the Dominican Republic

Their infrastructure was defunct even before the first earthquake destroyed the little that did exist. But in the aftermath, most roads leading into Port-au-Prince were impassible and the harbour collapsed, causing boats carrying relief workers, medical supplies, and food to be turned away. The airports even banned planes carrying aid workers and badly needed supplies from landing because they couldn’t handle the incoming air traffic. Even now, more than one week later, Salvation Army disaster relief teams are being required to reroute to the Dominican Republic and drive more than 6 hours because the overwhelmed Port-au-Prince airports continue to change policy and restrict incoming flights.

　

Despite these difficulties that are related and not related to the earthquakes, more than 700 Salvation Army personnel from Haiti and dozens of relief workers from The Salvation Army in various countries continue to provide critical aid to the people of Haiti.

　

This Tuesday (19^th January) security was arranged and Salvation Army teams began food distribution. A one-week supply of food was given to 6,000 families. One million prepared meals should arrive from the USA on the 20^th of January. The Salvation Army is working with corporate partners and vendors to send bulk food, quantities of pre-packaged meals, bottled water, tents, lanterns and other supplies, along with several 15,000-gallon water purification units and multiple mobile hospitals.

　

Although The Salvation Army's La Maison du Bonheur Children's Home sustained damage it continues to care for 52 children and is preparing to receive 135 babies and small children from another orphanage in the countryside. Responding to a request posted on The Salvation Army's Caribbean website, two members of the emergency team went into the countryside and found 30 infants under the age of five months holed up in the back of a tractor trailer with no food or water since the earthquake. The children are now being transported to Port-au-Prince for ongoing care.

　

Also on Sunday (17^th January) more than 1,000 people attended open-air church worship in Port-au-Prince. The territorial commander reports: “We had a great meeting in the school yard as we cannot use the hall which is badly damaged. Sixty people publicly responded to a call to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour.”

　

The Salvation Army has been working in the country since 1950, operating schools, clinics, hospital, feeding programs, children’s homes and church-related activities through some 60 Corps community centers across the country. In addition to the 700 officers and staff based in the country, The Army has already sent dozens of additional personnel and funds to Haiti to assist with disaster relief.

 

Please Help Us to Help Those Who are Suffering

Donations in support of this response are needed. Please make donation via the following channels:

　

1) Bank Accounts:

    - HSBC                 : 580-149649-001

    - Bank of China     : 012-878-1-061887-6
    - BEA                   : 015-515-10-50541-3

　

2) Cheque:

Please make cheque payable to "The Salvation Army" and write ‘Haiti Earthquake’ on the back, and send to "The Salvation Army, 11 Wing Sing Lane, Yaumatei, Kowloon, Hong Kong". For donation enquiries, please call 2783-2333.

　

3) Any 7-ELEVEN in Hong Kong (To The Salvation Army Account)
　

　

Babies were found in a tractor trailer outside an orphanage near Port-au-Prince. They are now being cared for at The Salvation Army's La Maison du Bonheur Children's Home

　

Celina, the first of three babies born so far in the Salvation Army clinic, with her mother, Linda Daumond

　

The sports field behind the Salvation Army compound in Port-au-Prince, home to almost 12,000 people

　

Salvation Army volunteers distribute rice and beans at The Salvation Army’s compound in Port-au-Prince

　

Part of a large crowd awaiting the distribution of meals and food packages

　

Captain Jean Laurore Clenat, District Officer for South Haiti, translates as a doctor examines a patient at the clinic in Delmas, Port-au-Prince

　

Salvation Army medics treat a wounded child.

　

Thousands of Haitians gather behind security forces for food distribution.