the salvation army - hope for haiti: one year later

Dear Friends:

On January 12, 2010, people all over the world were horrified as they viewed images of destruction caused by a massive earthquake in Haiti. Those with nothing, now had less.

While the earthquake left thousands dead and many more clinging to life, The Salvation Army embarked on its largest international relief effort since the South Asian tsunami in 2004.

The Salvation Army has been in Haiti since 1950. When the earthquake struck, more than 700 officers/pastors and staff, themselves victims, mobilized immediately to provide rescue and relief services.

With continued and generous support from the public, the Army remains heavily involved in the ongoing task of recovery, rebuilding and long-term development. The work is far from over and we believe it is our responsibility to do our utmost to support those affected by this disaster.

The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory is part of a global network of partners that include our International Headquarters in London, England, The Salvation Army World Services Organization (SAWSO) based in Washington, DC, and other agencies.

Where there is life, there is hope, and in the months and years ahead The Salvation Army will continue to help Haiti heal by giving its people the tools needed to rebuild their lives and communities, raising their standard of living to something greater than they had.

On behalf of The Salvation Army, I want to thank you for showing confidence in our mission by supporting our ongoing efforts to serve the victims of Haiti.

May God bless you,

William W. FrancisTerritorial Commander for Canada and Bermuda

A Report on the Earthquake Disaster Relief Efforts by The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory

JANUARY 2011

ONE YEAR LATER

Corruption abounds, compounding the average Haitian's daily struggle. Government officials and programs strain with the surge of people in crisis.

Haiti needs our prayers and financial support. Established faith-based organizations are among those able to deliver sustainable pro-grams to people who are subsisting day-to-day. A brighter Haiti will include honest people who are educated and open to co-operation.

Emotions ran high on some days as frustrations mounted. The lack of power, e-mail or communications caused minor inconveniences for our teams, but nothing compared to the uncomfortable, dangerous and foul situations experienced by those in camps and com-pounds. Our personal safety was in God's hands. We relied on His protection while driving, walking or working. Psalm 121:2 declares: “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth.”

and supply distributions. The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services Incident Command System provided the organizational backbone to deliver tons of food, cooking oil, tents and water to the homeless living in squalor beside filthy ditches of disease.

Each passing day supplies arrived at the airport and port, only to be held up in customs. The process was clogged by paperwork and costs. Finding suitable warehouse space proved a daunting task, as most buildings were partially, if not totally, destroyed by the quake. God provided first a small building and then a larger facility for incoming goods and equipment. Rebuilding of communities required transitional shelters and the warehouses provided storage and assembly space.

The Haitian people have tremendous resilience in the face of disaster, death and disease. Many turned to God for salvation and strength to go on. Churches were full on Sundays as people prayed for each other. Haitian people face many challenges. While money, food and jobs are scarce, the workforce is young and eager.

Arriving in Haiti was like entering a world I had never encountered. Confusion, noise and sadness filled the air. Death and destruction were everywhere. The devastation was beyond anything I could imagine. Streets were congested with people wandering every which way, and overcrowded tent cities and camps swelled by the moment.

As an Incident Commander, my task was to tour damaged facilities, and set up and oversee various operations such as camps, and food

John McEwanDivisional Emergency Disaster Services DirectorBritish Columbia

in The Salvation Army's existing clinic. Here I met Dr. Danielle and her nursing staff, who were used to providing primary care at the clinic. They were accustomed to a pattern of well-baby and antenatal care, as well as caring for the common acute and chronic illnesses. Traditionally, people paid the equivalent of US$1 for a visit to the clinic, which in no way covered the true cost of a visit or medications.

The 50-year-old clinic itself was damaged by the quake. Despite the beautiful painted pictures on its wall, it was no longer fit to use. The clinic is temporarily being held at The Salvation Army Headquarters until it is replaced. In my last few days of my month-long service I reflected on what I had seen and done and was privileged to draw upon my previous African experiences to make recommendations in our support to the medical services in future.

Haiti will always be challenged by its geograph-ical position in an area where earthquakes may occur anytime, and where hurricanes and heavy rains will erode the fragile, desiccated soil on its steep mountain slopes. She faces the challenges of increasing urbanization, and she will take a long time to become a mature and confident nation, but her people are worthy of our support and love.

stadium that had its own locally elected man-agement body. Despite the constant turnover of team members, and red tape at many levels, organization carried on. People were helped with food, shelter, sanitation, psychological and spiritual services. The intention was to provide long-term shelter and strengthen existing services.

I was impressed with the Haitian people. In a country where 200 years of independence still has not given them consistent and trustworthy patterns of government, and where previous “leaders” have encouraged hatred and genocide, there is still a daily trust in God's provision and grace. It is reflected in the mottos painted on every public method of transporta-tion and on the shining faces of children dressed in their cleanest clothes when they go to church. Each person I met wanted to better themselves and their family. Yet around them was enough to drive most of us to despair – the lack of quality education, food, sanitation, and shelter to the constant threat of “natural” disasters.

Medically, the acute phase of need had changed when I arrived. The urgency to find people alive under the wreckage and rescue them through rehydration, food or acute surgery (amputations, for example) had passed. My medical services provided relief and assistance to the medical and nursing staff

When I heard of the earthquake in Haiti I was immediately challenged to respond, but was locked into replacing another doctor who was away. So I went in March, six-weeks after the earthquake.

My first impression of Haiti was one of confusion. Rescue teams from all over the world had descended on Haiti to help with the unbelievable amount of destruction. Although there were many non-governmental organiza-tions helping, and I believe all were doing their best to coordinate efforts, the challenge existed in supporting people on the ground while working within the political system.

I was amazed at how each agency functioned in their allotted area. Each major NGO was assigned “camps” and “tent cities.” The Salvation Army’s site was a soccer/football

G. Dawn Howse, MDMajor

CP0163: Medical Clinic and Primary Health Care Services

The Salvation Army has operated a health facility in Delmas 2, Port-au-Prince, for 40 years. The clinic building was structurally compro-mised by the earthquake and is now condemned. The clinic played a crucial role during the earthquake emergency phase in the treatment of the injured.

This project will support the operating of medical services from a temporary facility for approximately two years until a new, purpose-built facility is established.

Expected Results:â 40,000 poor and vulnerable people will directly benefit through

health-care services and consultations;â Primary health-care services will closely link to the integrated

family support program to maximize benefits of Salvation Army support.

CP0164: Integrated Family Support ProjectThe aim of this project is to re-establish the lives of 3,000 families. Six community centres will coordinate a wide range of support services in Port-au-Prince and other areas affected by the earthquake.

The centres will provide vocational training, orphan and vulnerable children’s (OVC) support and education, livelihood support to displaced families and community capacity building activities.

Expected Results:â More than 3,000 affected families will receive support;â 2,500 orphan and vulnerable children will receive education and

recreational support;â 500 vulnerable children/youth will receive vocational training;â Livelihood support will be provided to 1,000 target families;â Affected families will be relocated to their place of origin through

permanent housing, family reunion and provision of other social services;

â Increased awareness on basic health, disaster preparedness, domestic violence, child trafficking, HIV/AIDS, hygiene and sanitation will strengthen communities.

The Salvation Army has been active in Haiti since 1950. On January 12, 2010, having built community networks, and known for its long-standing record in humanitarian services, The Salvation Army responded immediately to the destructive earthquake in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

Due to extensive damage to buildings and significant loss of life, The Salvation Army’s initial response was aimed at helping people survive. More than 700 Salvation Army personnel from Haiti provided food, water, medical supplies and shelter to more than 25,000 people.

On January 27, the United Nations designated The Salvation Army as the “lead agency” responsible for the care of 20,000 people at the Delmas 2 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Port-au-Prince.

To date, The Salvation Army has provided:â More than 7.9 million meals;â More than 5,000 tents;â 8,710 pounds of medical supplies and 7,593 hygiene kits;â Two MASH units;â Medical services to 27,000 patients;â More than 1,500,000 gallons of water and established a water

filtration system that supplies 30,000 gallons of water per day.

Salvation Army support is ongoing with the process of designing reconstruction and development projects from the basic concepts outlined in CP0163 – Medical Clinic and Primary Health Care and Support and CP0164 – Integrated Family Support Project.

Haiti Earthquake Response