While we have some supplies in place to assist in the immediate aftermath, more supplies and resources will be needed to assist children in Haiti in the long term. World Vision is accepting donations to assist those affected by the crisis. Those wishing to lend a hand can visit www.worldvision.org.nz or call 0800 80 2000. Alternatively people can call 0900 4 HOPE and pledge $30 from their Telecom accounts to World Vision’s relief efforts.
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and surrounding area shortly before 5pm on Tuesday, January 12. The Red Cross estimates that about roughly three million men, women and children—about one in three Haitians—were affected by the quake. The earthquake has severely damaged roads and infrastructure, including the main airport and government buildings.
World Vision will first focus on providing basic needs, especially helping children. World Vision Haiti had relief supplies in place—basic materials including blankets, clothes and bottles of water— that were sent in for the hurricane season. Major concerns right now are potable water and medical care and supplies.
Staff from less affected regions of Haiti are doing what they can to bring emergency supplies to the Port-Au-Prince area. Reaching these hard-hit areas with supplies is expected to be a significant challenge due to the damage. We will attempt to coordinate with government and aid agencies today to provide basic relief supplies. World Vision’s focus will be on fulfilling basic needs for children, who are the most vulnerable in disasters such as this. There may be some delays in coordinating with government agencies due to damage and possible casualties in the Presidential Palace as well as the UN Headquarters in Port-Au-Prince.
World Vision New Zealand does not have any programming in Haiti. However World Vision donors from other countries support more than 52,000 children in Haiti, including almost 5,000 children sponsored by Australians. World Vision has been working in Haiti for 31 years and currently runs 20 long-term development programs across five regions, supporting more than 300,000 people. World Vision has 370 staff on the ground in Haiti.
At this time, we do not believe that any sponsored children have been affected as the communities supported by World Vision in Haiti are outside of Port-Au-Prince. We are currently working to confirm this. Nonetheless, one in three Haitians have been affected by this disaster, many of them children, who are the most vulnerable in these situations. World Vision is committed to helping them.
Haiti, in the Caribbean just south of Cuba and next to the Dominican Republic, has a population of 10 million people, is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and among the poorest in the world.
Haiti has suffered a number of recent disasters, including four hurricanes and storms in 2008 that killed hundreds.
It would be fair to say Haiti is a politically fragile country. Which means the Haitian Government is ill-equipped to respond to such a disaster, lacking heavy equipment to move debris and sufficient emergency personnel. There is therefore a real need for aid agencies like World Vision to respond in the relief effort as well as long-term rehabilitation. World Vision does not put any funding through governments but delivers aid directly ensuring it reaches those who need it most.
The plight of children in Haiti may deteriorate as a result of this crisis. Thousands of children in Haiti are forced into modern day slavery, and hundreds of thousands more lack parental care. Haiti has the worst indicators on child health and education in the Western hemisphere, and levels of child rights violations are already alarming.
World Vision is unable to take donations for individual’s but by lending a hand through World Vision your donation will provide urgent relief and long-term rehabilitation assistance where it is needed most to survivors of the Haiti earthquake and many people in a similar situation to the Sanson-Rejouis family.
We pay $65 a month to Telecom to have the 0900 number. Telecom then charge just 65 cents for every $30 donation pledged by calling the 0900 number – which is the cost of the call.
This is excellent value for money. We do of course review all our fundraising costs on a regular basis to ensure this remains the case.
A minimum of 80 per cent of funds raised for Haiti will be allocated directly to World Vision’s in country relief, long-term rehabilitation and development programmes.
Thank you for your generous offer but we are not currently able to deliver goods to the disaster area. The best thing you can do is make a donation to our appeal and we will ensure your contribution is used to assist those most in need at this time.
Thank you for your generous offer but World Vision is not currently able to facilitate volunteers going to the field to assist with the relief effort. The best thing you can do is make a donation to our appeal and we will ensure is used to assist those most in need at this time.
New Zealanders are being asked to support World Vision’s relief efforts by lending a hand and making a donation on 0800 80 2000 or pledging $30 through their Telecom account by phoning 0900 4 HOPE. Alternatively contributions can be made online at www.worldvision.org.nz.
