Made with Xara Web DesignerDisaster Relief in HaitiOn January 12 a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the city of Port au Prince and the surrounding areas. It is estimated that 200,000 persons perished in the worst earthquake to hit Haiti in 200 years. An estimated 300,000 were left injured and as many as 1 million were left homeless.Since the earthquake, Bethlehem Ministry has responded to the overwhelming need by transporting literally tons of life-sustaining food and supplies to those in the greatest need near Port au Prince. In addition, we are giving shelter, food, and medical care to refugees fleeing to northern Haiti . What follows is a report from Jean Monique Bruno, a native Haitian and Episcopal priest who directs our operations in Terrier Rouge, Haiti.This week the truck did not go to Port-au-Prince or Leogane but stayed in our area as we addressed some of the issues created by the arrival of the people displaced by the earthquake. With the presence and the generosity of a group of 6 students shepherded by two adults- one a physiotherapist and the other one a construction builder from Monsignor Donovan School in Athens, GA- we executed a large feeding project in two villages of the Northeast: Phaeton and Paulette, not too far from Terrier Rouge. I have discovered that in those two poor communities, where we usually distribute food, around 150 people who were living in Port-au-Prince before the earthquake took refuge.On Tuesday March 2, 2010 we gathered our volunteers who worked side by side with our guests and packed food for 480 families. The next day, by 9.00 AM we were on the road to Phaeton and Paulette. The earlier rain falls have transformed the route into a safari road. Although our driver was not one of Formula One, he had enough experience on muddy and pothole roads to take us there safely. Everybody took part in the distribution work, which unfortunately left a group of about 70 people -mainly in Paulette- with a bitter taste in their mouth because they walked away empty handed. I promised to give them satisfaction. This morning we packed food for another hundred families and sent it to fill the gap.Meanwhile, 60 families among those who came from the Capital received substantial amounts of food, flash lights, clothing and camp cots. Every single day we get requests from orphans, youth who have not been to school since they came back. The students we cannot take in at our Saint Barthélémy School because of their grade level (our school has only reached 7th grade), we direct them to other schools and help with their uniforms and tuition. The Saint Barthélémy Center in Terrier Rouge is very active in taking care of our displaced brothers and sisters and constitutes a reference for them. Pastoral care, counseling and other types of aid are provided. Following the example of the Master, we never send anybody away empty handed.The staff of “Esperance & Vie” is investigating right now a S.O.S launch by the GARR (National Committee on Refugees) in favor of a community of 300 families in a region of Port-au-Prince called Christ-Roi, which was badly affected by the quake. After a visit to the place, GARR described in its article the inhuman living conditions there. They consider that a violation of the basic rights of a human being. GARR reports that they have not received any contribution from any organization yet. Our delegate in Port-au-Prince is following on the matter by talking to the people there so we may intervene there as well.Our ministry relies on your prayers. Your contribution of any kind to our local NGO “Esperance & Vie” via www.bethlehemministry.org will allow us to continue to feed those who have not received any aid yet, cure the injured, help orphans and families affected and displaced by the earthquake.Jean Monique Bruno+
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Disaster Relief in Haiti
On January 12 a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the
city of Port au Prince and the surrounding areas. It is
estimated that 200,000 persons perished in the worst
earthquake to hit Haiti in 200 years. An estimated
300,000 were left injured and as many as 1 million
were left homeless.
Since the earthquake, Bethlehem Ministry has
responded to the overwhelming need by transporting
literally tons of life-sustaining food and supplies to
those in the greatest need near Port au Prince. In
addition, we are giving shelter, food, and medical care
to refugees fleeing to northern Haiti . What follows is a
report from Jean Monique Bruno, a native Haitian and
Episcopal priest who directs our operations in Terrier
Rouge, Haiti.
This week the truck did not go to Port-au-Prince or Leogane but stayed in our area as we addressed some of the issues
created by the arrival of the people displaced by the earthquake. With the presence and the generosity of a group of 6
students shepherded by two adults- one a physiotherapist and the other one a construction builder from Monsignor Donovan
School in Athens, GA- we executed a large feeding project in two villages of the Northeast: Phaeton and Paulette, not too far
from Terrier Rouge. I have discovered that in those two poor communities, where we usually distribute food, around 150
people who were living in Port-au-Prince before the earthquake took refuge.
On Tuesday March 2, 2010 we gathered our volunteers who worked side by side with our guests
and packed food for 480 families. The next day, by 9.00 AM we were on the road to Phaeton and
Paulette. The earlier rain falls have transformed the route into a safari road. Although our driver
was not one of Formula One, he had enough experience on muddy and pothole roads to take us
there safely. Everybody took part in the distribution work, which unfortunately left a group of about
70 people -mainly in Paulette- with a bitter taste in their mouth because they walked away empty
handed. I promised to give them satisfaction. This morning we packed food for another hundred
families and sent it to fill the gap.
Meanwhile, 60 families among those who came from the Capital received substantial amounts of food, flash lights, clothing and
camp cots. Every single day we get requests from orphans, youth who have not been to school since they came back. The
students we cannot take in at our Saint Barthélémy School because of their grade level (our school has only reached 7th
grade), we direct them to other schools and help with their uniforms and tuition. The Saint Barthélémy Center in Terrier Rouge
is very active in taking care of our displaced brothers and sisters and constitutes a reference for them. Pastoral care,
counseling and other types of aid are provided. Following the example of the Master, we never send anybody away empty
handed.
The staff of “Esperance & Vie” is investigating right now a S.O.S launch by the GARR (National Committee on Refugees) in
favor of a community of 300 families in a region of Port-au-Prince called Christ-Roi, which was badly affected by the quake.
After a visit to the place, GARR described in its article the inhuman living conditions there. They consider that a violation of the
basic rights of a human being. GARR reports that they have not received any contribution from any organization yet. Our
delegate in Port-au-Prince is following on the matter by talking to the people there so we may intervene there as well.
Our ministry relies on your prayers. Your contribution of any kind to our local NGO “Esperance & Vie” via
www.bethlehemministry.org will allow us to continue to feed those who have not received any aid yet, cure the injured, help
orphans and families affected and displaced by the earthquake.
Jean Monique Bruno+
