World Vision, a Federal Way-based organization, is stepping up to provide humanitarian help in Haiti after Hurricane Matthew left a trail of devastation in the country.
Within hours of Hurricane Matthew’s wind and rain subsiding, World Vision staff in Haiti began distributing blankets, toiletries and bottled water to families in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital city, who’d been displaced by the storm. The organization had pre-positioned relief supplies such as tarps, blankets, water containers and hygiene kits to quickly assist impacted families.
Relief operations expanded into Nippes, in the southwest, La Gonâve Island and the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. Initial plans included distributing supplies to about 50,000 families.
“There are areas where people haven’t eaten much or had access to clean water in days,” World Vision National Director John Hasse said in a statement. “Each time we reach a new remote area, people rush up to our teams desperate for supplies.”
World Vision programs in 200 rural and urban communities in Haiti served more than 900,000 people, including 58,000 sponsored children.
After the hurricane hit, World Vision found 80 to 90 percent of homes in the region had been damaged or destroyed, with more than 625 homes damaged and about 2,000 cows lost. World Vision reported as many as 110 families were sleeping in temporary shelters at schools, churches and voodoo centers.
When World Vision expanded its efforts to the island of La Gonâve, the second hardest-hit area in the country, its assessments showed roughly 40-50 percent of houses were damaged or destroyed. Thousands of people were confirmed injured.
The southern region is where a great deal of the country’s food is produced. Hasse said Hurricane Matthew destroyed many crops as they were coming close to harvest. Food security and malnutrition, especially among children, were already a concern as 30 percent of Haitian children show signs of stunting, which indicates long-term hunger.
“We’re really concerned about food security. A large portion of Haiti’s food is produced in the south, where the damage is most severe,” Hasse said. “It is a large breadbasket for the country. We expect to see food shortages and/or price spikes throughout the country in the coming weeks and months. This has the potential for creating not only great need but also increased violence and instability.”
For Federal Wayans looking to help with the relief effort in Haiti, World Vision is seeking cash donations. They’d previously been running a blanket drive for affected families.
World Vision officials said they’re working to buy exactly what works best in each context, get the right amount of each type of supply, ensure the quality of supply that people need, buy as close to locally as possible and get the benefit of bulk discounts.
“In the midst of so much other news, we hope the world doesn’t forget about the people of Haiti,” Hasse said. “Giving to relief efforts is essential.”
To donate to the relief effort, visit www.worldvision.org.
