Six Months After Earthquake: Rebuilding Lives
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (July 9, 2010) –Food For The Poor has sent more than $100 million worth of aid to Haiti, since the 7.0 Magnitude earthquake devastated the country on Jan. 12. The organization responded immediately and help has flowed continually from the largest international charity in the United States. That aid has come in many forms, and has transitioned over the weeks and months from emergency relief to relief/rebuilding actions.
Food For The Poor is committed to helping the people of Haiti rebuild their lives. The charity has:
- Built 401 two-room homes, and has begun moving families into them.
- Shipped 845 tractor trailer loads of goods, including:
- 361 of food and water
- 35 of medical supplies
- 449 of various relief supplies
- Completed 45 water projects
Building homes
The need for housing in Haiti continues to be critical. More than a million people are homeless and living in dangerous conditions. On a recent trip to Haiti, a Food For The Poor country manager witnessed entire families living in makeshift tents along a busy highway median.
Food For The Poor is working hard to increase capacity for homebuilding. The homes are permanent, sturdy concrete construction with rebar reinforcements, and strong corrugated zinc roofs. The homes are being built in Pierre Payen, Trou Du Nord, Demier, Chastenoye, Delogner, Gros Chaudiere, Mahotiere and Grand Goave.
In May, Food For The Poor built more homes in Haiti than it ever has during any 30-day period. The organization has a goal of completing 250 homes each month between now and the end of the year.
Building schools
The Haitian government estimates that more than 4,000 schools were destroyed during the earthquake. Food For the Poor is committed to building schools in locations across the earthquake-ravaged country.
In order to accelerate the building of schools, the agency will use a prefabricated, steel-and-sandwich panel construction method for schools where the location meets the specifications. The advantages of this type of building system include quick installation, good insulation that saves energy, and the use of galvanized steel guarantees no corrosion.
After site assessments, the organization has determined locations for five prefabricated schools.
Three other schools will be built with concrete construction.
- Club Members Association of America School (Under construction in Petite Goave)
- Boca Grande Friendship Village Vocational School (Pierre Payen)
- Emmanuel (Chastenoye)
Statement from President/CEO
“At this six-month milestone, much remains to be done. Providing permanent, safe housing and the means for educating the children are priorities for Food For The Poor,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “We are grateful to those who have reached out their hands to the people of Haiti. We ask their continued help in rebuilding lives and restoring hope.”
Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the United States, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.
Contact:
Kathy Skipper
Food For The Poor
954-427-2222 x 6614
[email protected]
07/09/2010