NewsIndex

SHELTER: Haiti Seven Weeks After the Quake

Well CNN has moved on, and many of the other world news organizations have reduced their air time about the Haiti earthquake. But the people of Haiti are still there struggling and suffering from the hard effects of no shelter from the coming rains and limited food and water.
So the big concern now is SHELTER. The rains have begun and that adds to the misery.

February 19, 2010 - Can’t build houses fast enough
“We’re all concerned about what to do when the rains come, but it seems the rains are already here – I think it’s an early onset rainy season,” said Sophie Gebreyes, program officer for Latin America and the Caribbean for the Lutheran World Federation Department of World Service, an ACT Alliance member.
“It’s a major concern for us, as for any humanitarian organization working here. We simply cannot build houses fast enough, so we’re starting with emergency shelter like distribution of plastic sheeting. We’ll also start soon with building transitional shelters, and providing building materials so people can build sturdier shelters before the hurricane season begins.” The issues of shelter and sanitation go hand in hand, she said, as the potential dangers of the rainy season include outbreaks of malaria, dengue, and waterborne diseases.
Haiti’s leadership has also said that shelter is a top priority. “Every time I meet with foreign leaders and delegations, I tell them that is the most urgent need,” President Rene Preval told the Reuters news agency. “Now that we’ve attended to the wounded, taken away the dead, and we’re distributing food and water, the problem of shelter is the most urgent,” he said.

February 24, 2010 - Water to the Homeless
Pierrette Joseph Wesner and Saint Philippe Kesly start their day before the sun comes up. They have an important job to do. They are water truck drivers. Lots of people depend on them.
Wesner drives the water for Viva Rio, a local partner organization of ACT Alliance member Norwegian Church Aid. He and Kesly, his assistant, make up to seven runs a day, filling their tank at a water point that pumps in well water, and then delivering it to camps throughout the city.