Responding to the Major Earthquake in Southern Haiti

About

We have completed our initial assessments of the damage from the reported 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern Haiti around 8:29am on 8/14, and the smaller earthquakes that struck afterwards. Immediately after the first earthquake struck, Hope for Haiti’s Country Director, Linda Thélémaque initiated our emergency phone tree to ensure the safety of all 62 Haitian staff members in-country. All team members are safe.

The devastating effects of the earthquake and coastal flooding have been felt throughout our impact area around Les Cayes and the southern (SUD) department. There are reports of fatalities, injuries, and significant damage to homes and healthcare facilities from our team and network of healthcare partners. Our Infirmary St. Etienne and office in Les Cayes were damaged, as were a number of staff homes.

We have a stockpile of emergency kits prepositioned and ready to distribute to vulnerable individuals and families. Given our over three decades of experience in emergency preparedness and response in southern Haiti, we are well-positioned and uniquely qualified to use our best available resources to help make a difference. Our team lives and works in the communities we serve, and is made up of Haitian doctors, nurses, program managers, and others dedicated to improving their own country.

About the Host

Hope for Haiti is an innovative international development organization operating in southern Haiti for 30 years. We partner with private donors and rural communities in southern Haiti to alleviate poverty by improving systems of education, healthcare, infrastructure development, access to clean water, and economic opportunity. Our long-term vision for Haiti is joyful children, healthy families, thriving communities, and the resources to make it so.

Our projects have lasting impact because they: strengthen local and existing institutions and systems; engage community members as partners and leaders in improving opportunities for their children; invest in locally-owned businesses to improve the Haitian economy; reduce the distance that school-age children must walk to school; provide healthcare access and interventions; improve the environment; increase primary school enrollment; and ultimately catalyze generational change to reduce poverty and create better opportunities for Haitians.