Responding to Emergency: SSIDs Work During the First Year after the Haitian Earthquake

January 12th, 2011

The Earthquake in Haiti

On the 12th of January, 2010 Haiti suffered the most devastating disaster in the country’s history. An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 on the Richter scale shook and damaged the cities of Port-au-Prince, Leogane, and Jacmel, as well as the other smaller cities within the surrounding areas.

The destruction was unfathomable and never before seen for this type of disaster. The weakness of the buildings together with an almost non-existent culture of earthquake preparedness led to a humanitarian tragedy.

Around 250,000 people perished and more than one million people were left without homes. Thousands of people were injured, transportation was cut off, and a lack of access to basic services left the majority of people in the capitol without food or water.

The 13th of January 2010 to Today

Crisis

As early as noon on the day following the earthquake the people of the Dominican Republic, Haiti’s neighbor, began to help those suffering in Port-au-Prince. On the 13th Social Services of the Dominican Churches (SSID) established an air bridge that they continued for the following two weeks; flying important humanitarian supplies to their sister country of Haiti. Starting two days after the earthquake SSID opened a camp in the border city of Jimaní, which is where they established a warehouse, a center of operations, and dormitory for aid workers.

From Jimaní SSID was able to work through the Dominican-Haitian Dialog of Churches. Through this network they were able to quickly and efficiently provide food, medicine, and other necessities to 23,042 people living in five different camps. At the end of two months SSID had distributed over $730,000 in supplies.

Outside of the five camps that SSID supported continuously they also provided an additional $448,145 in supplies to another 30,000 people through Haitian churches, hospitals, and nonprofits. SSID also organized multiple medical operations throughout the country reaching as far as Leogane.

Throughout the crisis phase the unconditional support of Church World Service was invaluable in helping plan and monitor work, and through funding. Also, we would like recognize World Vision Dominican Republic, and the Vicini Group for their generous support.

Recovery

After finishing the crisis stage in Haiti SSID began to evaluate their capacities for continued long term relief work in Haiti. The relief work after the crisis took place under very different circumstances including many fewer donations, regular air traffic in Port-au-Prince, a return to increased regulation along the border, and the “installation” of the world humanitarian community.

SSID continued to work in the recovery phase as part of the ACT Alliance and alongside Church World Service. SSID organized the logistical support and transportation for those in the ACT Alliance. This work included coordinating hotels and travel for international aid workers, providing support through the customs process, and purchasing goods and arranging their transportation to Port-au-Prince.

Starting in mid-February SSID also began to work together with Christian Aid and Church World Service to provide support to two camps of displaced peoples living in Gantier and Böen, Haiti. The project was intended to provide food, water, shelter, and medical attention for the 667 families living in the camps for two months.

After the first two months the leaders of the two camps requested support in planning a second phase for moving the people out of the camps and beginning to help the families rebuild their homes that had been destroyed in the earthquake. So far SSID has been able to provide support to the families in helping them return to their homes and both of the camps have been closed. The families are now living on their own properties in temporary shelters as we await the beginning of repairs and reconstruction of houses.

Conclusion

Social Services of the Dominican Churches continues to fulfill their mission of accompanying those that suffer. In the second year of recovery SSID will continue to work with our brothers and sisters in Haiti as facilitators of community development.