October 7, 2016

Our team continued to work, ensuring those whom they cared for in their homes, as the storm hit. We are working on ensuring better housing for our most marginalized patients, whose homes pulled together from wood, metal, and plastic, did not fare well.

Port-Au-Prince, where we work, weathered the storm, but was not devastated like other parts of the country, especially in the southwestern tip.
Many members of our team come from areas more affected. There has been little contact with many areas of the southwest of the country – no cellphone, no travel. News has trickled out though of substantial destruction in their home communities – many houses destroyed, all possessions lost. Fortunately, none of our team has learned of any deaths among those they know, as of yet.

Those on our team who come from these areas are returning to see what the needs are. They are traveling with aquatabs (for clean water and Cholera prevention), food, clothing, as they assess what further needs there are.

We are all very worried that Cholera will grow, after flooding and the destruction of homes and toilets.

We work with a number of other groups directly and indirectly that we know well and know provide the quality work we would expect. The best way to respond is to respond locally – with locally-led responses, partners, and purchases.

Here are some of the local groups we know working on this response:

Haiti Communitere has been our longterm partner. They are working in Cite Soleil and areas around Port-Au-Prince.

In Directly Affected Areas:
Paradis des Indiens is based where the hurricane hit and is well known for its high-quality community and educational work. (We do not however work directly with them.)

Little Steps, Big Feet works with vulnerable children, especially those who live on the street, giving them shelter and support, as well as working with. They weathered the storm in Les Cayes. We have worked with patients from among these vulnerable children and know the founder, Morgan, quite well. They are a great team.

Heartline is a midwifery-focused group based in the Port-Au-Prince area and has sent a team out to affected areas in the southwest. They worked hard on general medical relief after the earthquake and we have worked with them with common patients in the past.

MAF provides flights within Haiti, helping after the earthquake, and now providing the first flights and glimpses of the destruction in the southwest.

Ayiti Air Anbilans/Haiti Air Ambulance is also starting to work in the southwest. We have worked with them in the past as well.

There are many more and we will add more groups, as we learn more.

It’s also incredibly important to buy locally. There are many options. http://100kjobshaiti.org/businesses-in-port-au-prince/ http://www.maisonhandal.com/