Episcopal Relief and Development is closely monitoring the escalating violence in Haiti. On Sunday, six people were shot and killed and 34 others were wounded at a demonstration in Port-au-Prince. The protest took place a week after President Jean Bertrand Aristide went into exile in the Central African Republic.
The lives of thousands are in jeopardy. More than 300 people have been killed in rebellions and uprisings. Burton Joseph, Program Officer for the Diocese of Haiti, has been in regular contact with ERD's staff.
Joseph told of the increasing needs in the country. "Priests from throughout the diocese met last Thursday. We are working with them to set up three distribution centers where critical supplies can be available and distributed to people in need. We are looking into setting up one center in Port-au-Prince and two others in other parts of the country," stated Joseph.
The Diocese of Haiti is developing long-term plans to help more people affected by the crisis. In a shantytown community in Port-au-Prince, the diocese is looking into ways to serve people who don't have food. "Day-to-day living in the area is bad during normal times and when there is chaos, it just gets worse," said Joseph. "We are trying to find a way to provide one meal a day to several people living in this underserved community. They need rice, beans, cooking oil, and other food supplies."
Episcopal Relief and Development's initial support in February gave emergency assistance to thousands of people in need. "We provided immediate food and shelter to places like Gonaïves, Cap-Haïtien, and Gorman where the needs were so great," said the Rt. Rev. Jean Zache Duracin, Bishop of Haiti.
With the help of ERD, the diocese delivered critical aid to affected areas in Haiti. Joseph told of a family who received life-saving assistance. "We sent food to a priest in Gorman and he distributed it to his parishioners. The Bien-Aime family had ten members and was on the brink of starving. They said receiving food supplies was like experiencing a miracle," he stated.
Please continue to keep the Haitian people in your prayers. To make a contribution to the Haiti Relief Fund or to respond immediately after natural disasters and civil unrest, donate online at www.er-d.org or call (800) 334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development, c/o Haiti Relief Fund, PO Box 12043, Newark, NJ, 07101-5043.
