Earthquake in Haiti

Just over a year ago the ground began to shake in Haiti when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck this island nation. The world’s attention riveted to Haiti with 24 hour news coverage. We all rejoiced when survivors were found in the rubble and grieved with the people of Haiti as the staggering death count rose to over 300,000. Then, as so often happens, the world’s attention focused elsewhere . . . but the devastation in Haiti is still apparent nearly everywhere you look. The people who survived the earthquake now dealing with the devastation that shakes their lives as they are faced with a cholera epidemic. So where do things stand in Haiti? What are their needs? How can we – and the children in our churches – help?

Let’s consider a few facts about Haiti

• Before the earthquake . . .
• nearly half the population of Haiti was illiterate.
• only 40% of the people had access to basic health care.
• 90 percent of the children of Haiti were trying to survive while fighting water-borne diseases and intestinal parasites

• When the earthquake hit . . .
• hundreds of thousands of people needed help, but hospitals and police stations had collapsed and firefighters, police, doctors, emergency personnel were among those who were killed, wounded and in need of help.
• over one million people – one out of every six Haitians – are homeless.
• six out of every seven Haitians are unemployed
• In the coming days and years, A Chance For Kids Inc will -
• continue to provide food, water, medical and cholera response