In the Wake of Storms, MSH/Haiti Helps to Restore Health Services
Seemingly endless rains, high winds, and roof-high floods have killed hundreds, left 160,000 people without shelter, and severely damaged roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. In just one month, the country has suffered devastating blows from four back-to-back tropical storms and hurricanes. As of this posting, dozens of people remain missing and floodwaters have yet to recede.
Seemingly endless rains, high winds, and roof-high floods have killed hundreds, left 160,000 people without shelter, and severely damaged roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. In just one month, the country has suffered devastating blows from four back-to-back tropical storms and hurricanes. As of this posting, dozens of people remain missing and floodwaters have yet to recede.
Haiti is desperately poor, rampant deforestation exacerbates the impact of the Caribbean’s seasonal hurricanes and tropical storms, and the country lacks resources for an effective local emergency response. In the best of times, most Haitians struggle to find work, grow food, and keep their children healthy. Today, because of the four storms, even such basic survival can be elusive.
Relief—including food, water jugs, hygiene kits, plastic tarps (for shelter), and medicines—is coming to Haiti through small and large relief organizations, and international governments and agencies. Click here to view updates on the latest relief efforts from local staff, doctors, and colleagues.
Although MSH is not a relief organization, our relationships with stakeholders at all levels began in Haiti 30 years ago. Since 1995 our working partnerships there have broadened with the implementation of USAID-funded projects. We currently support 152 public and not-for-profit health service delivery sites that include hospitals and dispensaries (each with a community program attached) as well as the Ministry of Health at central and regional (departmental) levels.
These relationships help the MSH/Haiti team to efficiently channel essential resources to where they are needed.
From our headquarters in Cambridge, MA, and our Haiti offices, MSH/Haiti is working with long-standing partners like the US and Haitian governments and the Fondation pour le Développement de la Famille Haïtienne (FONDEFH), and new partners like Health Experts Leadership Providers (HELP) and Hands on Disaster Response (HODR). Please read our daily updates and check back regularly for updates and additions to this section.
