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The Power of Partnership

Despite the chaos that has dominated Haiti since the January 12th earthquake, Episcopal Relief & Development has made a real difference to people struggling to survive.

Working with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and other organizations with which we have forged strong partnerships over the years, we’re providing food, shelter and medicine to men, women and children in desperate need.

In the first weeks after the catastrophe, Episcopal Relief & Development helped distribute more than six tons of food to survivors. We began supplying at least 100 tents each day to those left homeless, no small accomplishment considering there is currently a worldwide shortage of tents. In addition, we quickly began to assess housing and water needs, and constructed permanent latrines in camps. There are more than 30,000 survivors living in more than 60 settlements connected with the Diocese.

Much of Episcopal Relief & Development’s focus is on hard-hit rural areas, especially the region between Léogâne and Jacmal. With our help, the diocese has been able to use helicopters to deliver food to six camps not accessible by vehicles that are inhabited by more than 15,000 survivors. Each food drop contains 216 pounds of rice, 204 pounds of beans, 12 gallons of oil and 36 kilograms of milk powder. And though modern equipment is often necessary, there are times that going low tech is the best answer, which is why we’ve also rented donkeys to get food to some hard to reach areas.

We are also involved in an ongoing mapping project designed to help the diocese and the wider church evaluate the extent of damage to diocesan institutions and track relief efforts. This extraordinary information-gathering effort is being led by the Rev. Lauren Stanley, an Episcopal Church-appointed missionary to Haiti and Bishop Duracin's liaison in the U.S., who is working with an enthusiastic and capable team of four young people with the assistance of the U.S. Army’s Southern Command.

As focused as we are on providing desperately needed relief to hard hit areas of Haiti, our sights are always set on the long term. The assessment provided by the mapping project will help immensely as we work with diocese staff, community development workers and our many other partners to not only aid in Haiti’s recovery, but to ensure that its people are given the tools and resources they need to thrive.

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