Expats are on tenterhooks waiting for news from their relatives
The Catholic Register (CCN)
With some estimates putting Haiti’s death toll from Hurricane Matthew as high as 1,000, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has launched a major fundraising campaign.
The United Nations believes the Oct. 4 hurricane left 1.4 million Haitians needing clean water and sanitation and hygiene supplies. An estimated 350,000 people are in immediate need, and over 21,000 are in temporary shelters, Mary Durran, the CCODP international programs officer for Latin America, told The Catholic Register.
The numbers of dead, homeless, and hungry aren’t half the story for Father Jean Marie Beaublanc, pastor to the Haitian community in Toronto.
The priest, in Canada less than a year, is on tenterhooks waiting for news from his home town, Jeremie, in the south of Haiti. At least 80 per cent of the buildings in the city of 31,000 have been damaged, including the Cathedral of St. Louis of France where he was baptized, ordained, and served his bishop as vicar. It now has no roof.
“It was a beautiful cathedral,” said Father Beaublanc. “All the dioceses in Haiti are very poor, all the provinces. It’s a very poor country. It’s difficult. Now we need support from international organizations, every kind of support.”
CCODP has a 50-year history in Haiti, responding in a major way to the 2010 earthquake and the 2011 outbreak of cholera. Canadians donated more than $20 million to CCODP, which used it to help Haitians build earthquake-proof housing, start new agriculture programs, protect women and girls from sexual violence, and fight cholera.
The 400 homes built in the earthquake recovery program have stood the test, with only minor damage, Durran said. Henhouses were part of the agriculture projects. “They’re still up and they’re intact. They’re a symbol of hope at the moment. That’s how we carry on.”
However, gardens planted by women’s organizations that CCODP funds have been washed away. “People were already in a very difficult and fragile situation, but now with the loss of the nurseries people are facing acute hunger,” said Durran.
The battle continues with cholera, which has killed over 10.last five years, the battle continues. “A response to cholera could well be part of our humanitarian interventions,” said Durran.
CCODP has been invited to submit proposals for humanitarian assistance this week to Global Affairs Canada. Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion announced an initial $3.8 million for hurricane-affected areas. Most of the money will go directly to United Nations agencies.
On Oct. 6 $780,000 went to disaster-response organizations including the Canadian Red Cross, Save the Children Canada, and Oxfam Canada. The government has also sent the Canadian Disaster Assessment Team to Haiti.
It will be Haitians who rebuild Haiti one more time, and “We’re very committed to working with Haitian organizations,” Durran said. “For us, that’s really the key to working in Haiti, that you work through Haitian organizations.”
