In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that shook Haiti in the early evening of 12 January, it is still near impossible to obtain any information on the current situation on the ground.
However, a brief conversation via satellite phone with the national director of SOS Children's Villages Haiti has confirmed that the
SOS families in the SOS Children's Village Santo are uninjured and its infrastructure has no major damages (except the perimetrical wall), including the SOS School.
There is, unfortunately, still no word from other SOS Children's Villages Family Strenghtening Programmes, and there is reason to believe that damages have been severe.
Neighbourhoods where SOS Children's Villages is active have in some cases been completely destroyed.
In addition, one of the SOS Youth Facilities in Santo (a rented flat in the city) was destroyed and two youths were injured. They have received medical assistance and are now out of danger.
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| Haitien children at a construction site - SOS Archives |
Since the infrastructure of SOS Children's Villages has been severely damaged and staff members have been personally affected by the earthquake, coordination of relief efforts will be handled fromteh Domincan Republic, where SOS Children's Villages is also well established and where the team has already started to purchase medical supplies, basic food supplies and other essentials.
Three co-workers of SOS Children's Villages Peru with ample experience in emergency projects, especially earthquakes, will support the design and implementation of the emergency effort.
In a first attempt to assess the situation at the SOS Children's Village Santo, which is closest to the epicentre, the national director of SOS Children's Villages Dominican Republic has been flown there to provide an assessment on the SOS Village and Family Strengthening Programs emergency capacity.
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| Reuters/Eduardo Munoz, courtesy www.alertnet.org |
Emergency relief will likely include:
- Temporary shelter for unaccompanied children in our two villages or other locations,
- Safe areas for mothers with children,
- Food, medicine, clothing, shelter materials,
- Psychological support,
- Reunification programmes for families and children,
- and additional activities according to needs
SOS Children's Villages has committed to providing full support through the emergency period and as we have done for the past 28 years we will continue to care long term for Haiti's orphans.
You can help with a donation that will be matched in value by the federal government.