
Photo courtesy of Lora Iannotti.
Haitians Suffer in Aftermath of Devastating Earthquake
On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti. The nation's capital Port-au-Prince, located only ten miles from the quake's epicenter, has sustained serious damage. Since the disaster, the nation has been affected by a series of aftershocks with magnitude 4.0 or higher on the Richter scale. The latest of these, a 6.1-magnitude event, occurred early on January 20 approximately 35 miles west of Port-au-Prince.
Episcopal Relief & Development has disbursed emergency funding for its program partner, the Diocese of Haiti, to help meet immediate needs such as food, water and shelter. The agency is standing ready to support the Diocese with post-earthquake recovery and rebuilding efforts. Episcopal Relief & Development is also partnering with the neighboring Diocese of the Dominican Republic to help care for the influx of Haitian refugees and coordinate relief efforts that can be administered from the border areas. In addition, the agency has partnered with IMA World Health, a non-profit organization providing medical assistance and supplies in and around Port-au-Prince.
As communications and access improve, Episcopal Relief & Development will continue to provide updates.
To assist those suffering in the wake of this disaster, donate online to Episcopal Relief & Development's Haiti fund or call 1.800.334.7626, ext. 5129. Checks can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058 Merrifield, VA 22116-7058
If you have questions about the current situation in Haiti, please visit our Haiti FAQs page.
Click here to see video interview with the Rt. Rev. Jean Zaché Duracin is courtesy of the Wall Street Journal.