A collection of stories about the earthquake in Haiti and the response by Jesuit Refugee Service
A Haitian boy receives treatment at a makeshift medical clinic at the United Nations' logistics base
in Port-au-Prince after an earthquake rocked Tuesday. (UN photo by Logan Abassi)
THE REFUGEE VOICE IN HAITI
Long before the crippling earthquake of January 12, 2010, Jesuit Refugee Service had a grassroots presence in Haiti, providing humanitarian assistance to displaced Haitians both in the town of Ouanaminthe on the northeastern border with the Dominican Republic, and in the Dominican Republic itself. JRS responded to the needs of Haitians during a decade of political upheaval, successive natural disasters, and a food crisis, which devastated the Haitian economy. We knew Haiti in both her pain and her laughter – as a country where many children under the age of twelve in the countryside have no clothes to wear; a country where people spontaneously gather in community during frequent black-outs to sing songs, play dominos, and keep the night at bay. Haiti is also a country with a rich artistic and political tradition, inhabited by a deeply faithful people who have continued to hope for a better life despite devastation and adversity. Posted: Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:06:00 EDT
HAITI: LITTLE PROGRESS AFTER SIX MONTHS
Six months after the earthquake devastated Haiti on January 12, the situation in the country remains worrying. Despite the preparative and preventive efforts of UN agencies, international organisations, the Haitian authorities and other local actors to cope with the humanitarian crisis and other natural disasters, the hurricane season now represents a significant danger to vulnerable populations, the 1.7 million displaced and other homeless persons. Posted: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:36:00 EDT
FAITH AND JOY IN HAITI
Through the Jesuit Fe y Alegria school system Haitian Jesuits are working to promote universal education in Haiti, a key necessity in helping to build a resilient and sustainable Haitian-led recovery. While two Faith and Joy schools already exist in the Haitian cities of Ouanaminthe and Balan, the Jesuits of Haiti plan to open 17 new education centers that will educate youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds while providing teacher training to promote quality education. Posted: Mon, 24 May 2010 06:20:00 EDT
BUILDING A FUTURE IN HAITI
General contractor Ray Arana and Jesuit novice Greg Ostdiek have been working at the Jesuit novitiate in Haiti building pre-fabricated structures to use as clinics or classrooms, and teaching the trade of construction to more than 60 Haitians. Arana believes the training he is helping to provide will lead to a better future for the men taking part. Posted: Thu, 13 May 2010 05:07:00 EDT
JESUIT LEADER VISITS HAITI
Father General Adolfo Nicolas visited the Haitian capital Thursday to see the work Jesuits have been doing to as they accompany and serve the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating January 12 earthquake. Posted: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:12:00 EDT
JESUITS ADVOCATE FOR HAITI
Two Jesuit leaders involved in Haitian earthquake relief efforts visited Washington last week to meet with members of non-governmental organizations, Congressional staff and State Department personnel. Fr. Wismith Lazard, S.J. leads Jesuit Refugee Service in Haiti. While continuing to maintain its presence along the Northeastern border, JRS Haiti is focusing its current relief efforts in the Port-au-Prince area, working in seven camps that serve the needs of more than 21,000 displaced people in and around the capital. Posted: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:47:00 EDT
HAITIAN VOICES IN REBUILDING MUST BE A PRIORITY
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA urges the international community to include Haitian voices in the planning for the rebuilding of Haiti – local voices will ensure Haiti is built back better. JRS/USA believes old paradigms must be discarded and an inclusive process of mobilization of Haitian civil society and the Haitian diaspora must be developed. Posted: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:22:00 EDT
U.S. NGOs’ HAITIAN PLEDGE SURPASSES MOST COUNTRIES
During Wednesday’s high-level international donor conference to coordinate and secure funding for recovery and rebuilding in Haiti, InterAction – an alliance of non-governmental organizations including Jesuit Refugee Service/USA –?announced the U.S. NGO pledge of $918 million towards Haiti efforts, with more than $400 million dedicated to recovery efforts and the remainder allocated for reconstruction. Posted: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:12:00 EDT
HAITIAN LED RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
Within the many upcoming international discussions on Haiti, it is imperative to include the voices of those who are closest to Haiti’s challenges; they have invaluable insight for recovery, reconstructive and long-term development in Haiti. Posted: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:21:00 EDT
HAITIAN JESUITS ADVOCATE FOR INCLUSION OF LOCAL VOICES IN REBUILDING EFFORT
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA urges the international community to include Haitian voices in the planning for rebuilding of Haiti – building back better. To further that goal, the Jesuit community in Haiti has organized the Committee for Reflection and Action composed of Jesuits and members of Haitian civil society who work together on an ongoing basis to accompany the Haitian people, their leaders, and the international community in their efforts to rebuild Haiti. Posted: Fri, 25 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EDT
IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF HAITI
In view of the significance of meetings designed to promote international cooperation in the reconstruction process in Haiti, States, Agencies of the United Nations system and International Financial Institutions should bear in mind that solidarity to Haiti should be guided by the principles of respect for sovereignty, self-determination and dignity of peoples. Haiti should not be subjected to any actions that violate these principles. Posted: Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:20:00 EDT
JRS HAITI ACCOMPANIES THE DISPLACED
The National office of Jesuit Refugee Service Haiti will soon open in tents in Tabarre, a Port-au-Prince neighborhood. The JRS Haiti Director is Fr. Lazard Wismith, S.J., a Haitian Jesuit. Posted: Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:19:00 EDT
HAITIAN FAMILY REUNIFICATION NEEDS MUST BE MET
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and others have written a joint letter to Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, noting appreciation for actions taken to benefit the people of Haiti since the earthquake of January 12. The letter also urges the United States to take additional and immediate action to address urgent Haitian migration needs. Posted: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:40:00 EDT
HAITIAN JESUITS URGE LOCAL VOICES BE HEARD
Jesuits in Haiti, under the leadership of Fr. Kawas Francois, S.J. have organized a Reflection and Action Unit to help plan for the long-term rebuilding of Haiti while ensuring that the voices of the Haitian people are involved in that planning. Concerns have been raised on the ground in Haiti that too much of the planning leadership has been from concerned foreigners, and not enough from the people of Haiti and their leaders in civil society. Posted: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:30:00 EDT
CONGRESS URGED TO SUPPORT HAITIAN REBUILDING
On February 19, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and other members of InterAction joined Lutheran World Relief in sending a letter to members of Congress urging them to support a supplemental appropriations request to meet immediate and long-term needs in Haiti for relief, reconstruction and development. The letter stresses that the Haitian government, although severely weakened by the earthquake, must lead the national recovery and reconstruction effort. Posted: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:50:00 EDT
SENATORS SEEK COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR HAITI
United States Senators George S. Lemieux, Bill Nelson, Amy Klobuchar and Frank R. Lautenberg wrote a letter to President Obama after returning from a trip to visit haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. ”In the midst of the terrible disaster, we were all struck by the strength and resiliency of the Haitian people. With a long-term, measurable plan for redevelopment, the people of Haiti can achieve an economy and a society worthy of our investment and their tremendous sacrifice.”
JRS PLANS LONG-TERM HAITI RELIEF EFFORT
In the days following the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, Jesuit Refugee Service was able to provide emergency food relief to about 50,000 people, while JRS-affiliated medical teams treated about 4,500 people who were injured in the quake or became ill in the aftermath. While continuing to serve the emergency needs of the affected people Jesuit Refugee Service is now, in collaboration with the Haitian people, planning sustainable projects to help the population recover and move forward. Posted: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:47:00 EDT
ACCOMPANIMENT DRIVES JRS MISSION
The National Director of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Fr. Ken Gavin, S.J., was on Talk of the Nation Monday to discuss his recent trip to Haiti. Fr. Gavin spoke about accompaniment, the core value of the JRS mission to accompany, serve and advocate for refugees and forcibly displaced people. Posted: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:58:00 EDT
REBUILDING HAITI MUST INVOLVE DIVERSE VOICES
The rebuilding of Haiti’s infrastructure and society should not be a top-down effort directed by the central government, but a more inclusive and decentralized effort led by local communities and smaller towns, says Fr. Regino Martinez, S.J. Diversification would allow displaced communities to access integrated services that could help break the cycle of dependence of humanitarian aid. Posted: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:45:00 EDT
DISPATCHES FROM HAITI
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA National Director Fr. Kenneth J. Gavin, S.J. has been in Haiti during the last several days, and shares his experiences with us. Posted: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:48:00 EDT
HAITI: RELIEF EFFORTS LOOK TO FUTURE
JRS/USA National Director Fr. Ken Gavin, S.J. is in the devastated Haitian capital city of Port-au-Prince, and says it is moving to see the dedication and hard work of volunteers from the Dominican Republic and other countries who have gathered to help in the recovery efforts after the earthquake of January 12. Posted: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:38:00 EDT
PANEL DISCUSSES HAITI RELIEF EFFORTS
Georgetown University hosted a panel discussion titled, “Forum on Haiti: From Relief to Recovery.” Panelists discussed the current crisis in Haiti, including relief and recovery efforts going forward and the role of the international community in providing aid and assistance. Representatives of the University, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, the World Food Progamme, the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization took part. Posted: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:33:00 EDT
HAITI RELIEF DONATIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE
The IRS says that taxpayers who itemize deductions on their 2009 return qualify for this special tax relief provision, enacted Jan. 22. Only cash contributions made to these charities after Jan. 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, are eligible. This includes contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card. Posted: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:03:00 EDT
HAITI: SOLIDARITY IN WAKE OF DISASTER
The impact and consequences of the disaster of January 12 on Haitian society are immeasurable, says a Jesuit in Port-au-Prince. Morally and psychologically, the population has suffered a deep trauma. Despite the shock of the devastation, people have shown an unparalleled solidarity: assisting the wounded, sharing food and water. Without this solidarity, I don’t see how people could survive. Posted: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:01:00 EDT
TPS APPLICATION FEE WAIVER INFO
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has released a fact sheet on the process of requesting a waiver of fees for applicants seeking Temporary Protected Status. Posted: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EDT
HAITI: DIFFICULT CONDITIONS, RESILIENT SPIRITS
We are still seeing seriously wounded people who have yet to see a doctor. We are seeing tent cities that have thousands of people living in a crowded space with no water, food, or sanitary conditions says Br. Jim Boynton, S.J. Posted: Monday, 25 Jan 2010 21:28:00 EDT
HAITI: TPS AND RELIEF INFO ONLINE
In the wake of designating that Haitians in the U.S. are eligible for TPS, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has several pages of information available for people interested in learning more about applying for Temporary Protected Status. Posted: Monday, 25 Jan 2010 21:29:00 EDT
TEMPORARY PROTECTION FOR HAITIANS: A FIRST STEP
Temporary Protected Status will give Haitians in the U.S. the ability to remain here during the crisis, and to work and live in the United States legally. Their remittances will allow more than $1 billion in aid to be sent to family members still suffering in the shattered island nation, thus playing a much needed role in the present relief effort. Posted: Monday, 25 Jan 2010 21:30:00 EDT
SAVE THE CHILDREN ON ADOPTIONS IN HAITI
Save the Children says the situation in the earthquake-affected areas of Haiti places many children at risk and without adequate care. A large number of children may be separated from their parents or extended families due to death, injury or the sheer chaos created by the disaster. Posted: Monday, 25 Jan 2010 21:31:00 EDT
HAITI: EMERGENCY RELIEF AND FUTURE REBUILDING
While Jesuit Refugee Service is still responding to the immediate needs of Haitian survivors of last week’s earthquake, JRS is analyzing the situation to predict future needs as the nation faces the daunting task of rebuilding much of its capital city and surrounding towns. Also, Congress has passed a bill making any donations to Haitian earthquake relief efforts by March 1 tax-deductible on 2009 returns. Posted: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:08:00 EDT
JRS A LEADER IN HAITI RELIEF
Jesuit Refugee Service has become one of the leading organizations in providing emergency food and medical aid to the suffering people of Haiti. Fr. Kawas Francois, S.J., coordinator of the Jesuit response to the disaster, says that as of Thursday morning, food aid from the wider international community has not reached the many of the people who need it most. However, Jesuit Refugee Service has been able to drive trucks of food and other supplies across the frontier from the Dominican Republic. Posted: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:34:00 EDT
JRS SERVES 16,000 QUAKE VICTIMS
Jesuit Refugee Service has provided emergency relief in the form of food, medicine, tents and debris-removal tools to about 16,000 citizens of Port-au-Prince to aid their recovery from last week’s devastating earthquake. Additionally, in coordinated efforts with partner organizations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, JRS has set up several locations throughout the countries to deliver aid to more people suffering from the effects of the earthquake in an efficient and organized manner. Posted: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:39:00 EDT
HAITI RELIEF EFFORTS MUST LOOK TO FUTURE
Referring specifically to the huge needs in Haiti in the aftermath of the quake, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the importance of looking beyond immediate relief to longer-term development to put the most impoverished country in the Western hemisphere on the path to a more prosperous future. Posted: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:46:00 EDT
HAITI: CONCERN GROWS FOR CHILDREN AFTER QUAKE
United Nations independent experts Monday voiced concern about the impact of the Haitian earthquake’s impact on the country’s children, who are always the most vulnerable to any disasters. “Children are always deeply affected by major disasters of this type, and almost half of the Haitian population are children,” the experts said in a news release. Although the international community’s initial response to the quake is encouraging, the Committee called for special attention to be paid to the needs of children. Posted: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:26:00 EDT
JRS ACCOMPANIES QUAKE VICTIMS
Jesuit Refugee Service in the Dominican Republic – working in coordination with JRS Haiti and other Jesuit relief efforts there – has established three centers in the Dominican Republic to coordinate the transfer of food, medicine and other emergency supplies to the people of Haiti. Posted: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:38:00 EDT
COOPERATION BOOSTING HAITI RESCUE EFFORTS
International urban search-and-rescue teams continue to work around the clock to find survivors trapped underneath the rubble left by a catastrophic earthquake on which struck Haiti Tuesday. Officials say a high degree of cooperation between the teams, the local authorities and the community, and their willingness to support each other have led to an unprecedented number of survivors being found in the rubble of the capital city. Posted: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:24:00 EDT
300,000 LEFT HOMELESS IN HAITI
Three days after the devastating earthquake virtually destroyed Haiti’s capital city of Port-au-Prince, Jesuit Refugee Service has at least 16 people on the ground in Haiti and is moving much-needed supplies to those in need from JRS in the Dominican Republic. Posted: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:12:00 EDT
VOICES FROM HAITI
Two days after the powerful earthquake brought more devastation to the island of Haiti, eyewitness accounts from Jesuits and JRS workers in the country are being shared. Posted: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:35:00 EDT
JRS RESPONDS TO DISASTER IN HAITI
Jesuit Refugee Service is mounting an emergency relief effort to provide lifesaving aid, including food and other urgently needed items, to the Haitian people. Aid will be provided in partnership with the JRS - Latin America and Caribbean regional office, and distributed through JRS programs in the Dominican Republic, Jesuit parishes and other Jesuit programs in Haiti. Posted: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:11:00 EDT
CATASTROPHE AS QUAKE STRIKES HAITI
A major earthquake centered 10 miles southwest of the capital city Port-au-Prince plunged the city into darkness and destroyed buildings as it shook the country of Haiti Tuesday afternoon, causing extensive damage and unleashing more devastation on the Western Hemisphere's poorest country. "I think it is really a catastrophe of major proportions. "The only thing I can do now is pray and hope for the best," said Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the U.S. Posted: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:20:00 EDT
TPS DESIGNATION OFFERS HAITI A LIFELINE
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA applauds the decision by the United States today to allow Haitians currently in the U.S. the legal status to remain in the U.S., to work and to send remittances home. Offering Temporary Protected Status to Haitians already here will give them a chance to stay temporarily on our shores as they await a moment when they can return home in safety and dignity. Posted: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:11:00 EDT
