In the last 2 years, thanks to your support, Catholic Relief Services has:

• Built 10,600 transitional shelters

• Provided 10 million meals to more than 1 million people

• Organized medical teams that performed more than 1,000 emergency surgeries and conducted 71,000 outpatient consultations

• Helped workers crush enough rubble to fill almost 1,800 dump trucks

• Hired more than 12,000 people in temporary cash-for-work programs

See all of the great work your support has made possible in Haiti over the last 2 years.

Two children standing in front of a CRS-built transitional shelter in Haiti. Your support of Haiti is helping rebuild the country for the next generation. Photo Robin Contino/CRS

Robin Contino joined CRS in 2006 and worked in as the country manager in Nepal. She is a licensed clinical social worker with a background in responding to emergencies and trauma. After the earthquake, Robin was sent to Haiti to offer crisis intervention and support to all of our staff in Haiti. Since then, she has continued to support Haiti from headquarters and continues on as the Haiti advisor supporting CRS’ Haiti country program in all aspects of its work.

Robin sent this first-hand account of what it was like to wake up in Haiti on the 2-year anniversary of the tragic Haiti earthquake:

Its January 12, 2012 and I wake up to the sound of what I think is a mass loudly and passionately coming through the windows from somewhere down the hills from where I am staying in Peggyville. People are singing and sharing together. I can feel the deep compassion and its flowing through the streets.

This is my 8th trip to Haiti since the Earthquake, and every time I come I see change — real and significant change. And its amazing. You’re work and dedication is commendable beyond my words. People are moving and settling back into their neighborhoods, and they are grateful for the support of CRS staff and programs. You have uplifted lives and brought families out of unspeakable despair.

I encourage you to take a moment this day, and everyday, to remember those lost and to renew your commitment to supporting Building Haiti Better hand in hand with Haitians.

You Inspire Me and I am grateful for all that you do!

Humbly,

Robin

See how your support has helped Haiti rebuild after the earthquake 2 years ago.

Tropical Storm Emily was downgraded to a tropical depression as it slowly moved toward Haiti, leaving behind little damage.

“After decades of work in Haiti, CRS knows hurricane season is a real threat to the Haitian population,” said Luke King, CRS country representative in Haiti. “We were ready for the worst and praying for the best.”

Haiti is especially vulnerable to rainfalls because of extensive deforestation, poor infrastructure and the devastation caused by the January 12, 2010, earthquake in Port-au-Prince, where thousands of people still live in tents and under tarps.

In order to prevent and respond to damage caused by tropical storms, CRS has been taking practical measures, such as building up an emergency response team and advanced delivery of emergency supplies to key locations.

Tropical Storm Emily is bearing down on Haiti with landfall expected sometime today.

Catholic Relief Services has resources in place to respond to any storm related crisis in this quake-ravaged country where 600,000 people are still living in tents and under tarps.

“The hurricane season poses a major threat to Haiti, one we have been preparing for since the first weeks after the earthquake,” said Luke King, Haiti country representative for CRS. “Historically, we know that Haiti is vulnerable to hurricanes and that even tropical storms or just heavy rain can cause serious damage in areas unaffected by the earthquake as well as in the camps, which are acutely vulnerable.”

Last year, CRS carried out assessments in at-risk camps and neighborhoods, digging drainage channels, sandbagging hills, building walls to decrease runoff, and moving the most vulnerable populations to safer locations.
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Access to high-quality specialty care in infectious diseases in Haiti is scarce. Doctors often lack the basic tools to diagnose and treat infections effectively.

“We have a lot of infections in Haiti but we don’t always have access to labs. Our approach is empirical, based on symptoms and previous experience,” said Romaine Nephtalie Mesidor, one of six Haitian physicians who were selected for the Institutional Strengthening program, a postgraduate training for Haitian physicians in infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS.

The first class of the Institutional Strengthening program spent January through April this year taking advanced courses at the University of Maryland.
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CRS staff Thomas Awiapo interacting with the engineers and community members building the bridge for the people of St. Jean Du Sud in Les Kayes – Haiti. Photo by Kim Lamberty / CRS

As the saying goes, “No Man is an Island.” Unfortunately, the people of St. Jean Du Sud, Haiti, were completely isolated from the rest of Haiti when a bridge connecting them to school, market, and hospital collapsed.

The situation became unbearable during the rainy season as social and economic activities came to a complete halt.

Educational and health facilities became inaccessible to community members. At this point, the leaders of the community cried out for help and I am glad to let you know that CRS Haiti came to their aid. With $200,000 from CRS, complemented by communal labor and other contributions from the community, a very solid bridge is near completion.
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On January 12, 2010, a 33-second earthquake destroyed almost half of the the beautiful, mountainous historical city of Port-au-Prince and turned buildings, including the solid presidential palace, into rubble. It is estimated that 250,000 were killed, 300,000 injured and 2 million people were internally displaced. What an inconceivable human tragedy! This unfortunate tragedy provoked a powerful surge of generosity across the international community and billions of dollars were poured into Haiti coupled with an influx of humanitarian organizations into the country.

The famous genuine and provocative question everyone now asks is, how come 13 months after the earthquake the city of Port-au-Prince is still covered with rubble and millions still living in tents? Why is the promised rebuilding of Haiti taking so long? As an outsider who has spent just 10 days in Haiti, toured the city of Port-au-Prince, seen a lot and asked lots of questions of Haitians and non-Haitians, this is my attempt to reflect on the question above and please forgive me if you don’t agree with me.
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Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, assured Haitians on the one-year anniversary of the Port-au-Prince earthquake that they are not alone in their sufferings. Photo by Alsy Acevedo/CRS

CRS communications officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, Alsy Acevedo, filed this report from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

There’s a solemnity in the air of the streets of Port-au-Prince, today. Businesses and schools are closed, but people hurry to get somewhere, anywhere, where they can pray.

At 9 a.m. about a thousand people had gathered to attend Mass in the center of Port Au Prince. Behind them, the ruins of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de L’Assomption stand as a testament to the damage caused by the earthquake that shook the Haitian capital a year ago.

Most people, dressed in white, the color of mourning in Haiti, talked softly and cried quietly.
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New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, to Archbishop Louis Kebreau of Cap Haitien, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Haiti:

Dear Archbishop Kebreau,

On this first anniversary of the tragic earthquake that struck Haiti, I express the ongoing concern and support of our Conference for the Church and people of Haiti. As we all gather to prayerfully remember the dead, as well as those still grieving and suffering, we call on the Lord’s unfailing presence, to strengthen us all and the bonds of communion and solidarity that have bound us together in the wake of this tragedy.
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On Wednesday, January 12, CRS hosted a live chat with CRS staff working in Haiti. Click on the play button below to read the transcript from our chat.