Haiti: HelpAge partner provides aid and medical help
An update we received in the last two days shows that those affected by the earthquake in Haiti are receiving emergency aid and medical assistance.
HelpAge’s Dominican partner, ALA Dominicana, with which we are coordinating our emergency response to the Haiti earthquake, is also a member of NGO network, Jaques Viau, which is distributing aid in Haiti.
Jaques Viau is a network of eight local NGOs from the Dominican Republic which seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable migrants in the Dominican Republic, specifically Haitians. It does so by promoting the protection of human rights and advocating just migration policies.
Volunteers are supporting relief effort
The network is coordinating a team of 40 young people in Haiti, who will support the work of the two ALA Dominicana Mobile Medical Units, in cooperation with HelpAge.
Other members of the network include the Movement of Dominican Haitian Women (MUDHA) and the Socio-Cultural Movement of Haitian Workers (MOSCTHA).
These organisations will be distributing water, medicine and food donated by the Dominican Network for Dignified Ageing.
“Many are sleeping on the streets”
Dr. Joseph Cherubin, director of MOSCTHA, described the appalling situation in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince:
“People are walking about the streets because their houses have collapsed or for fear of the aftershocks. Many are sleeping on the streets and others are asking for help to rescue their loved ones who are trapped in the rubble.”
Aid is reaching those who need it
MUDHA has been to the Matissan area of Port-au-Prince and established a mobile ambulance with five doctors and four nurses to attend to over 300 people. They have also distributed over ten thousand bottles of water, milk, thirty boxes of candles, food items, match boxes, and light bulbs to different hospitals
The immediate relief plan includes establishing 12 rescue camps in five communities in Jacmel, Leogane, Petit Goave, Grand Goave and Martissant. Volunteers will receive first aid training to help the medical staff on the ground. In total, over 220 young people will be trained and added to MUDHA’s already existing team of 12 doctors and seven nurses.
Read more about HelpAge’s response in Haiti
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Tags: earthquake, emergencies, emergency response, Haiti, Haiti earthquake