Archive for January, 2010

As a result of Haiti’s recent earthquake, there are many obvious threats survivors must face in the aftermath, such as malnutrition, dehydration, lack of shelter, and rampant disease.

But there is another enemy less obvious to the naked eye far that’s far more sinister than these afflictions – human trafficking.

In the wake of natural disasters, the breakdown of rule of law, extreme poverty, and increased vulnerability all contribute to a surge in human trafficking, especially targeted towards young children who are the most vulnerable of the population.

Haiti is no exception. Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive told CNN in an interview that child trafficking is one of the country’s most significant problems, even without the added stresses caused by the earthquake. It is estimated that every year a quarter million children are reported trafficked within the country.

Now, as the country struggles to rebuild, children face an even greater risk of being sold for sex, slave labor, or their organs.

Prime Minister Bellerive says many culprits pose as organizations falsely claiming to want to save children from the streets and send them to the United States. He is working to register displaced children in Haiti so that the government can account for the children and return them to their relatives if they have any or place them with new families. Trafficking dangers are another reason why Haiti is thoroughly verifying adoption papers before orphans leave the country.

The Salvation Army has been named the lead agency of some 20,000 homeless Haitians living in make-shift shelters and tents near our main compound in Port-au-Prince. As a part of serving as lead agency, we are registering individuals and families settled in this area, in part, to help battle the exploitation of children and vulnerable individuals. The Salvation Army is also rapidly dispensing food, water, supplies, and medical treatment; re-opening schools closed by the earthquake; and offering church-related activities and services in a safe setting in efforts to rebuild and secure the devastated communities.

For more information on how The Salvation Army is working specifically to eradicate human trafficking, visit our national website at www.salvationarmyusa.org/trafficking.

A Salvation Army volunteer helps a woman with food and water at a food distribution.

While The Salvation Army continues to provide support and assistance to the approximately 20,000 displaced families taking shelter near our compound in Port-au-Prince, the Haiti Relief Team in the field continues to reach out and extend help and hope to even more victims in the country.

The Salvation Army Relief Team, supported by the US Army 82^nd Airborne, delivered more than 174,000 meals to the coastal community of Petit Goave (Little Gulf) that lies on the north coast of Haiti’s peninsula.  To our knowledge, this was the very first major delivery of food to earthquake survivors in this affected area!

The city of Petite Goave, with an estimated population of 200,000, is expected to have lost 1,500 lives in the earthquake with 3,000 others  injured. Within a 6 mile radius, 6,000 people are living in temporary make-shift  shelters.

Assessment visits are being organized to the coastal communities of Leogane and Jacmel as well to investigate the level of need and the logistics of extending relief operations to these communities.

The Salvation Army has also been paying significant attention to the children of the country.

Infants from a Port-au-Prince orphanage.

An assessment team visit to the Le Bon Samaritan orphanage in Port-au-Prince resulted in a delivery of 20 tents and seven cases of food.  Our team has committed to continue weekly deliveries of food to the 130 children there and continues to visit other orphanages in the area to assess their needs.

Also, despite receiving significant damage to the building, the ‘College Verena’ school located in the Salvation Army compound has developed a daily feeding program that serves 600 children per day.

Children enjoy returning to school, which helps them escape from the trauma of the earthquake.

As The Salvation Army expands its outreach, we continue to work with partner agencies to provide for the many needs of victims in Port-au-Prince, providing food water, medical treatment, education, and other services.

To stay updated on our efforts, visit our national website at www.salvationarmyusa.org or follow us on  Facebook and Twitter.

You can also find more on-the-ground updates from our team in Haiti through  www.salvationarmyhaiti.org or The Salvation Army’s  Haiti Facebook page.

Do you remember when we told you Congress was considering a bill that would allow you to claim deductions on your 2009 tax return if you make a monetary donation to earthquake relief in Haiti?

Well guess what – the bill passed!

President Obama signed the bill into Public Law No. 111-126.  This means if you haven’t already, make your donations for Haiti relief by March 1, 2010 so that you can claim a deduction on your 2009 tax return. If you wait until after the 1st, you won’t be able to claim it until next year.

And for IRS purposes, be sure to keep your cell phone bill as a record if you make a donation via text.

If you would like to make a financial contribution to The Salvation Army’s ongoing relief efforts in Haiti, you can donate through :
•     Online Credit Card Contributions or PayPal
•    Text ‘HAITI’ to 52000
•    Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY
•    Mail a check or money order to:
The Salvation Army World Service Office
International Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 630728
Baltimore, MD 21263-0728
*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*

To stay updated on our efforts, visit our national website at www.salvationarmyusa.org or follow us on  Facebook and Twitter.

Richard and Wasnel fly their homemade kites.

Richard Deris and Wasnel Samuel Guirand are living temporarily in a tent outside The Salvation Army Haiti Divisional Headquarters in Port-au-Prince.

It’s a breezy day in Port-au-Prince, and its boring in their tent. For centuries a breeze anywhere in the world has attracted children and their kites, and these kids are no exception. But, Richard and Wasnel had no kite and no money with which to buy one.

So, they made their own.

Using a discarded garbage bag, strips of cloth salvaged from the near-by trash canal and stripping the middle spine of a coconut palm leaf, they fashioned small kites that catch the wind and provide hours of play and relief  from the boredom of their present circumstances.

What a simple, beautiful way to remind oneself that in the wake of a terrible natural disaster, joy and a little fun can still be found in the sun that continues to shine and the breeze that continues to blow.

Richard displays a kite made from trash he collected.

Communications for Life (English translation of Telecoms Sans Front –TSF)   has established a satellite telephone site at the Salvation Army’s Emergency Clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. TSF is the latest of many Non Government Agencies and other groups with whom The Salvation Army is working in the devastated country.

With a completely devastated infrastructure, communication within and outside of Haiti has been minimal and extremely difficult, even for relief workers.  However, thanks to the help of TSF, there are at present two satellite links and more to come as the needs are indicated.

The organization  is providing this service to any Haitian who can get to The Salvation Army clinic. Calls are limited to three minutes and can go to any phone number in the world. The service will be available through the end of February. The Salvation Army clinic site was chosen because there are several hundred Haitians assembled there daily for clinic services.

For Haitians not already in the clinic compound, TSF sends one of their workers with a portable megaphone to alert passers-by to the availability of the service.

Two citizen philanthropists for The Salvation Army’s Haiti relief efforts were featured on NBC Nightly News last night: 9-year-old Connor Howard of Allen, TX, who we recently featured in our blog,  and a hair salon owner in Jackson, MS. These individuals may not have the means to fly to Haiti in their own private plane loaded with supplies like John Travolta, but their creative efforts and contributions are just as meaningful and, in my opinion, even more inspiring.

We may tend to succumb to the mindset that we can only make a difference if we’re wealthy and powerful, but somehow I doubt Connor’s allowance is anything to envy. The little boy’s determined spirit, though, seems to be overly abundant. Armed with a coffee can and a homemade construction paper sign,  he’s raised several hundred dollars for Haiti just by seeking out opportunities to ask for support from friends, family, and anyone he meets along the way.

And who knew a hair stylist could be integral in Haiti relief? Well, instead of thinking, “Why?” we should be thinking “Why not?” That’s exactly what a salon in Jackson, MS decided and opened up shop on a day they were regularly closed. Proceeds from that day’s “Haircuts for Haiti” were donated to The Salvation Army Haiti relief efforts. Sport a hot new hairstyle and help Haiti? Sign me up.

If you would like to support The Salvation Army’s ongoing relief efforts in Haiti, you can make financial contributions by:

• Visiting www.salvationarmyusa.org and via PayPal
• Calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY
• Texting the word HAITI to 52000 and confirming with the word, “yes.”
• Sending a check or money order to:

The Salvation Army World Service Office
International Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 630728
Baltimore, MD 21263-0728
*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*

While news reports have flashed headlines of increasing violence surrounding Haitian earthquake victims’ desperation for food and supplies, The Salvation Army’s compound in Port-au-Prince has been blessed to experience the opposite. Even after handing out as many as 260,000 meals in one sitting, our teams say the distributions have been very calm and orderly, with some Haitians even clapping after a recent distribution! This safe, quick and efficient aid would not be possible without the tireless help of our relief workers, volunteers and security personnel, and of course, God’s mercy throughout it all. Our team in the field sent us photos to help us get a better look at what goes on during these massive undertakings.

Salvation Army Volunteers are seen unloading and setting up for distribution food and water. The distribution totaled more than 260,000 meals, 1600 gallon bottles of water to help in preparation of the meals. The entire distribution effort was concluded in four hours.

Happy residents benefit from a orderly and dignified process of receiving food from a generous and caring world via The Salvation Army. 261,000 meals were distributed in four hours by volunteers and staff of The Salvation Army’s Earthquake relief operation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Major Lucien Lamartiuere, Salvation Army Haiti Divisional Commander, and John Berglund, Haiti Emergency Program Coordinator, are seen smiling as they discuss and survey the orderly, dignified and welcome process of distributing 261,000 meals to Haitian people displaced by the earthquake.

The days continue to be busy for Salvation Army emergency relief workers in Haiti as well as our logistical support team based in Miami. And BUSY = GREAT when that means Haiti earthquake victims are being served.

We’re pleased to report that another airplane touched down in Port-au-Prince carrying 350,000 meals, 18,480 gallons of water, 260 tents and tarps, and baby items and assorted medical supplies.

A view of the temporary homes in the soccer arena for which The Salvation Army has taken responsibility (Photo: Jeremy Watt/The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory)

Salvation Army personnel and volunteers helped distribute more than 231,000 meals to displaced families located around the Salvation Army’s main compound with the help of the US Army’s 82^nd Airborne. Our team members on the ground have reported that food distributions are going smoothly. In sharp contrast to general stories of angry and unruly crowds at these types of events, The Salvation Army actually experienced applause from the people gathered following a recent distribution! We hope this reaction serves as a testament to Haitians receiving the aid they need.

Classes for 100 preschoolers in Port-au-Prince were held for the second day today. After suffering much physical and emotional trauma, these kids will be able to find a semblance of normalcy at school. And, never failing to cheer up children, 12 soccer balls were quickly snatched up by children.

Medical treatment also continues with more than 300 people receiving various forms of aid on Monday.  Thankfully, the trend of illnesses and injuries being presented at the clinic seems to be “less traumatic” than ailments seen in recent days.

72 yr. old retired Salvation Army officer Lt. Col. Herb Rader undertakes an operation in the Salvation Army clinic in Port-au-Prince. (Photo: Jeremy Watt/The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory)

Can you make a mean red velvet cake? Or have you perfected your downward facing dog? Do you even know what that means?

If baking or yoga isn’t your thing, no worries. Whatever your hobby or talent, you can use your skills to support the ongoing reliefs effort in Haiti. Concerned citizens are getting creative to find ways they can help, from holding auctions to giving haircuts to hosting bake sales, and donating the financial proceeds to aid organizations.

USA Today reports on a few ways individuals across the country  have done what they do best and made it work for Haiti:

Beverly Grubbs of  Terre Haute, Indiana  helped arrange an auction and potato-bar lunch at Indiana State University’s Cunningham Memorial Library, raising more than $1,200.

Terra Sky Center for Wellness in Summit, New Jersey is offering free yoga and fitness classes in exchange for donations of $25.

Patti Christopherson of  Sedalia, Missouri enlisted volunteers to make delicious lasagna and garlic bread  for delivery  to local businesses at a suggested $5 donation.

The Men’s Club barbershop in Wilmington, Delaware will donate the $23 each customer paid for haircuts last week.

And remember, it’s not about how much you raise but the effort put into it. Major Hood, The Salvation Army National Headquarters’ National Community Relations Secretary, affirmed in the USA Today article that every little bit helps, describing small donations as our “bread and butter.”

So, the question is, what ordinary skill or task can you use to help make an extraordinary difference?

If you need a little more time to brainstorm, or have already raised proceeds for Haiti relief, consider donating to The Salvation Army, which has had a presence in the island nation since 1960 and is actively working with the community to support relief and reconstruction. You can make contributions by:

• Visiting www.salvationarmyusa.org and via PayPal
• Calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY
• Texting the word HAITI to 52000 and confirming with the word, “yes.”
• Sending a check or money order to:

The Salvation Army World Service Office
International Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 630728
Baltimore, MD 21263-0728
*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*

Reports have continued to come in from our teams in the field of the slow progress towards a relative ‘stability’ within Haiti. Though reaching normalcy is a long way off, the small steps are a sign of hope. From children returning to a makeshift school, to hundreds of thousands more meals being delivered, to Haitians gathering to worship God, there is a hope that is real and sufficient that continues to provide workers with strength for the day and victims with reason to believe there is a tomorrow.

Though we all wish Haiti could have been spared from the unfortunate disaster that struck January 12,  the world continues to use the moment by moment opportunities in the situation at hand to bless and support Haiti through ways seen and unseen. Below are a few photos of soldiers, workers, and worshipers whose roles in the disaster all vary from one another,  but ultimately they are united in the goal of rebuilding a stronger, more stable Haiti one day at a time. Who knows, the disaster may just be an unlikely step in the process towards a better future for the citizens of this island nation.

The Soldier and the Cross

Providing security in keeping with the United Nations Mission in Haiti of which The Salvation Army’s relief efforts are a part, a soldier of the ubiquitous 82^nd Airborne is seen in front of the now unsafe and unusable Corps building as he and others in his unit arrive to survey security for  major food distribution and other security needs of  Salvation Army personnel and  those earthquake victims who have so far been registered by the Army’s assessment teams.

Keeping Watch

Salvation Army disaster workers are seen directing military personnel of the, it seems ,“everywhere all the time” 82^nd Airborne to food and water distribution location in advance of the arrival of the United Nations/Salvation Army convoy.

The New Face of Emergency Disaster Services

Mask and sunglasses provide appropriate protection from the dust and sun of a Haitian afternoon for Salvation Army Emergency Disaster workers.

The Corps is Not a Place. It’s a People.

Haitian Salvationists are seen in typical spirited, joyful worship in the courtyard outside the unusable Corps in the shade of a gigantic cashew tree.

The hopeful spirit of the Haitian Salvationists is an example of the hope of which we read in God’s Word “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” Jeremiah 29:31 NIV

If you would like to stay up to date on The Salvation Army’s efforts in Haiti, you can visit our national website at www.salvationarmyusa.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.