Haiti Earthquake Updates

March 8, 2010

Members of the United Church, in a remarkable embodiment of compassion and generosity, have contributed more than $2.5 million to the church's Haiti Earthquake Appeal. "The response is just tremendous," said Omega Bula, executive minister in the Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit. "It is a powerful example of God's love expressed through the faithful giving of United Church members from all parts of Canada."

This outpouring of support and solidarity is being put to work on behalf of thousands of Haitian families who need food, shelter, medical care, and ultimately permanent housing that is resistant to earthquakes and hurricanes, natural calamities to which Haiti is continually vulnerable. To provide this support, the United Church is working bilaterally with its two partners in Haiti, the Karl Lévêque Cultural Institute and the Methodist Church of Haiti, and ecumenically through the ACT Alliance. The United Church began sharing funds with these organizations shortly after the earthquake on January 12.

The United Church is also collaborating with eight other Canadian churches and agencies through Canadian Churches in Action (CCA). CCA has submitted a proposal to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for a $1.8 million project to provide temporary shelter for Haitians awaiting the building of permanent homes. The project, which will be implemented by ACT Alliance members in Haiti, also includes support for water and sanitation facilities.

"Haitians who lost their homes during the earthquake are in urgent need of temporary housing to protect them from approaching seasonal rains," said Jim Hodgson, the United Church's program coordinator for the Caribbean and Central America.

An additional CCA project request to CIDA, for the construction of permanent housing, will be submitted as soon as the government agency is in a position to receive more proposals from Canadian humanitarian organizations. In the meantime the United Church is continuing to consult with its partners in Haiti and with regional humanitarian aid and development organizations to explore other ways in which funds might be shared for the long-term benefit of the Haitian people.