Advisory: Earthquake in the southern part of Haiti

Final Update: September 22, 2021

According to the Haitian government, the earthquake in the southern part of the country killed approximately 2,250 people. The government also reports that nearly 13,000 people were injured and over 300 people are still missing. The final report from the Compassion Haiti National Office advises 14,351 Compassion beneficiaries and their families were affected as well as 46 Child Development Centers (CDCs). Additionally, nearly 5,000 Compassion beneficiaries' homes were destroyed, and 7,000 beneficiaries' homes were damaged. To aid in recovery, the Compassion Haiti National Office focused on three major interventions: constructing shelter, providing health and child protection assistance, and distributing food and hygiene kits or cash transfers. These interventions had the following successful outcomes: permanent housing is being planned for 12,000 families, over 300 beneficiaries received medical assistance and post trauma counseling, and over 15,000 beneficiaries received food and hygiene kits or cash transfers.

Thank you for your prayers for affected beneficiaries and their families. Thank you for praying for Haiti during this season of recovery.

Update #13: September 17, 2021

In the aftermath of the earthquake, acute food insecurity and lack of safe drinking water remain dire issues. The government has extended the state of emergency in the regions severely impacted. Transportation to and from the southern region of the country is difficult due to security issues and fuel shortages. These security issues have caused the Compassion Haiti Medical Team to temporarily pause travel to impacted areas. Child Development Centers (CDCs) report preparation for the school year has been challenging due to damaged centers. CDCs continue to provide physical and emotional support to beneficiaries as part of the health and child protection intervention. Currently 100% of the either food and hygiene kits or cash transfers have been distributed to 15,000 beneficiaries in the most affected areas. The Compassion Haiti National Office continues to work with service providers and church leaders to implement the shelter intervention. To date, 14,304 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as 46 CDCs. The Compassion Haiti National Office will report updates as they become available.

Please continue to pray for the safety of beneficiaries and their families. Please pray for Compassion staff and leadership as they provide support to all those affected.

Update #12: September 9, 2021

The Compassion Haiti National Office will continue to focus on three major interventions: constructing shelter, providing health and child protection assistance, and distributing food and hygiene kits or cash transfers. The Compassion Haiti National Office continues to work with service providers and church leaders to implement the shelter intervention which will give 12,000 families a place to live. The Compassion Haiti Medical Team is supporting the health and child protection intervention by visiting impacted areas and providing aid to affected beneficiaries. Currently 99% of the either food and hygiene kits or cash transfers have been distributed to beneficiaries. To date, 14,152 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as 46 CDCs. The Compassion Haiti National Office will report updates as they become available.

Please continue to pray for the well-being of beneficiaries, Compassion staff, and Compassion leadership during this difficult season.

Update #11: September 8, 2021

Approximately 12,000 families have had their homes damaged or destroyed. Most of these families are now living in their yards or in tent cities. In response to this overwhelming housing need, the Compassion Haiti National Office will focus on working with service providers that will provide materials and equipment to build each family a safe space to live. The Compassion Haiti National Office will also focus on providing health and child protection assistance to the affected beneficiaries. So far, two medical teams have already visited the southern region of Haiti and provided medical assistance to about 300 beneficiaries. Additionally, almost 99% of the either food and hygiene kits or cash transfers have been distributed to beneficiaries. To date, 13,998 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as 46 CDCs. The Compassion Haiti National Office will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Please continue to pray for beneficiaries, their families, and the people of Haiti as they recover from this crisis.

Update #10: September 7, 2021

For the earthquake devastated regions of the country, the Haitian government has postponed the beginning of the school year to October 4th. There continues to be an increased threat of illness due to the difficult living conditions in the wake of the earthquake. Child Development Center (CDC) staff continue to assist families by setting up outside impacted centers. So far, over 96% of food and hygiene kits or cash transfers have been delivered to beneficiaries. To date, 13,703 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as 46 CDCs. The Compassion Haiti National Office and Compassion Haiti Disaster Response Team will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Please continue to pray for the safety and healing of all impacted beneficiaries and their families.

Update #9: September 1, 2021

A second Compassion Haiti Medical Team, composed of eight former beneficiaries, visited the earthquake-stricken region last week and provided medical assistance to over 100 beneficiaries. So far, approximately 95% of the food and hygiene kits or cash transfers have been delivered to beneficiaries. About 5,000 homes have been destroyed and over 7,000 damaged. Due to frequent aftershocks, most families are living in tents located in their yards. To date, 13,495 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as 46 Child Development Centers (CDCs). The Compassion Disaster Response Team and Compassion Haiti Medical Team will continue to report updates as they become available.

Please continue to pray for beneficiaries, families, CDCs, and staff as they begin the rebuilding and recovery process.

Update #8: August 30, 2021

Our Compassion Disaster Response Team and our Compassion Haiti Medical Team continue to assist affected beneficiaries and families. Food kits, hygiene kits, and cash transfers will continue to be disbursed to impacted beneficiaries. Child Development Center (CDC) staff continue to be accessible to families by setting up outside impacted centers. To date, 12,885 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as 46 CDCs. Our Compassion Disaster Response Team will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Please pray for leaders and staff for wisdom, courage, and resources needed during this difficult time.

Update #7: August 26, 2021

All impacted Child Development Centers (CDCs) have received food and hygiene kits or cash transfers to distribute to affected beneficiaries and their families. So far, approximately 70% of the kits and cash transfers have been delivered to beneficiaries. The distributions will continue throughout this week. Compassion Haiti staff members have resumed work. Some staff members are working from home entering crisis data and other staff members have set up outside CDCs to assist beneficiaries and their families. To date, 12,193 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as 46 CDCs. Updates from our Compassion Disaster Response Team will continue to be reported as they become available.

Please continue to pray for affected beneficiaries, families, staff members, and CDCs as they continue to heal and recover.

Update #6: August 25, 2021

Our Compassion Disaster Response Team successfully delivered food and hygiene kits to specific Child Development Centers (CDCs) last weekend. Those CDCs will distribute the kits directly to affected families this week. Other CDCs were given cash transfers to disburse to impacted families and those families will purchase needed products themselves. The Compassion Haiti Medical Team provided medical assistance to approximately 220 injured beneficiaries and their families. To date, 9,708 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as 42 CDCs. Our Compassion Disaster Response Team will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Please continue to pray for the injured and grieving beneficiaries and their families. Please pray for the people of Haiti as they recover from this crisis.

Update #5: August 23, 2021

Our Compassion Disaster Response Team has visited the areas impacted by the earthquake and met with many affected church leaders, staff, and beneficiaries. The disaster response team returned to Port-au-Prince today. The Compassion Haiti Medical Team has assisted approximately 100 injured people and will continue to provide medical assistance to injured beneficiaries and their families. The medical team plans to return to Port-au-Prince tomorrow. The Compassion Disaster Response Team and Compassion Haiti Medical Team will continue to report updates as they become available.

Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti during this season of recovery. Please pray for safety, healing, and restoration.

Update #4: August 20, 2021

As of August 20, 2021, our Compassion Haiti Medical Team has provided medical and counseling services for 150 injured beneficiaries and their families. Approximately 3000 food and hygiene kits will be distributed by this weekend. The food and hygiene kits will be delivered to Child Development Centers (CDCs) that are accessible. For CDCs that are not accessible, the center will receive cash transfers to give out to beneficiaries so that they can buy their own food. To date, 4,226 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as 28 CDCs. Our Compassion Disaster Response Team will continue to assess the situation and provide updates as they become available.

Please continue to pray for safety and healing for all of those affected by the Haiti earthquake.

Update #3: August 19, 2021

Our Compassion Haiti Medical Team arrived safely and have travelled to urban and rural areas impacted by the earthquake in southern Haiti. The team will start medical checkups tomorrow morning. Since the need is large, the team will set up in two different locations to aid as many affected beneficiaries and families as possible. The medical team will also distribute basic medicines, vitamins, water purification products, and antibiotics to Child Development Centers (CDCs). Food and hygiene kits are being distributed this weekend. To date, 2,452 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as 25 CDCs. Our Compassion Disaster Response Team will continue to assess the situation and provide updates as they become available.

Please continue to pray for the safety of our beneficiaries and their families, CDCs, Compassion Haiti staff, and the people of Haiti.

Update #2: August 18, 2021

Our Compassion Disaster Response Team arrived safely in the earthquake devastated region of Haiti and visited at least five Child Development Centers (CDCs). The Disaster Response Team is also preparing food and hygiene kits to distribute to victims as early as this weekend. To date, 422 beneficiaries and their families have been affected as well as eleven CDCs. It has been reported that homes have been destroyed and damaged causing most families to reside outside of their homes in their yards. The Compassion Haiti medical team will arrive in the affected region tomorrow to provide necessary help to the injured beneficiaries, caregivers, and CDC staff.

Please continue to pray for the well-being of beneficiaries, their families, CDCs, and Compassion staff. Please pray for the people of Haiti as they begin the recovery process.

Update #1: August 17, 2021

Our Compassion Haiti National Office sent the Disaster Response Team to the most affected area, and they were able to meet with partnership facilitators and church leaders to discuss short-term responses and better assess the overall situation. Preliminary reports from the Child Development Centers (CDC) indicate that 156 beneficiaries and their families have been affected so far as well as four CDCs. They continue to assess the situation and are contacting every beneficiary in the area. Hospitals in the affected area are overwhelmed and lack medicine and equipment to care for the injured. The Compassion Haiti medical team is preparing to go to the affected area as soon as possible to offer medical assistance to affected beneficiaries and their families, CDC staff and church leaders. The Disaster Response Team is working with local providers to prepare food and hygiene kits to deliver to affected families no later than this weekend.

Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti and specifically for beneficiaries and their families, CDC and church partner staff as well as Compassion Haiti staff.

Disaster Alert: August 15, 2021

Early on Saturday morning at 8:30, the southern side of Haiti was struck by a 7.2 earthquake severely affecting at least three area: South, Grand'Anse and Nippes. The 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck 5 miles from the town of Petit Trou de Nippes, about 93 miles west of the capital Port-au-Prince, at a depth of 10 km, according to the officials. Two aftershocks have been felt in the area. The Haitian government declared a one-month state of emergency mainly in the following areas: West, South, Nippes, and Grand'Anse.

All the Compassion Haiti National Office Staff are physically fine and are mobilizing to provide support to Child Development Centers (CDC) in the area. So far, seven of our CDCs have reported that their buildings either collapsed or cracked, and they continue to gather information on the affected beneficiaries. Specific beneficiary information is not yet available. The National Leadership Team of Compassion Haiti will send a response team to the affected area on Monday to help assess impact and discuss the short term responses with the partners. A medical team will be driven to the southern region as early as possible in the week to help provide medical support to the affected beneficiaries and CDC staff members. Food and hygiene kits will be also prepared for quick distribution.

Please pray for beneficiaries and their families, our church partners in the affected area and for our National Office team as they provide support to all those affected.