HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE - WHAT WE KNOW:
- A devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit southwestern Haiti on Saturday morning at 8:30 am (local time).
- Over 1,900 killed, nearly 10,000 injured, hundreds missing
- More than 80,000 (37,300 homes destroyed, 46,000 damaged) homes have been damaged or destroyed. This number is still expected to rise.
- Tropical Storm Grace brought heavy rains to Haiti
- Hospital systems are overwhelmed with an abundance of COVID-19 patients and now injured victims.
- The country is extremely politically turbulent, and Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere
SHELTERBOX RESPONSE:
ShelterBox has worked in Haiti five times including in 2010 after a magnitude 7 earthquake devastated the country. From our response to the Les Cayes region after Hurricane Matthew in 2016, we know that the geography near the quake’s epicenter could make access to vulnerable communities especially difficult. We are in contact with Rotary International and local Rotary Clubs. ShelterBox is deploying a team to conduct assessments. ShelterBox has aid prepositioned in Panama ready to send if needed.
ShelterBox works together with local Rotary Clubs and others to support the most vulnerable in any disaster situation. Life saving shelter, water filtration, mosquito nets, covid hand washing stations and solar lighting are among the many items that will be needed to support Haitians as they work to recover. With over 80,000 people currently without shelter, the need is great. ShelterBox welcomes the support of District 5450 and thanks you for the immediate impact your donations will have in Haiti and beyond.
A full ShelterBox that contains a nine-person tent as well as a range of items to help a family survive and get back to normal as quickly as possible costs approximately $1,000 to deliver to a family in need.
Shelter Kits with the tools and materials to repair a home cost approximately $300 to deliver.
TO DONATE:
Mail Checks to: ShelterBox USA, PO Box 5055, Santa Barbara, CA 93150
Online donations can be made here: www.ShelterBoxUSA.org/Donate