Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike pummelled the small Carribean island of Haiti after making landfall back to back. Haiti, already in the news for its food crisis, faces this devestating disaster with virtually no resources. The area most impacted was Gonaives, north of Haiti’s capital. Two other major cities, Jacmel and St. Marc, were also greatly affected. 

The road from Port-au-Prince is now open. While some parts are temporary, provisions are now moving within the country. The situation is still very serious and the needs are still great.  So far we have distributed 3,000 pounds of rice, 750 pounds of beans, 360 gallons of oil, and 5 bales of clothes to be distributed amongst the many churches that we have in need.   For now, missionaries have been supplying rice, beans and oil to various churches in the north that were hardest hit. Pray that they will have wisdom to know how to distribute what is available and give the best help.

Brett Bundy has joined a group of pastors in town from several different denominations and organizations to try to combine efforts to be quicker to act in the event of future disasters.  It is very difficult to formalize a plan of action when there are so many unknown variables such as road conditions and security.  Due to problems in these two factors, they have still not been able to take much needed aid to Gonaives (on the coast in west central Haiti).  The city of Gonaives is covered in several feet of mud.  In some areas of the city there are houses that are still totally under water. In other areas, there are people still having to live on their roofs. The mayor estimates 5,000 houses have been totally destroyed.   Government officials have stated the current death toll is more than 800 people, although this number will increase as more bodies are discovered when the waters recede. 

OMS International is taking donations for the Haiti Disaster Relief fund, #405120. Your assistance will help provide beans, rice, cooking oil and clean water. Some Haitians lost everything they owned and will need clothing. To help in this urgent relief effort, please donate today.

*A special thanks to our partners in Christ at MFI for providing us with photos.