Saving Lives
Changing Lives

Haiti earthquake: ‘It’s hard to see people with nowhere to sleep – especially the kids’

WFP at hand in areas affected by the 7.2 magnitude quake that struck the country on 14 August
, Marianela González
Haiti _Denise Elizean and son Jean Pierre in an improvised camp for people displaced by the quake_marianela gonzalez
Marie Denise Elizean (18) and her Jean Pierre in a camp for people displaced by the earthquake in Les Cayes. Photo: WFP/Marianela González

You can help families in Haiti. Donate today

“It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening. Port-au-Prince was shaking. Soon, everything went quiet. It was just a scare.”

But those few seconds of uncertainty spelled death and destruction for thousands of people in the southern departments of Haiti, hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. 

The latest death toll stands at 2,200 people, with 300 still missing. More than 12,000 people have been injured and thousands of houses destroyed or damaged.

A WFP convoy leaves Port au Prince for Les Cayes_johanna piaton
WFP trucks loaded with food, water hygiene kits and blankets from Haiti’s civil protection authority get ready to leave Port-au-Prince, heading for Les Cayes. Photo: WFP/Johanna Piaton

Two days later, I was on board a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy transporting medical and humanitarian supplies to affected people in the town of Les Cayes.

WFP was already working in the affected areas before the earthquake, supporting thousands of people unable to even afford one meal a day.

It was these very same people the quake hit, shaking the ground under their feet and destroying the roofs over their heads. A few days later, tropical storm Grace poured heavy rains on them. In Les Cayes, Jérémie and many other communities, the damage is visible – and so is the need.

The earthquake added another layer to the deep, long-running crises that have been afflicting Haiti for a long time. Nearly half the population was already struggling to put food on the table – that’s 4.4 million people, 1.2 million of whom are facing severe hunger. Early estimates indicate that needs in the areas affected by the earthquake have grown by 55 percent.

Food distribution at Camp Perrin_marianela gonzalez
Food is distributed to 3,000 people in Camp Perrin, one of the areas in the south of the country that were affected by the earthquake.  Photo: WFP/Marianela González

So far, we have provided 8,000 hot meals to patients, their families and medical staff in hospitals, and we are continuing with our food and cash distributions. We are also putting our logistics capacity at the service of response efforts by other UN agencies, the Haitian government and NGOs.

Woman affected by earthquake eating WFP hotmeal at hospital in Les Cayes
Les Cayes, Mariel Alexis eats one of the hot meals distributed by WFP to patients, their families and medical staff at the local hospital. Photo: WFP/Marianela González

 It is hard to walk into these hospitals, to see families on the street, with nowhere to sleep – especially the children. But it is a privilege – and a responsibility – to be able to bring life-saving assistance to people in their hour of need.

 

Learn more about WFP's work in Haiti

 

You can help families in Haiti

WFP relies exclusively on voluntary contributions, so every donation counts
Donate now

Related stories

Advanced search