Read more about Haiti:
Emergency Aid and Disaster Relief
In 2008, Haiti sustained blows from four back-to-back storms - Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and Tropical Storms Fay and Hanna. Ecological problems have left Haiti with little vegetation to stop hurricane flood waters, so when the storms hit in 2008, flooding and mudslides were catastrophic. Nearly one million people were affected by the destruction. Hundreds died, 10,000 homes were destroyed and up to 90% of crops were lost in some areas. Today, there are 4 million people – mostly children – at risk for malnutrition as a result of the 2008 hurricane season. Read more >>
AmeriCares sent a series of aid deliveries to Haiti including an emergency airlift of critical medical and disaster relief supplies. Medical aid was then distributed through the countryside. To combat children's malnutrition, AmeriCares teamed with partners at one of the country's leading emergency nutrition centers.
AmeriCares also provided significant disaster relief in 2004, when Tropical Storm Jeanne and Hurricane Ivan caused violent flash floods and mudslides destroyed much of Haiti. Also in 2004, AmeriCares delivered emergency relief to Haiti after civil and political unrest affected the entire country. These emergency shipments brought essential medicines, nutritional supplements, supplies, hygiene items, clothing and water purification units to Haitians in need.
Medical and Humanitarian Aid
AmeriCares has been providing humanitarian aid to Haiti since 1984, partnering with local health care organizations throughout the country. We help our partners serve more patients and avoid running out of basic medicines and medical supplies with regular shipments throughout the year.
AmeriCares partners with the Center for the Rural Development of Milot (CRUDEM), which provides health services for 225,000 people in northern Haiti. CRUDEM Foundation operates the largest nonprofit hospital in the area, Hôpital Sacré Coeur. From maternity services to a nutrition center to HIV/AIDS services, CRUDEM serves more than 50,000 outpatients per year. AmeriCares began the partnership with CRUDEM in 1994 and continues to deliver medicines and supplies, which are critically needed but expensive and not readily available within the country.
In 2003, AmeriCares began working with the Connecticut-based Haitian Health Foundation (HHF) to support its work serving the health care needs of 200,000 people in and around Jérémie, Haiti. HHF administers a large outpatient clinic, eye clinic and village health committee programs, a nutritional rehabilitation center and a maternal waiting home for 350-400 patients a day. Recently, AmeriCares worked to supply HHF’s “Center for Hope” maternal center with medicines essential for a safe delivery.
AmeriCares has also worked with Partners in Health, founded by Dr. Paul Farmer. Partners in Health (PIH) manages eight clinics and one hospital in the Central Plateau of Haiti, providing health care for more than 1 million patients each year. AmeriCares support of Partners in Health has included targeted donations, including IV solutions, essential medical supplies, nutritional supplements and vaccines.
AmeriCares also funded the construction of PIH's newest clinic in Lacolline, central Haiti. The clinic opened its doors in 2008, relieving severe overcrowding at other facilities, expanding service levels and providing high quality medical care in one of the poorest regions of the country.
Help AmeriCares save lives and restore health in Haiti »
