HAITI EARTHQUAKE 2021
UPDATED TUESDAY JANUARY 11, 2022 3:58 PM EST
Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the massive earthquake that struck Haiti on Saturday, August 14. The 7.2 magnitude earthquake was a stronger magnitude than the devastating quake that struck Haiti in 2010. Officials reported over 2,000 deaths, more than 12,000 people injured, and approximately 130,000 homes damaged or destroyed, plus hospitals, schools, bridges, and other public infrastructure as a result of the earthquake. Tropical Depression Grace also moved through Haiti just days after the earthquake, causing heavy rain, flooding, and mudslides in impacted areas. Many areas had at least 5 inches of rain and some areas likely had up to 10 inches of rain. This complicated rescue and recovery efforts, as well as created further challenges for displaced families.
We are thankful to have staff and long-term partners on the ground, who were able to provide immediate, direct relief to the impacted areas. Our response has been multi-faceted:
Medical Team
On the morning of August 20, Matthew 25: Ministries’ team of Haitian staff members departed for the impacted areas with vehicles loaded with essential supplies like food, water, personal care items and tarps as well as supplies for mobile medical clinics staffed by the team’s health professionals. The team provided supplies and services in the Les Cayes, Camp Perrin, and Les Anglais areas. Many hospitals were severely damaged or completely destroyed, and the operational hospitals were overwhelmed. Matthew 25’s medical team set up mobile clinics, helping to meet Haiti’s immediate healthcare needs and alleviate the strain on local resources.
Supplies
- Matthew 25 already had disaster supplies prepositioned with partners in the area, facilitating rapid initial response.
- Matthew 25’s Haitian staff members also purchased supplies in-country for immediate distribution, including food, water, medical supplies and other relief items for the impacted areas in Haiti.
- Matthew 25 shipped aid to partners in Haiti to support relief efforts and provide desperately-needed supplies to those affected by this disaster. We shipped approximately 15 containers carrying personal care items, cleaning products, blankets, work gloves, face masks, and more.
Matthew 25: Ministries has worked to improve conditions in Haiti through shipments of humanitarian aid since 1998. After the historic earthquake in 2010, Matthew 25: Ministries increased its level of involvement in Haiti, shipping hundreds of containers of disaster relief and humanitarian aid, leading medical mission trips to assist with healthcare needs, supporting orphanages and creating programs to provide job opportunities, affordable healthcare and other services. In 2016, Matthew 25 responded to Hurricane Matthew, which hit this same region of Haiti.
