Mennonite Weekly Review

WINNIPEG, Man. — Mennonite Central Committee has approved $3.4 million in projects in the first six months of its five-year response to the Haiti earthquake.

Joseph Saingelus, Mennonite Central Committee Haiti staff member, is happy that repairs to his damaged home are nearing completion. He was able to move back into his home in April, a week after this photo was taken. — Photo by Ben Depp/MCC

Another $2.8 million will likely be approved in the next few months. MCC has sent $2.1 million worth of material aid to Haiti since the earthquake, including food, water, relief kits, comforters, tents and medical supplies.

“Recovery and long-term rebuilding efforts will take time,” said Willie Reimer, director of MCC’s food, disaster and material aid work. “Each disaster is unique, and each disaster has its challenges.

“The story for me is the resiliency and compassion demonstrated by people in Haiti. The way they cared for each other and assisted each other in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake is still happening today.”

The staff working for MCC partner agencies in Haiti are among many Haitians grieving the losses of family members, co-workers, friends and their homes as a result of the earthquake that claimed at least a quarter of a million lives and left more than a million people homeless.

These personal losses create “an added dimension to the response in Haiti that isn’t present to the same extent in many other disasters,” Reimer said.

Many aid agencies lost their buildings in the quake and were forced to rebuild their offices or move to another building even as they were working to provide aid. Other obstacles include political challenges facing the central government, damage to infrastructure, mounds of rubble, a complicated system of land ownership and chronic poverty.

Despite these challenges, aid agencies are providing basic assistance to millions of people — assistance that has prevented massive outbreaks of disease and violence, Reimer said.

In partnership with Haitian agencies, MCC is planning and implementing a five-year response that is focusing on emergency assistance, economic development, food security, housing, education, health, peacebuilding and trauma healing.

“Our staff and partners are responding energetically to the needs of the people and working vigorously in a context that is challenging,” Reimer said.

Donors in Canada and the U.S. have given MCC more than $13 million for its earthquake response. Potential contributions from Canadian Foodgrains Bank and other sources could boost that number to $20 million.

MCC has been working in Haiti since 1958. Prior to the January 12 earthquake, MCC was working in reforestation and environmental education, human rights and advocacy for food security. MCC currently has 24 staff in the country.