Haiti: Relief and Recovery

Since the earthquake struck in Haiti on January 12, the American Red Cross has raised approximately $369 million. We have spent or allocated $106.4 million in the areas of food and water, shelter, and health and family services. People in Haiti will receive immediate relief and resources, as well as the necessary support and training to help them recover and rebuild. The Red Cross will continue to invest the money entrusted to us by the American people in the most responsible way possible, until the last donated dollar is spent. We are committed to providing assistance quickly, but with a thoughtful and well-planned approach that ensures the best service to meet long-term needs for recovery. The Red Cross is working closely with the Government of Haiti, the World Bank, the UN and others to ensure that relief and recovery work is done in a coordinated, comprehensive and sustainable way.

52% of the money has been spent on food, water and relief supplies; 36% on shelter; 8% on health and family services; and 4% on livelihoods.

Shelter:

The Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies have given out tarps, tents and other shelter supplies to support 879,000 Haitians in need of shelter following the earthquake—roughly half of the 1.3 million left homeless by the earthquake—and we are on track to get emergency shelter to the rest by May 1, when rains are expected to reach their peak. As we have done following other major international disasters, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the Red Cross will support the building of transitional as well as more permanent shelters. The decision on how many permanent homes the Red Cross will help build will be determined in consultation and coordination with the Haitian Red Cross, the Government of Haiti and other international relief organizations.

Financial Assistance

In partnership with Haiti’s largest microfinance institute Fonkoze , the American Red Cross will provide female heads of household with a grant to help them care for their families as well as the option of a micro loan to help restart their small businesses following the January 2010 earthquake. This multi-faceted program will benefit up to 10,000 families (or approximately 50,000 people), who have lost their homes, business or both. This is a distinct group, different from those receiving supplemental relief or host family grants. A grant of $128 roughly equals the host families’ salary for one month and will help buy the equivalent of 4 sheets of corrugated iron, 1 mattress, 2 sheets, 2 bars of soap and 1.5 bags of rice. Disbursements are being carried out in phases, staggered throughout 6 months, to a group of beneficiaries with long-standing relationships with Fonkoze.

Repatriation & Support to Haitian-Americans:

Haitian-Americans can contact their local American Red Cross chapter, which can offer mental health services and spiritual care, and help to reconnect Haitian-Americans with their loved ones in Haiti. American Red Cross chapters are in ongoing contact with the Haitian-American community in cities with the largest Haitian-American populations, namely Miami, Greater New York, Northern New Jersey, Massachusetts Bay, Philadelphia and Chicago. We have translated important information into Creole, particularly about locating loved ones. We provide Creole interpretation on the domestic disaster hotline: 1-866-GET INFO.