Haiti :: Food for the Poor

On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook the nation of Haiti, leveling more than 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings. The final death toll isn’t certain; however, officials estimate between 100,000 up to 316,000 people died that day. 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or higher also did their fair share of damage.

Worship In Action went to Haiti after the earthquake and partnered with Food for the Poor to provide food and shelter for Haitians in need. Don also worked with a Food for the Poor film crew to shine a light on Haiti. Please take a look at this mini documentary below. It will certainly give you a glimpse into one of the world’s poorest nations.

In April 2013, the International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database listed Haiti as the 20th poorest nation on earth, and the #1 poorest nation in the Americas. The Purchasing-Power-Parity (PPP) per capita in Haiti is $1,358.10, in contrast to the wealthiest nation on earth, Qatar, which has a PPP of $105,091.42. This is a HUGE difference that is clearly visible as one walks the streets of any major Haitian city or small community. According to the World Bank, over half of its 10 million citizens live on less than US$1 per day, and approximately 80% live on less than US$2 per day. Below are two resources for further understanding of this.

The World’s Richest and Poorest Countries
Haiti Overview by The World Bank

Today, the vast majority of Haitians live on $1 or $2 per day and this obviously impacts their ability to purchase food, water, shelter or medical care. Malnutrition is a serious issue in Haiti, as is mortality among children. UNICEF listed the following on its website as the top issues facing Haitian children. Read Full Reference Here.

1. Haiti has the highest rates of infant, under-five and maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere. Diarrhea, respiratory infections, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are the leading causes of death.
2. Some 60 per cent of people, primarily in rural areas, lack access to basic health-care services.
3. Numerous schools and hospitals have closed because teachers, social workers and health providers could not go to work for fear of violence.
4. It is estimated that about 5.6 per cent of people aged 15-49 years old in Haiti are living with HIV/AIDS. This includes about 19,000 children. Antiretroviral drugs are extremely scarce.
5. As many as 2,000 children a year are trafficked to the Dominican Republic, often with their parents’ support.
6. Only a little over half of primary school-age children are enrolled in school. Less than 2 per cent of children finish secondary school.
7. Approximately 1,000 children are working as messengers, spies and even soldiers for armed gangs in Port Au Prince.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake which struck Haiti in 2012, on top of these already dire conditions, immensely intensified the suffering of the Haitian people, particularly children. The cleanup efforts have steadily come along and the majority of displaced Haitians have found new forms of shelter. However, with the literacy rate among Haitians at 53 percent and when millions of people no not have access to proper nutrition nor clean or usable water, there is still great work to do in Haiti.

This is why Don Moen :: Worship In Action has gotten involved in Haiti. God has not forsaken Haiti. He loves Haiti and is using willing folks to bring hope to people who desperately need it. Please consider joining us as we bring hope to Haiti. Make a Donation Here.