Catholic Relief Services reports helping hundreds of thousands of Haitians
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Port au Prince, Haiti, Feb 3, 2010 / 07:43 am (CNA).- Catholic Relief Services and its Caritas partners in Haiti have provided food and water to hundreds of thousands of victims of the massive January earthquake and have provided medical aid to thousands. The agency says it has raised over $38 million for the task and is “extremely grateful” for all its donors.

More than 100,000 people have been fed by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Port-au-Prince, the organization reports. Just days after the earthquake killed an estimated 200,000 people and left as many as one million homeless, CRS turned a golf course in the Haitian capital into one of the first relief camps. About 40,000 people have been served there.

CRS is collaborating with the local Church and Caritas partners including Caritas Haiti and the Caritas Internationalis confederation.

A CRS team worked with Haitian colleagues to restore operations at St. Francois de Sales hospital, one of the country’s oldest. Though the Port-au-Prince hospital was 70 percent destroyed, CRS worked with the hospital administrator to restore its capacity to receive patients. Volunteer medical teams are now performing up to 200 critical operations per week.

Relief camps are becoming more organized but the rainy season—which begins in April—is looming, CRS reports. The relief agency is increasing efforts to build temporary shelter and prevent the outbreak of disease from polluted water and poor hygiene. It has begun installing large water storage bladders throughout the capital and has begun construction on latrines and washing stations that will serve thousands of people at various CRS sites.

Joan Rosenhauer, CRS Executive Vice President for U.S. Operations, said CRS was “extremely grateful” to U.S. Catholic dioceses, parishes and schools. These started mobilizing their networks immediately.

Rosenhauer said they have “generously and creatively” supported CRS work in Haiti.

CRS says it has raised more than $38 million for its emergency response. Parishes have held second collections and colleges and universities have set up special web sites. Catholic schools have held special Masses, prayer services, concerts and fundraisers.

“We even heard of one little girl who sold all of her stuffed animals to raise donations,” Rosenhauer said. “We really appreciate every effort, no matter how small or large.”

The CRS website is at www.crs.org.

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Shelby Spear
Chardon, Ohio 02/05/2010 04:53 PM EST
Beneath the Rubble - Deuteronomy 33:27 Where’s my Hope…beneath the rubble? Where do I find Strength in this complete destruction? How can Courage exist when death surrounds me? How can I see God, in the faces of despair? “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” In the fallen buildings, I am in the dust In the eyes of orphans, I am the innocent reflection In the fresh laid tombs, I am still eternal Life In the souls of the lost, I am the Grace to press on “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” I am the hands that dig and rescue I am the head that’s bowed in prayer I am the cries of those who suffer I am the doctor giving desperate care Look into the darkness, I am still redeeming Light In the harrowing brokenness, I am still the Great Physician For my lost and lonely children, I am still the air they breathe I remain your everlasting arms of Love… beneath the rubble
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Published by: Ann
Iowa 02/03/2010 04:39 PM EST
Bob, you are so right. I work in a newsroom and read the AP wire every day. In fact right now, the wire is placing LOTS of stories about priest abuse, accusations, diocese having to sell off property, etc. They are soft-balling the story about Baptists in Haiti taking children in a way they never would if it were Catholics. Meanwhile, I have not seen on the AP wire the story about a Catholic priest suing his accuser, his accuser's lawyer and SNAP. And regarding Haiti aid, they always seem to seek out Protestant groups for comment and coverage.
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Published by: Bob
Queens, NY 02/03/2010 11:40 AM EST
What we do, we do for the Lord, and not for the PR. Yet, how interesting it is that the secular media seem to gloss over the positive and heroic activities of the Catholic Church in Haiti in ministering to the needs of the people before, during and after this catastrophe while at the same time the same media gives extensive written coverage and air time to the efforts of Protestant ecclesial communities and flash-in-the-pan entertainers. If we RC's do something right, it's not newsworthy. Such is the way of the world, or maybe it's just come to be expected of RC as a matter of standard behavior because of our track record in caring for the needs of the poor for 20 centuries. We'll still be there, serving quietly, when the others have moved on to the next cause celebre. In any event, it's best to follow the Lord's thoughts: Whatever is done for His brothers and sisters, let it not be done in order to be seen, but privately, and our reward in Heaven (where it counts) will be great.
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