Haiti’s Political Unrest And Troubled History May Slow Aid To The Earthquake Victims

Enlarge this image


Rice is distributed to residents in Les Cayes, Haiti, on Monday, two days after the earthquake.





Joseph Odelyn/AP



hide caption



toggle caption


Joseph Odelyn/AP



World
Here’s How You Can Support Earthquake Relief Efforts In Haiti



World
Naomi Osaka And Other Celebrities Are Calling For Help For Haiti

Nate Mook, CEO of World Central Kitchen, cited the need for adaptability as well. He was in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince on Monday, managing the nonprofit’s efforts to combat food insecurity following the earthquake, but found that its transportation system was needed to bring injured people to the hospital.

«We’ve been really focusing, not just on food, but also how we can support our local partners, he said. «We’ve spent a lot of time here. We know how to navigate the complexities.

Haiti inspired chef Jose Andres to found World Central Kitchen following the 2010 earthquake and the nonprofit has maintained a presence there, opening a culinary school in 2015 that is now one of two bases of operations to provide thousands of meals a day.

«People are hungry and they’re getting desperate and that creates instability and a lot of concerns, so we need to work with our partners to get them food, to make sure food is available, Mook said.

Skyler Badenoch, CEO of the Florida nonprofit Hope for Haiti, says the response has also been complicated because its staff has been directly affected by the disaster. The organization is now gearing up to distribute $60 million worth of first aid supplies and medical equipment to help those affected, he said.





Enlarge this image


Residents wait at a truck for rice in Les Cayes, Haiti, on Monday.





Joseph Odelyn/AP



hide caption



toggle caption


Joseph Odelyn/AP





Enlarge this image


A woman sleeps outside her home in Saint-Louis-du-Sud, Haiti, on Monday, two days after the earthquake.





Matias Delacroix/AP



hide caption



toggle caption


Matias Delacroix/AP




A woman sleeps outside her home in Saint-Louis-du-Sud, Haiti, on Monday, two days after the earthquake.


Matias Delacroix/AP

Past allegations of misspent donations have created some hesitancy as well, said Badenoch, of Hope for Haiti, though the need following the most recent earthquake may be even more intense.

«It is quite possible that Haiti is going to need more help than ever before, said Akim Kikonda, Catholic Relief Services’ country representative in Haiti.

Laura Durington, Catholic Relief Services’ director of annual giving, said the group, which has worked there for 50 years, is providing whatever help that it can. It started to distribute emergency supplies Monday because they had stockpiled tents and metal sheeting there previously.

«Yes, there have been some bad actors, but not giving because of that is short-sighted, Durington said. «It’s really frustrating, because every penny that was given to us for Haiti went to Haiti. There has been incremental, positive change. And Haiti’s needs are so critical right now.