Our Hearts & Voices with Haiti

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti who are facing devastation and disaster of unimaginable proportions. This earthquake threatens to erase much of the progress the country has made in the fight against poverty and economic injustice.  In addition to the news of the disaster, I can report some positive outcomes:

Wheaton Franciscans and DGAAN has worked with Jubilee USA Network for the past few years whose tireless efforts have been to eradicate poverty in the poorest countries of the world by eliminating or reducing their foreign debt.

In June 2009, Jubilee USA supporters and partners celebrated $1.2 billion in debt cancellation for Haiti, erasing most -- but not all -- of Haiti's debt. Jubilee USA has called on the Obama administration provide massive assistance for relief and reconstruction in the form of grants, not loans, cancel the rest of Haiti's debt; and provide Temporary Protective Status to Haitians living in the US. 

Other positive news:

On Friday, January 15th, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Janet Napolitano, announced that the United States would offer Temporary Protective Status (TPS) to Haitian nationals living in the United States.

Add your voice to ensure a robust and just response to this crisis from the Obama administration. Sign the petition today.  (Jubilee USA Network)

Catholic Relief Services update

The morning after the earthquake, I received an email request from Catholic Relief Services for the Haiti Rescue Fund.  I communicated with Sr. Pat Norton, who communicated with the Council, who immediately agreed to send a generous donation on behalf of The Wheaton Franciscans.   We can be assured of the value of our donation, as CRS is a worthy organization who has been dedicated to serving the poorest nations, including Haiti for decades.  They already had in place, the infrastructure to help the most in need.

I have continued to get updates from CRS on their efforts in Haiti:

“Each day more CRS staff from around the globe arrive in Haiti, joining our existing staff of just over 300. Our headquarters building in Haiti was damaged but did not collapse.

Despite enormous logistical challenges, one week after the devastating earthquake CRS staff has unloaded 120 containers (2100 metric tons) of vegetable oil and grains from the U.S. government onto the only operating wharf in Port-au-Prince. We are in the process right now of arranging for secure transport to our warehouse, where it will be distributed to the growing number of camps.

CRS has been asked by the United Nations to lead the response at one of the first formally organized camps, located at a golf course, where as many as 50,000 people are sleeping every night. CRS has arranged to supply the camp with water, food, and plastic sheeting for shelter, which continue to be trucked in from CRS warehouses in the neighboring Dominican Republic, where volunteers are working continuously to keep additional relief supplies coming.

CRS has formed six medical teams to provide health care at shelters and area hospitals and CRS teams have already distributed medical supplies and drugs. In addition, Project C.U.R.E. has donated 3000 pounds of additional medical supplies that are en route.

CRS is extremely grateful for the outpouring of support we have received in response to this calamity. But we can't stress enough how significant the damage is and how many of our brothers and sisters are affected. We are asking you to please support our efforts to help the millions of earthquake victims in Haiti.