Our hearts with Haiti on this Valentine’s Day
On August 14, 2021, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti’s Grand Sud. More than 2,000 people died, 60,000 buildings collapsed, and over 75,000 were damaged, including homes, schools, and health facilities. A few weeks later, Tropical Storm Grace flooded the rubble, and by the end of January 2022, three new aftershocks struck. The population’s state of panic was very high, and the psychological support services deployed by Médecins du Monde could no longer meet the growing demand.
« In the days following the August 14 earthquake, I walked four hours through the mountains to reach the most isolated communities in Nippes. Not a single house was left standing. People were sleeping under the trees. Five of the nine hospitals supported by Médecins du Monde were severely damaged. While the earth groaned, three mothers were in labour. Two pregnant women managed to crawl out of a small hole and gave birth outside, under the palm trees. » – Nicolas Demers-Labrousse, Head of Mission for Médecins du Monde Canada in Haiti
Thanks to the generosity of Canadians and numerous partners, Médecins du Monde teams quickly responded to the emergency in the most isolated areas.
Read this report to discover the impact of your donations and your solidarity.
The combination of earthquakes, hurricanes, and pandemics, along with one of the world’s most precarious health systems, political instability, and violence, makes Haiti a country in a state of permanent health emergency.
Now, the hardest part remains: building a bridge between emergency response and development to restore the health system to its pre-disaster level. Fortunately, we can count on your support and solidarity.
For more information:
Mélissa Cabana
Senior Communications Advisor
Médecins du Monde Canada
Cell: 514 799-8985
melissa.cabana@medecinsdumonde.ca