October 25 Update
Rain – and subsequent flooding – in Haiti’s Northwest Department are causing further severe and acute destruction. CWS partners report that rising water levels are causing roads to be inaccessible and are washing away houses. Our staff talked to the director of a partner agency Saturday evening, and he expressed concern that there may be no houses left come morning. The few animals that survived Hurricane Matthew have been washed away in the flooding.
Our appeal goal remains at $1,326,000. Funds received or pledged to date total $46,155. The need in Haiti’s Northwest Department is great, and additional funds are urgently needed. Please consider donating now: cwsglobal.org/hurricanematthew.
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October 8, 2016
Appeal Code: 76-6769
TOTAL initial appeal goal: $1,326,000
Situation
Hurricane Matthew slammed into Haiti on Tuesday with 135 mile/hour winds and torrential rain, leaving behind widespread destruction. The death toll is currently at 842, and numerous reports have come in of destroyed crops, damaged houses, lost animals and blocked roads.
In the towns of Ganthier and Boen, Haiti, CWS has led an ACT Alliance program to build and repair houses for families displaced by the 2010 earthquake. Ganthier has been flooded, but all of the houses in this program as well as schools that CWS helped construct in the aftermath of the earthquake are still standing. Some are now serving as shelters.
CWS and partners also support a dozen community cooperatives that help ensure that families – primarily farmers – are able to produce food for consumption and income. These communities in Haiti’s Northwest Department were not spared from the impact of Hurricane Matthew.
CWS Response in Haiti
CWS is taking part in the ACT Alliance response, through which we will support housing repair. Additionally, CWS response will help to rebuild infrastructure that was damaged or destroyed in the storm. That includes animal shelter, seed distribution and grain storage, repair of rural access roads, microcredit, soil conservation and psychosocial support.
Based on learning from the 2010 earthquake, CWS will advocate with Haitian authorities (Ministry of Agriculture, IBESR -child welfare agency, CNSA-National Coordination on Food Security) and selected agencies of the UN system (UNICEF) that the voice of local Haitian organizations and communities be heard and that they have a role in recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
Proposed areas of intervention: Grand Anse, South, Nippes, Northwest, West
Budget (in U.S. dollars)
House repair – $ 846,000 (included in ACT Alliance appeal)
Animal shelters – $ 75,000
Seed distribution / grain storage- $ 50,000
Agricultural roads – $ 20,000
Microcredit – $ 50,000
Soil conservation – $ 200,000
Psychosocial support – $ 35,000
Management and operations: $ 50,000
TOTAL RESPONSE BUDGET – $1,326,000
How to Help
Contributions to support CWS emergency response efforts may be sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515 (designate 76-6769, Hurricane Matthew). Donations for this appeal can also be made at cwsglobal.org/HurricaneMatthew.
An appeal for US Hurricane Matthew response will be issued by CWS early next week.
CWS is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.