Haiti: Providing Shelter

Marie Jean is terrified that her house will collapse on top of her in the night. Like many Haitians, she has been sleeping out in the open ever since the earthquake struck on January 12th.

It is winter time in Haiti and although temperatures reach over 30 degrees most days, the nights can be cold when you’re sleeping outside. Thanks to you, Marie has a blanket and plastic sheets to keep her warm and dry.

Her town, Leogane, was at the epicenter of the quake and was one of the hardest hit. SCIAF is working with Caritas Internationalis – a global network of aid agencies – to provide shelter for people who are living on the streets.

Since January, Caritas has given tents and shelter kits to over 900,000 people. Donations from Scotland are helping to provide:

• Blankets, tarpaulins and plastic sheets
• Food rations, cooking equipment, hygiene kits and clean water
• Cash-for-work programmes, paying local people to clear rubble, distribute aid and dig latrines in temporary camps.

Marie Jean has food, water and somewhere to sleep tonight, but in the months and years to come, she and her community will need help to rebuild their shattered town. With your support, we will be there to help them do it.

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