Haiti: Ending seven years of relief efforts for those affected and persons with disabilities

As of January 2017, AAR Japan has concluded all of its relief activities in Haiti.
In January 2010, Haiti was devastated by a catastrophic magnitude 7 earthquake. In response, AAR dispatched an emergency assistance team. AAR established an office in the capital Port-au-Prince, delivering food supplies and engaging in various projects, such as the rebuilding of child care facilities and facilities for persons with disabilities (PWDs), promotional activities for hygiene, and inclusive education. 
In April 2016, seven years after the quake, the office in Port-au-Price was closed, but our work with inclusive education continued in collaboration with local organizations. Then in October 2016, Hurricane Mathew caused a tremendous amount of damage to the country, prompting AAR Japan to take action and dispatch its emergency assistance team once again to support those who were affected. As of January 2017, all of the organization’s work with promoting inclusive education and supporting victims of Hurricane Mathew were completed and thus our activities in Haiti had come to an end. The following is a report of AAR’s activities and its results which were made possible by your support.

1. Assistance for those affected by the catastrophic earthquake (January-June, 2010) 

On January 12th, 2010 (local time), a strong magnitude 7 earthquake struck the Republic of Haiti.
Even before the earthquake, Haiti had long been considered the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere. As it turned out, the impact was devastating as a result of various combining factors; the earthquake having directly struck the highly populated capital, the sheer scale of the earthquake itself, and a fragile social structure due to the country’s volatile political situation. In light of this situation, AAR sent an emergency assistance team to the ground on January 25th, consisting of 4 staff members from our Tokyo Office, which distributed emergency relief packages, waterproof sheets and other aid items to 13,400 households overall (approx. 67,000 persons) by April 2010.

“I have been waiting for water and food”. Go IGARASHI (right), AAR, hands food and daily necessities package to a woman affected by the disaster (February 4th, 2010)

Hurricane in Haiti: Distributing Aid Supplies at a Primary school Attended by Students with Disabilities

Insufficient Aid

Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR Japan) Emergency Assistance Team (Kazuya OMURO and Asako IKEGAMI) is delivering aid supplies to people affected by the devastating hurricane that hit Haiti. AAR Japan has already delivered aid supplies to Jérémie District in Grand'Anse Province. Then on November 11th, AAR Japan provided aid supplies to 150 families in Les Cayes District in Southern Province. 

Les Cayes District is one of the areas that have been heavily affected by the hurricane. In a previous assessment, AAR Japan found that aid supplies were insufficient for the many children with disabilities attending a primary school in this district. Thus, AAR Japan distributed aid supplies such as rice and beans, which are staples in Haiti, and personal hygiene products listed below to each family. 

Provisions: rice (10kg), water (1.5L plastic bottle x 26 bottles), salt (1kg), beans (500g), cooking oil (1L), sugar (1lb) , pasta (2 bags), sausages (1 can), fish can (1 can), tomato sauce (1can), biscuit (1 box) and coffee (1 can)

 Hygiene Products: sanitary products (3 boxes), toilet paper (3 rolls), soap (3), toothpaste (1 tube), toothbrush (4),

 Other: Plastic Sheet (1), bucket (1), zip lock bag (1 box), water purification tablets (30 bags), mosquito nets (1) and bug spray (1 bottle)

Per household

AAR Japan staff Kazuya OMURO (L) checking collected aid supplies at a warehouse in Les Cayes District. (Novermber 3rd, 2016)

Hurricane in Haiti: Distributing Aid Supplies

Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR Japan) Emergency Assistance Team (Kazuya OMURO and Asako IKEGAMI) continues to conduct needs assessment and collect aid supplies for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Jérémie District in Grand'Anse Province and Les Cayes District in South Province, areas heavily affected by the hurricane.

people who line up in the row, and wait for distribution(October 29th, 2016)

Hurricane in Haiti: Delivering Food Aid to Devastated Areas

Delivering Aid Supplies From the Capital to Devastated Areas 

Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR Japan) Emergency Response Team (Kazuya OMURO and Asako IKEGAMI) continues to deliver aid supplies to People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Jérémie district in Grand'Anse Province and Les Cayes district in South Province, areas heavily affected by the hurricane.

After collecting aid supplies such as water and food in the capital city, Port-au -Prince, AAR Japan staff takes a 4.5 hour drive to Les Cayes District for temporary storage. In addition to food and water, AAR Japan collects essential aid supplies including mosquito nets, buckets and plastic sheets.

AAR Japan staff Asako IKEGAMI(L) listening to a women with visual impairment in Chambellan sub-district, Jérémie district (October 25th, 2016)

Hurricane in Haiti: People with Disabilities Are Left Behind

Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR Japan) Emergency Assistance Team (Kazuya OMURO and Asako IKEGAMI) is providing aid and relief to people affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew. The AAR Japan team is currently in Jérémie district in Grand'Anse Province and Les Cayes district in South Province, areas heavily affected by the hurricane, to conduct damage assessment and deliver aid supply. 

incomplete assistance

Jeremie District was heavily affected by the hurricane, with many roofs blown off the buildings.

Agriculture was heavily damaged as well. Many people have lost their livelihood as majority of the population outside the city make a living from their land.

Primary school in Les Cayes district. The roof was blown away and the fence was destroyed (October 19th, 2016)

Hurricane in Haiti: Running After Trucks, Calling for Aid

Emergency assistance team enters Haiti

On October 13, the first team of Emergency Assistance Team (Kazuya OMURO and Asako IKEGAMI) from Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR Japan) has entered Haiti to provide support to people left devastated by the extremely destructive Hurricane Matthew. According to the United Nations, 473 people lost their lives and 1.4 million people, 600,000 of them children, are in need of emergency assistance (UNOCHA, October 13th, 2016).

A building seen from highway between Jérémie and Les Cayes. The roof is damaged intensely

Haiti: Keep Yourself Clean, And Feel Refreshed

October 15th is Global Hand Washing Day!

In many parts of the world where AAR Japan has been actively involved, a lot of people, many of whom are children, have lost their lives to infectious diseases that could have been prevented if they had lived in Japan. This is due to a lack of safe drinking water and adequate knowledge of hygiene.

Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, there has been a large-scale outbreak of cholera, which is transmitted by unclean water. The outbreak has left the country with the highest rate of cholera-infected persons in the world. In other regions too, people have no choice but to use unclean water, for example, in the north-western part of Pakistan, where a large number of people have taken refuge from the civil war; and also in the north-eastern part of Kenya, where many people have settled because of the repeated droughts that have made their nomadic life impossible.

Besides providing these countries with wells, toilets and washrooms / washing facilities, AAR has been teaching Haitians the proper way to wash hands and the importance of using a toilet, so that hygienic habits will become part of their everyday lives.

“Where should we pee or poo?” AAR staff in Haiti asks the children in Sacre Coeur primary school, showing pictures of the toilet and hand washing facilities.  (March 25th, 2014)

Haiti: River is turning into a garbage dump! Raising public awareness of sanitation

AAR Japan started its assistance in Haiti soon after the massive earthquake hit the country in January 2010, and its operation are still ongoing. Since February 2013, we have equipped latrines and fitted hand-washing stations at schools, together with organizing training workshops for school teachers on hygiene education as well as for schoolmasters and administration staff on school management. Our intention is to prevent the spread of cholera in Haiti, where half the number of cholera infections in the world is believed to exist.
In the long perspective, we aim to involve local residents and improve the hygiene conditions of the entire community.  Ryota Hirama from AAR’s Haiti office reports.

River is crucial for the local residents

The target area of AAR’s activity is Rivière Froid in the Carrefour region, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, the capital city. Rivière Froid means “cold river” in English. As the name suggests, a river flows in the middle of this area.

It is said that the name of the river comes from the fact that rivers are very important for Haitian people, as they are used to cool down their bodies. The river is one of the most important water sources for people in the area. When we pass through the neighborhood, we see a lot of women washing clothes along the riverside. A girl once told us that she was going for a shower when she was on her way  to the river. The river is indeed attached to Haitian people’s everyday lives.

The river is essential for the life of people in Haiti.

Haiti: Protecting Children from Infectious Diseases

To Establish a Habit of Using Toilets and Washing Hands for Preventing Infectious Diseases

The Republic of Haiti, where AAR Japan has operated since when the country was hit by the devastating earthquake in January 2010, has been one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere even before the earthquake. The country suffers poor infrastructure including roads, schools and hospitals and among others, the lack of sanitation facilities such as latrines and hand-washing facilities is severe. Added to this constant want, the earthquake devastated the country and forced Haitian people to live in the worsened sanitary condition. This led to the further prevalence of cholera in the autumn of 2010, which resulted in approximately 580,000 cases of infection and casualty of around 8,000 people. The government of Haiti also recognizes that promotion of good hygiene among children is one of the most urgent issues to address.

The living drainage flows and garbage is piled up on the road. (Port-au-Prince, October 2012)

Haiti: Reconstructed Disaster-affected Facilities for Children

Over three years have passed since the massive earthquake jolted Haiti in January 2010. AAR Japan has now entered its fourth year of aid operations in Haiti while continuing to support the country’s recovery efforts. In Haiti, many children are still enduring poor living conditions due to slow progress in the reconstruction of disaster-affected buildings and infrastructure. During a period from August 2012 to January 2013, AAR Japan supported the reconstruction of three devastated facilities so that children could live and study in better environments.

January 13^th, 2012 – Most children did not have notebooks or pencils to write down what their teachers said or wrote on the blackboard.

Haiti: We are Supporting victims of the Earthquake Regain Self-Sufficiency

AAR Japan’s Assistance to Reestablish Welfare Facilities for Persons with Disabilities

It is estimated that more than 4,000 people suffered some form of physical disability in the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. In Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the social welfare system is still insufficient, despite the government's attempt to support various programs assisting persons with disabilities.  

 
Haitian Organization for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (OHRHA: Organisation Haïtienne pour la Réhabilitation des Handicapés),a local non-governmental organization located in Port-au-Prince, provides the opportunity for persons with disabilities to share their concerns and encourage one another. OHRHA’s programs had been inactive since its main building was destroyed by the earthquake. AAR Japan decided to assist OHRHA by setting up temporary structures, including an auditorium that can accommodate nearly 200 people, a classroom for computer classes, barrier-free restrooms, and wheelchair ramps. These new buildings were designed and built to protect against natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes. All construction work was completed in April, 2012. Furthermore, AAR Japan helped to kick-start their programs by supplying equipment such as 100 foldable chairs, 4 office file cabinets, and printers.

March 7, 2012 – OHRHA building severely damaged beyond repair.

 

Haiti: Training for Special Needs Teachers

Providing Quality Education to Children with Disabilities

AAR Japan has been implementing recovery operations in Haiti, which was rocked by a massive earthquake in January of 2010. In the capital of Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas, numerous facilities for persons with disabilities and schools for children with disabilities had to suspend operations after suffering extensive damage. More than two years have passed since the quake, and still a large number of institutions have been unable to resume operations.

 
AAR Japan has been assisting in the reconstruction of more than 10 institutions, including facilities for persons with disabilities, schools for children with disabilities, and orphanages. Since January 2012, AAR Japan has been working to rebuild École Jerry Mousse, a school for children with psychological and intellectual disabilities, providing tables, chairs, a generator and other necessary equipment. The surviving facilities have also been used to conduct skills training for teachers, aiming to enhance their ability to create a supportive and enlightening educational experience that will bring out the most in their students.

March 10^th, 2012 – “Let’s draw a circle. What color can we get by mixing red and blue?” In a practical skills session, participants experiment with methods of teaching art and conveying color concepts.

Haiti: Supporting Facilities for Persons with Disabilities and Foster Homes in the Earthquake-Stricken Areas

AAR JAPAN has been engaged in ongoing recovery operations in the disaster-affected areas of Haiti where a massive earthquake struck on January 12^th, 2010, exactly two years ago. During the second half of 2011, AAR JAPAN constructed temporary buildings for a facility serving persons with visual impairment “Societe Haitienne d’Aide aux Aveugles (SHAA)” and 3 foster homes, as well as delivered equipment and supplies necessary to resume their operations.

Helping Persons with Visual Impairments Become Self-sufficient

The Republic of Haiti is known to have the largest number of persons with visual impairments in the Caribbean region, and a lack of assistance to persons with disabilities (PWDs) was an issue even before the earthquake. After the disaster, general recovery became everyone’s main concern, and efforts to improve the conditions of PWDs saw a drop in priority.

December 8^th, 2011- Inside temporary building of SHAA still under construction. Building blocks are installed on the floor.

Haiti: Reconstruction of Physiotherapy Center and Orphanages

Association for Aid and Relief, Japan has been reconstructing orphanages and facilities for persons with disabilities in Haiti, which suffered catastrophic damage from the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck the country on January 12, 2010. Chiaki FURUKAWA, AAR JAPAN staff in Haiti, reports on our activities.

Rebuilding Orphanages: Meeting Children’s Life Needs

La Main Tendre (“The Tender Hand”), an orphanage located in Port-au-Prince, was completely destroyed by the earthquake. By February this year, the building still had not been repaired, and approximately 30 children were living under tents made of blue tarps. The situation was critical, with toilets broken and mattresses resting on the floor, a 4-month-old baby among the children.

AAR JAPAN supported the reconstruction of this institution, completing the effort on June 30^th, 2011. We also delivered beds, stationery and other goods needed for daily life, creating an environment where children could live and study at ease.

December 2^nd, 2010 – La Main Tendre Orphanage before reconstruction: The facility was temporarily cobbled together from wood and plastic sheets.

Rosevaline (11) and Marie (11) have been raised in the orphanage. Their favorite place is the common space, where they usually sing and dance. They share a dream of becoming nurses.

Ronelda (9) entered the orphanage when she was only 2 years old. Before the building’s reconstruction, she used to sleep on a mattress on the floor, which she told us she didn’t like much. Now she is able to sleep on a clean bed, and she says it feels really good.



July 10^th, 2011 – The newly-rebuilt La Main Tendre Orphanage



We did some origami on the day I visited the orphanage. When I made a few paper planes, the children came to me with bright eyes saying, “Make me one, too!” Soon the air of the common space was crowded with flying paper planes!

There are still many orphanages that have been seriously damaged by the earthquake. In addition to La Main Tendre, AAR JAPAN also assisted in the reconstruction of two other institutions: Foyer des Orphelins d’Haiti (“Home of the Orphans of Haiti”) and Orphelinat de l’Eglise Evangelique Source du Salut de la Nouvelle Jerusalem (“Orphanage of the Evangelic Church Fountain of the Health of the New Jerusalem”).



August 17^th, 2011- From right: AAR JAPAN staff Chiaki FURUKAWA, Ronelda, Maryl, and Roseburry (pigtails).



July 9^th – Foyer des Orpheilins d’Haiti before reconstruction (left), and a new bedroom in the institution (right).

July 7^th, 2011– Orphelinat de l’Eglise Evangelique Source du Salut de la Nouvelle Jerusalem before reconstruction (left), and the inauguration ceremony for the new facility (right).

Rehabilitation for All

AAR JAPAN assisted in the reconstruction of the Center of Physiotherapy and Massage, as well as providing equipment needed for its operations. This facility is one of the few places in Haiti where people can undergo rehabilitation treatment. Before the earthquake, Ms. Michelle Bazelais, representative of the facility, used to receive and treat even patients who couldn’t afford to pay for the sessions.

After the earthquake, the facility was completely destroyed. Rehabilitation treatment didn’t stop, however; a temporary facility was organized and continued to function in the parking lot. After the earthquake, the number of patients who needed physiotherapy increased, but a great number of them couldn’t afford to pay for the treatment.

December 18^th, 2011 – Center of Physiotherapy and Massage after the earthquake. Both the building and its equipment were heavily damaged.

The resumption of the facility’s full services was long awaited. AAR JAPAN started reconstruction of the facility in March 2011, completing the work in July, with new rehabilitation equipment installed as well.

In order to accommodate patients who live far from the facility, two sleeping rooms were also built. One such patient is Ms. Céline (60). She had a stroke after the earthquake, resulting in difficulty moving her whole body, which has required multiple rehabilitation sessions. Now she can come to the center early in the morning and spend the whole day exercising until her relatives come to pick her up around sunset. She told us that she is now able to rest in the sleeping room between the various physiotherapy sessions, so she can undergo treatment without any concerns.

August 10^th, 2011 – AAR JAPAN delivers rehabilitation equipment to the newly-rebuilt Center of Physiotherapy and Massage (CPM)

August 16^th, 2011- Ms. Céline (60) during a physiotherapy session in the newly-rebuilt Center of Physiotherapy and Massage (CPM)

AAR JAPAN is also currently assisting in the reconstruction of the Societé Haitienne d’Aide aux Aveugles (Haitian Society of Aid to the Blind). AAR JAPAN will continue to carry out projects for improving the livelihoods and educational environments of children, as well as assisting persons with disabilities.

Chiaki FURUKAWA, Haiti Office

Has been workin in the Haiti Office since October 2010. After graduation, worked at a human resources consultant agency, then went to the United Kingdom to obtain a master’s degree in International Development. After graduation she joined AAR JAPAN. (Born in Osaka)