HAITI DISASTER RELIEF

*** Most aid organizations can only take trained professionals … people with disaster relief certification. The Red Cross offers a course, if you’re interested.

*** There are few things we can do in the immediate besides pray and donate funding, as there is limited access to Haiti (as is often the case in a disaster situation).

*** While the immediate disaster is front and center on our mind, there will be much that needs to be done for MANY years to come. Just because you don’t go this week doesn’t mean you should scrap your interest in offering relief. Get some training, raise some funding, and make some connections (after the “smoke” clears, as they say) and then go to help.

There is plenty to be done in disaster relief. Here is some information that might be useful if you’re considering donating or getting involved:

Donating

The Society of St. Margaret, 17 Highland Park Street, Boston, MA 02119. For updates and more information about the sisters’ work in Haiti, go to www.ssmbos.com and click on the “Haiti” page link.

Episcopal Relief and Development: Donate online at www.er-d.org or call 800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Donations can be mailed to Episcopal Relief and Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058. (Please put “Haiti Fund” in the memo line of all checks.) Also, Episcopal Relief and Development is producing a bulletin insert that will be available online.

Volunteering

The highest demand right now is medical support and supplies. If you have some kind of healthcare skills, have disaster training, and are prepared to travel to Haiti, here is some information that may help.

Contacts

Doctors without Borders 212.679.6800 … has an online volunteer form and probably won’t accept anyone who lacks disaster experience and/or training.

Partners in Health 617.432.5256 … is based out of Boston and has medical programs and facilities in Haiti (PiH has set up a temporary field hospital in Port-Au-Prince and all medical facilities are reporting a lack of sufficient staff and medical supplies).

Episcopal Relief & Development 800.334.7626, ext. 5129 … has a disaster relief program and may have a channel for volunteers.

The Episcopal Church of Haiti … http://www.egliseepiscopaledhaiti.org and the local contact through the diocesan offices in Haiti is The Rev. Kesner Ajax … kesnerajax@yahoo.com . Though communication in Haiti is currently a challenge, Kesner has had some internet access.

Credentials

It’s recommended that you carry a copy of any current valid medical credentials or licenses. You might plan to keep one in your bag and another physically on you. That’s also the case with your passport. Be sure to keep a copy of your passport separate from your actual passport. (If your passport is lost or stolen, a copy will significantly expedite replacement.)

Self-care

You’ll be going in to difficult places and be exposed to increasing health risks. If you haven’t been to a travel clinic recently, you should do so. Get things like malaria tablets. Unlike a typical mission-related trip, you’ll want to remember to take supplies such as water treatment tablets which are usually available in stores like Eastern Mountain Sports and REI.

Packing

Plan to pack “extremely” light. You’ll probably be carrying your personal belongings much of the time. A good rule is for all of your personal items to fit in one carry-on. Keep in mind that you’re in a disaster area, so keeping up appearances isn’t really an issue. If you’re a medical professional, you may want to restrict the majority of your wardrobe to scrubs. Scrubs are appropriate for just about any healthcare environment and provide an added advantage of identifying you as medical.

Take as many checked bags as you can handle and that are allowed … filled with all types of medical supplies (you might call the airline prior to departure to see if you can get luggage fees waived for humanitarian efforts). Think in terms of any kind of bandaging or wound cleansing materials, as well as any antibiotics, Benedryl, Ibuprofen, extra strength Ibuprofen, Vitamins, Children’s Tylenol, basic personal items such as a toothbrushes, lotions, hand sanitizers, and so forth.

Provided by:

The Global Mission Partnership Task Force

The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts