Stories

Buried Alive By Haiti Quake
Magalie Rigaud, a CRS employee in Haiti, spent 8 hours buried in a collapsed supermarket with her sons, two frightened strangers and her faith.

Haiti Quake Inspires Leap of Faith
Sister Jane Meyer jumped from a plane to honor a promise to her students and a commitment to people in need.

Parish Twinning Links Haitian, U.S. Catholics
Catholics in Haiti and the United States strengthen existing bonds and form new ones in the wake of the January earthquake.

Rallying for Haiti
The Diocese of Orange in California responded to the Haiti quake with creativity and contagious enthusiasm.

Putting Shelter Materials to Use in Haiti
Kits offer sturdy, easy-to-build shelters that are critical to long-term survival following the earthquake that shattered much of Port-au-Prince.

The Power of Pennies
After the Haiti earthquake in January, students at Catholic schools in the United States raised funds for the survivors and the relief effort.

Three-Month Haiti Quake Anniversary Nears
Long-term recovery plans begin to take shape even as emergency relief response continues.

Water is Essential to Haiti Recovery
Water and sanitation projects save lives after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake destroyed most of the water infrastructure in Haiti's capital.

Shoring Up Haiti's Water Resources
Paul Hicks, CRS' coordinator for the Global Water Initiative, is currently in Haiti. He speaks about the importance of water in an emergency.

Taking the Long View for Haiti
With donations topping $90 million and donors still giving, CRS looks ahead to new phases in the Haiti response.

Haiti Month One: Food for Half a Million
Food distributions continue as CRS looks ahead to improved shelters for Haitians awaiting the rainy season.

Haiti Rebuild Present a 'Herculean Task'
Cleaning up and using improved building material and procedures is the easy part. Knowing whom to ask for permission to build is another story.

Letter From Haiti: Thank You All
A CRS staffer writes to donors to update them on what their gifts mean to the people of Haiti.

Haiti Survivor Describes 'Apocalypse'
CRS Haiti's Karel Zelenka, who himself survived the earthquake, says the aid response has been amazing but there's still much to be done.

Haiti: 'I've Never Seen Anything Like This'
Returning from Haiti, CRS President Ken Hackett describes scenes of terrible hardship and amazing relief efforts.

Haitian Clergy Mourned at Funeral Mass
Amid ongoing Haiti relief efforts, CRS officials join mourners at the funeral of Port-au-Prince's archbishop and vicar general.

Food for 50,000 at Haiti Camp
Along with a massive food distribution, CRS is working with Haitian parishes to set up aid distribution points throught the capital city.

Haiti Golf Course Transformed Into Relief Camp
CRS distributes supplies to thousands of Haitians at the Petionville Golf Club in Port-au-Prince.

Multimedia

Haiti Heroes Offer Thanks
CRS staff in Haiti sends sincere thanks for your support of the Haitian people following the January 12 earthquake.

Helping Haiti, Looking Ahead
Almost six months after the quake, Haiti relief workers see a long, complex, but clear path to full recovery.

Catholics in U.S. Show Solidarity With Haiti
Catholics in the United States rallied to support the people of Haiti after the massive earthquake ravaged the nation in January.

Haiti Camps Prepare for Rains
Cash-for-work crews dig drainage canals to divert water under the looming threat of flooding and mudslides in quake-shattered Port-au-Prince.

Simple Tools, Big Benefit
Learn how six everyday items are changing life for the better in earthquake-devastated Haiti.

CRS Worker Talks From Baltimore About Surviving Haiti Quake
CRS' country representative for Haiti, Karel Zelenka, survived the Port-au-Prince earthquake. In this Baltimore Sun video, Karel describes his experience from the moment the earthquake struck.

CRS Responds to the Haiti Earthquake
The Catholic Church through CRS continues to deliver food, shelter and medical care to Port-au-Prince earthquake survivors.

Funeral for Haiti Archbishop
More than 1,000 mourners gathered to honor the memories of two clergymen killed in the January 12 Port-au-Prince earthquake.

All-Out Effort for Haiti
Pictures tell a tale of massive destruction and relentless efforts to deliver relief.

To see additional videos about our work in Haiti, visit us on YouTube.

Our Work

CRS has made major strides in meeting desperate need since the January 12 earthquake:

• Distributed food to nearly 900,000 people. Currently providing food to more than 90,000 students in over 270 schools, and monthly food rations to more than 100 orphanages and child-care centers in Port-au-Prince and Les Cayes, benefiting nearly 10,000 children.
• Provided emergency shelter materials to more than 114,000 people.
• CRS health care team performed over 960 emergency operations and conducted 62,000 outpatient consultations.
• Supported hundreds of thousands of people with food, water, sanitation, shelter materials and protection, including at two of the largest camps for the displaced. Established five "child-friendly spaces" for unaccompanied children at camps, regularly attended by more than 1,500 children.
• Installed over 600 latrines and hand-washing stations, as well as potable water tanks and inflatable water bladders, in Port-au-Prince and environs, providing an estimated 375,000 gallons of water per month.
• Provided assistance to numerous local and international partners in Haiti, including 164 Church partners. While the government of Haiti must play a leadership role in the recovery of Haiti, the success of the process will depend in large part on the actions of a robust civil society that defends, promotes and responds to the interests and needs of poor and marginalized Haitians. The Catholic Church of Haiti continues to be one of Haiti's most influential civil society actors and is a provider of many basic social services.

Financial Information

Activity	Year-to-Date Expenses* (as of May 31, 2010)
Immediate Emergency Response	$11,804,152
Health/Support to Hospitals	$933,362
Food Security and Livelihoods	$9,931,260
Shelter and Community Infrastructure	$1,740,574
Water and Sanitation	$3,378,319
Education/Protection of Vulnerable People	$1,702,687
Church Partnership	$169,927
Support Costs	$912,168
Total Earthquake Response	$30,572,449

*These are preliminary numbers which have not been audited.