Pastor Herode Guillaumettre Photo: Julia Jones/CWS

We are thankful for our brothers and sisters in Christ who have not forgotten about us.  We are still treating many of the injured and sick and we are feeding them and giving them water.

Pastor Herode Guillaumettre, director, CWS partner Christian Center for Integrated Development

Dear Friend,

As you know, the people of Haiti face a daunting task as they care for the injured and grieving, and ultimately seek to rebuild their lives following the devastating earthquake of January 12.  With long established partnerships in the country, Church World Service is hard at work to support them in that process.

CWS's Don Tatlock, helping to deliver quake relief supplies to Viva Rio, a partner agency that works in some of the most impoverished parts of Port-au-Prince.  Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance

Emergency supplies:  To help meet emergency needs, Church World Service is providing basic supplies for quake survivors.  Deliveries began within the first 24 hours.  Among the supplies being provided in the CWS and ACT Alliance effort are CWS Kits and Blankets, tents, medical supplies, food and water.  For example, over 11,000 CWS Hygiene Kits have already arrived.  More are on the way as churches and community groups across the United States have organized to assemble more of these desperately needed items.

Food and supply distribution points supported in part by CWS have been established in five sites, with the hub of the distribution network in Pétionville.

Medicine boxes:  Church World Service is also providing 60 medicine boxes to address the ongoing desperate medical needs of survivors in Port-au-Prince.  Each Interchurch Medical Assistance medicine box contains essential medicines and medical supplies to treat the routine ailments of about 1,000 adults and children for up to two months.

Coalition effort:  Church World Service, working in collaboration with Action by Churches Together Alliance, is constructing temporary water systems, providing water purification materials, tents and food packages.  Long-term CWS work will focus on food security.

Services to people with disabilities:  CWS is also expanding work with people with disabilities in Port-au-Prince in concert with our partner Service Chretien d'Haiti (SCH).  As SCH executive director Ernst Abraham notes, people with disabilities face particular challenges at this moment:  "There is much to do in Port-au-Prince to guarantee that persons with disabilities are getting their needs met.  They are not able to go and stand in the large distribution or water lines to get aid from organizations that do not go to them.  Our distribution is very different in that we are personally delivering the kits, food and water by our staff and trained volunteers."  Some 2,500 people are being assisted in this effort.

Commitment to long-term recovery:  Church World Service is committed to accompanying the Haitian people in the long, arduous process of recovery.  While many buildings crumbled in the earthquakes, the resilience and creativity of the people of Haiti remains strong.  The hope of the Haitian people is summed up by Herode Guillaumettre, director of CWS partner Christian Center for Integrated Development:  "I am not afraid anymore.  I have survived the worst disaster in the history of Haiti and I am alive..."

It is our privilege to walk shoulder-to-shoulder and heart-to-heart with the people of Haiti as they recover from this tragic event.  Thank you for your support of this critical work.

P.S.  The IRS has announced that cash donations for Haiti earthquake relief made after Jan. 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, may be claimed as donations on your 2009 tax return.  You must itemize your deductions to qualify for this special tax provision.  For more information consult your tax advisor or visit www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=218678,00.html?portlet=7.