Catholic charity provides urgent assistance to Haiti

By Vatican News staff reporter

Following a devastating earthquake that occurred on August 14 and subsequent flash flooding, the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need is providing urgent assistance to Haiti for families worst affected by these natural disasters.

Forty-five families in the district of Jeremie will be the beneficiaries of the first tranche of aid announced by the charity this week

Speaking to ACN, Father Jean-Jacques Saint-Louis, the Provincial Superior of the Montfort Fathers in Haiti, said, “The situation is impossible. The people are too frightened to return to their homes.

“We have to provide food, clothing, water, medicines, and temporary shelter for these people. This is the most important thing at the moment.”

In the Diocese of Jeremie alone, 26 churches have been extensively damaged, including the Cathedral of Saint Louis.

Father Jean-Jacques is also asking for prayers at this difficult time.

As well as the Diocese of Jeremie, Aid to the Church in Need is also looking at ways it can help Cardinal Chibly Langlois, Bishop of Les Cayes Diocese.

Describing the situation in the region, he said, “The people are sleeping on the ground. There is no water, no electricity, no food, no clothes.”

In Les Cayes Diocese 135 churches have been destroyed and 111 others were damaged. 

Speaking about the destruction, the cardinal said, “Miraculously, we escaped unhurt, but many people have lost their lives, among them Father Jacques Percy, a retired priest who was staying in the bishop’s house. Thank you for remembering him in your prayers.”

According to Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency over 2,200 deaths have been recorded with 12,268 injured and 53,000 homes damaged

In 2010, a massive earthquake in Haiti left more than 220,000 people dead and 1.5 million injured.