Haiti
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›2,250 heads household are being helped through UMCOR's agricultural programs |
Background
In September 2004, Northern Haiti was devastated by Hurricane Jeanne's high winds and heavy rains. The floods from the hurricane caused incalculable loss of human life and destruction to the economic basis of thousands of farmers, stock breeders and traders. More than 3,000 people, the majority of whom lived in the port city of Gonaïves, were killed by the storm and nearly 30,000 people were left without homes. The environmental effects of the hurricane were such that the floods produced rockslides and left mud up to two feet thick in the hardest hit areas. Further damage was caused in the region when another major storm, Hurricane Alpha, tore through Northern Haiti in November 2005.
United Methodists have had a long-standing relationship with Haiti through the Methodist Church of Haiti. The strong ties between the Methodist Church of Haiti and UMCOR helped in facilitating the opening of the UMCOR Haiti field office in 2005. One of the primary goals of UMCOR Haiti is to help the Hurricane Jeanne's survivors recover.
AGRICULTURE
UMCOR Haiti is revitalizing household incomes in Dondon, Northern Haiti through the Dondon Agriculture Development Assistance Project. This project is directly benefiting 2,250 households; it is helping farmers to revitalize and to improve their agricultural productivity. The program includes seeds and tools distribution as well as technical assistance and training to improve yields and to improve marketing mechanisms. Through this initial program phase and through continued capacity building, UMCOR Haiti seeks to improve production of staple food crops, lower prices and increase availability of seeds and planting supplies.
Another component of the program includes the reintroduction of the Creole Pig. In the past, pigs have created income for local families. Two multiplication centers for the Creole Pig have been built in the region. In addition to reintroducing the Creole Pig to the communities, the development arm of the Methodist Church of Haiti will also reinvigorate 10 savings associations through micro enterprise activities, with assistance from UMCOR.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND INTERVENTION
UMCOR workers has distributed relief supplies consisting of health and school kits from UMCOR Sager Brown to over 13,300 beneficiaries in public schools, local associations and medical centers in various program sites around the Northern District as well as in the areas surrounding Port-au-Prince. Additionally, UMCOR has distributed approximately 380 school and health kits to vulnerable people through a clinic in Berthanie in the community of Cavalion, Southern Haiti.
PARTNERS IN OUR WORK
UMCOR Haiti works with a variety of partners to make our work possible. At this stage in our work in Haiti our main support comes from private funds through The United Methodist Church.
