Hope Flows in Haiti Slum Reporting by Joanna Mayhew in Port-au-Prince World Relief is distributing life-saving water to thousands of vulnerable families in Cite Soleil, one of the most notorious slums in Port-au-Prince. The sprawling section of Port-au-Prince – home to hundreds of thousands of Haiti’s poorest people – is a place of desolate streets now littered with rubble. Many quake survivors in Cite Soleil have not yet been reached with tents or tarps, so they are currently fending for themselves.  World Relief’s water trucks pull up amidst ruined homes and collapsed churches. At each stop, about 600 people get water, under the supervision of a local partner church.
More than 200,000 gallons of water have already been distributed, supplying 3,200 vulnerable households per day. Pastor Beauzil Louner says World Relief’s water truck was the first to arrive in his neighborhood. “It’s a great relief for us,” he says. In his congregation, more than 50 people were injured and many more lost their homes in the quake. Getting clean water is one of their biggest challenges. Pastor Joseph Evans says he is overwhelmed by requests for help – people desperate for shelter, food and water. “I felt bad because I didn’t have opportunities to help them,” he says. “Now I am so, so happy. They see there is a step being made to meet their needs.” Pastor Evans’ church building was wiped out in the quake. The beams are all that’s still standing. The church members drape a large sheet over the top, but it’s not big enough to cover the 80 people now sleeping there. The pastor worries about the physical and emotional well being of the community – especially as the rainy season descends. “Last night, the rain was a great misfortune,” he says. “We gave the covered space to babies, teenagers and women. The rest of us had to stay outside.” Pastor Evans says his church wants everybody to benefit from the water distributions. “The church represents the community,” he says. “Anything we have, we will share – even a little cup of water.” Help Haiti’s people. Click here to donate securely online.
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