Grassroots International Establishes Earthquake Emergency Response Fund for Haiti

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE RESPONSE FUND

Yesterday Haiti suffered a massive earthquake, which registered a 7.3 on the Richter scale, just outside the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Initial reports are beginning to pour in on the devastation to both people and property. Grassroots International has set up an “Earthquake Response Fund for Haiti” to support our partners and meet the urgent needs of the population.

“We are in the process of reaching our partners on the ground,” said Grassroots International’s Executive Director Nikhil Aziz. “Clearly everyone is deeply affected, and the full extent of the loss may not be known for some time. As in the past, Grassroots and our network of supporters are poised to respond as quickly as we can to address the immediate and long-term needs of our partners.”

The most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has suffered tremendous challenges, including four successive hurricanes in 2008. Even so, grassroots leaders in the island nation have worked effectively to build their infrastructure and lead the way toward sustainable development—including access to land, water and food for all.

Grassroots International works with four main groups in Haiti including the Haitian Platform to Advocate Alternative Development (PAPDA), Platform of Haitian Human Rights Organizations (POHDH), Peasant Movement of Papaye (MPP), and the National Congress of Papaye Peasant Movement (MPNKP).

All four have offices in Port-au-Prince and networks throughout the country. Our partners on the ground in Haiti are in a key position to both provide relief and rebuild in the wake of these disasters. As Haitians, they are intimately connected to the individual needs of their local communities.

Since 1983, Grassroots International has supported global movements for social change. Through grant-making, education and advocacy, we support the initiatives of peasants and family farmers, women and indigenous groups to protect human rights to land, water and food.

Grassroots also has a long history of providing emergency relief in times of critical hardship. Water, food, and shelter are urgently needed now, and will also be long-term concerns as people rebuild. With your help, we hope to provide our partners and their communities with real and lasting solutions to this catastrophe. Please click here to send your support.