Haiti: more than a million people in "dire need"

World Vision calls on Canadians to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 11, 2016 /CNW/ - More than a million people in Haiti have been affected by Hurricane Matthew and are in dire need of life saving supplies, particularly clean water, according to World Vision, Canada's largest international aid agency.

World Vision, in coordination with humanitarian partners, is distributing vital emergency supplies including clean water, food and hygiene kits to thousands of people in affected communities.

HOW CANADIANS CAN HELP:
World Vision is targeting humanitarian aid distributions for up to 250,000 people and needs your help.
Canadians can make direct donations to World Vision Canada to support emergency relief efforts in Haiti.
Phone donations: 1-800-526-7770
Website donations: HERE 
http://www.worldvision.ca/give-a-gift/Pages/hurricane-matthew-haiti-response.aspx

QUOTES:
"The challenge with Haiti is that you already had half of the population living in poverty and then they get slammed with a Hurricane affecting more than a million vulnerable people in hard to reach places. In some parts of Haiti you have 90% of homes destroyed and farmers losing all of their crops. For them it's not just about getting immediate relief supplies, it's more like what happens next week, what happens next month?"
- John Hasse, National Director, World Vision Haiti

"We've already been able to help thousands of vulnerable families in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. But with more than a million people in dire need, we're calling on all Canadians to be generous to help us deliver more life-saving supplies to people who need it the most. Children in Haiti are already at serious risk of water-borne diseases like cholera and we need to ensure they have the clean water and other essentials they desperately need so that things don't become a lot worse. The support of Canadians will be absolutely critical in the weeks ahead."
– Michael Messenger, President, World Vision Canada

FAST FACTS:

• 1,000+ people have died as a result of Hurricane Matthew
• 1.4 million people affected
• Canadians sponsor 8,617 children through World Vision in Haiti
• World Vision currently serves approximately three hundred thousand Haitians in urban and rural communities through 30 projects and programs in 80 communities
• World Vision supports more than 56,000 sponsored children and benefits 112,000+ children
• World Vision has worked in Haiti since 1959

MEDIA RESOURCES
Photos and videos of World Vision's Haiti's Hurricane Matthew response:

• B-roll/photos of Miragoane aid distribution: HERE https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e7o808802l42pn8/AACQFtrwkFf8bS6hBAIDkbqoa?dl=0
• B-roll/photos of home and crop damage in St Louis du Sud: HERE https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vsgoccr5hhmnrrb/AABsK1NYoHbuMftCxzTjxHfKa?dl=0
• Photos of extensive damage in Dupuy: HERE https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t7fdjldzdm3ph3h/AAACMAZqJ-NlK09vdyHifNYka?dl=0

For more on World Vision's work in Haiti: HERE
http://www.worldvision.ca/give-a-gift/Pages/hurricane-matthew-haiti-response.aspx

World Vision is a relief, development, and advocacy organization working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. Visit our News Centre at worldvision.ca

SOURCE World Vision Canada

Image with caption: "A World Vision aid worker distributes essential supplies to hundreds of vulnerable families in southern Haiti who have been affected by Hurricane Matthew. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161011_C2733_PHOTO_EN_793311.jpg

For interviews contact: Brett Tarver - 647-825-2712 or [email protected]