Two years on: Canadian donations continue to help communities in Haiti

OTTAWA, Jan. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Two years after a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, the Canadian Red Cross continues to help earthquake survivors rebuild and recover.  Efforts have shifted from immediate life-saving assistance to long-term recovery to ensure communities can build a stronger and healthier future.

Shelter remains the top humanitarian priority for Canadian Red Cross teams.  To date, more than 5,700 earthquake and hurricane resistant homes have been constructed, providing essential stability and protection to 28,500 of Haiti's most vulnerable people.

"Canadians can be proud that their donations are having a lasting and meaningful impact in the lives of thousands of people in Haiti," says Conrad Sauvé, secretary general and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross.  "The Canadian Red Cross is working closely with local communities and the Haitian Red Cross to ensure programs and services meet the needs of earthquake survivors."

The Canadian Red Cross is also helping to build stronger safer communities through health, violence prevention and disaster risk reduction programming. Over the next four years the Canadian Red Cross is investing $25 million to strengthen the healthcare system, including helping to rebuild a hospital and health clinics in the south-east region of Jacmel and reaching over 420,000 people through violence and abuse prevention activities. As Haiti is prone to natural disaster such as hurricanes and earthquakes, the Red Cross is also working alongside communities to build local disaster risk reduction capacities so that communities are better prepared the next time disaster strikes. These efforts will include pre-positioning emergency supplies and training more than 90 Haitian Red Cross volunteers to provide first-aid education in their communities.

"The road to recovery is long," adds Sauvé. "But the Canadian Red Cross, through the generous support of Canadians, is committed to empowering the people of Haiti as they work to rebuild lives, their communities and their country."

The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 187 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Our mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.

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