L'Arche Haiti Update

Febuary 23, 2010 

Dear friends,

Many of you have been requesting news about our L'ArcheHaiti communities in Port au Prince and Chantal. We are receiving periodic reports, and understand that our communities are managing well despite continuing poor conditions. Funding is arriving from friends all over the world, and is being pooled in each national L'Arche office. We expect to soon receive advice regarding how and when to forward the financial donations received.

L'Arche Canada and L'Arche Haiti have a long and active partnership, which dates back to 1976 when the Haitian ambassador to Canada asked Jean Vanier if he would startL'Arche in their country. As a result of this enduring friendship, the most immediate needs like medical care, food, tents, water, and telephone service are being covered by funds from L'Arche Canada. The cost of rebuilding the communities for long-term sustainability will be substantial. We are thus grateful for the generosity of many friends.

The latest reports we are receiving indicate that our people in Haiti are struggling along with everyone else:

  • Two members of the Board of Directors were killed in the earthquake.
  • Although everyone else is safe there has been substantial material damage. Early reports suggest that ten of 11 buildings have to be replaced.
  • We have moved eight people with disabilities into the country-side. The others remain in Port au Prince and are sleeping outside.
  • Three people fromL'Archein Canada have gone down to the Dominican Republic and are taking drugs, tarps and ropes, sheets, flashlights and fruit to theL'Archecommunity in Port au Prince.

L'Arche International has been actively working with architects to determine how, when, and where the communities will re-build. Though our homes are still standing, they are unsafe and unlivable. It's anticipated that funds collected from L'Arche friends worldwide will aid the re-building projects as well as infrastructure and continuing everyday needs like food, water, medicine.

If you would like to follow a regular blog about what's happening on the ground, please visit Jonathan Boulet-Groulx's site. Jonathan is a young man from Quebec who has been living in Haiti for a number of months and keeping an account.  His blog, including images, can be found at:

http://www.larche.ca/reporters/jonathan/mwen_pa_fou/en. 

We wish to express our deep appreciation for the many expressions of support and love for the people of L'ArcheHaiti that have been received from friends of our communities in the U.S.   

In gratitude,

Anna Davis-Hutto
Director of Development and Communications
L'Arche USA