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Haiti: Help and Hope for Earthquake Victims
Haiti is the least developed country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world, with the majority of its population living below the poverty line. Haiti is faced with economic and political instability, a shortage of good arable land, environmental degradation and a host of societal problems. Haiti is also vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. On Jan. 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by the most violent earthquake in a century. Measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, the quake hit south of the capital of Port-au-Prince.
To date the earthquake has caused much devastation:
• An estimated 3 million people have been affected
• Approximately 100,000 feared dead, according to the United Nations as of 4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 13
• Thousands lie trapped beneath the rubble
• Hundreds of thousands of people are sleeping in the streets and homeless
• Many buildings, including the presidential palace and headquarters of the United Nations, schools, hospitals and hillside shanties have been damaged or destroyed
• Damage to the city’s medical facilities has disrupted the country’s ability to respond with adequate medical assistance; healthcare facilities are overwhelmed
• Severe infrastructural damage is hindering relief work, yet there is desperate need for food, water and medicine
• Many relief organizations and a number of nations are promising much-needed aid and assistance
The disaster has caused suffering and distress among the people of Haiti. Those who have lost loved ones, their homes and all personal belongings find themselves helpless and without hope. The people are in shock and dealing with trauma. The poor are being driven further into poverty. Without Christ and hope from the Word of God, many will struggle with despair, loneliness, hopelessness, discouragement and anger. With many people trying to search for answers and meaning in life, their faith is tested and some question if God is angry with them. The victims of this earthquake not only need food, water, medical assistance, new homes, sources of income and counseling, but they also need the comforting messages that only God’s Word provides, in order to bear their suffering and rebuild their lives
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You can Help..
Haitian Bible Society (HBS) will work with two international relief organizations, Operation Compassion (OC) and Water Missions International (WMI),
to provide immediate and long-term water sources - as well as
much-needed Scripture portions and Bibles in order to alleviate the
suffering of at least 250,000 earthquake victims. The provision of
physical and spiritual assistance provides a window of opportunity for
HBS and the Church at large to be a blessing to the victims, showing
people Christ’s love, while offering comfort and hope from God’s Word.
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