Send Relief is responding to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on Aug. 14 by supplying substantial funding and by partnering with the Florida Baptist Convention and Haitian Baptists, disaster response director Coy Webb said.

“Florida has a long-term relationship with Haiti and we believe is our best current partner for Send Relief in Haiti,” he said.

Webb said Send Relief will use “significant funding” to purchase temporary shelter supplies (tents and tarps), medical supplies and food through partnership with the Florida Baptist Convention and have expedited the process to release funding quickly.

The supplies will be distributed through local Baptist church partners in the affected communities in southwest Haiti, he said.

Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency raised the number of deaths from the earthquake to 2,189 and said more than 12,000 people were injured. Send Relief’s assessments indicated there were more than 700 collapsed buildings and more than 38,000 destroyed homes with 47,000 damaged. More than 130,000 families have been impacted, with many forced to evacuate their homes.

And it could have been worse.

“Despite its strength and depth, the quake is less catastrophic than that of 2010, the worst disaster in the country’s history, which left more than 300,000 people dead and 1.5 million others injured.” Webb said. “This response will not rise to the 2010 quake but has caused significant loss.

“Greatest needs identified in assessments are temporary shelter, medical assistance, water, food, sanitation and hygiene.”

The quake wiped out many of the sources of food and income that many poor depend on for survival in a country already struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, gang violence and the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

Haiti’s political situation is not secure enough to utilize volunteers in the country, Webb said. He said that was further verified on Tuesday in a call with partners.

“The prognosis is that political instability, crime and gang activity is worsening because of the quake and has been widespread across the nation prior to the disaster,” he said.

Webb said due to security concerns, Send Relief does not anticipate deploying Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers. Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has adopted the Caribbean in the new Send Relief/SBDR partnership structure and has had teams on alert since the disaster occurred.

North Carolina’s Baptists on Mission is working closely with Vladimyr Roseau, a doctor in Haiti, to support ongoing relief efforts in Les Cayes.

The best two ways churches or individuals can help is to pray and give. 

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Mark Maynard writes for Kentucky Today.)