Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - Caritas Spain has traced a balance of its work on the Caribbean island - called "Caritas with Haiti" - in favor of hundreds of thousands of people after the earthquake which hit the island 2 years ago. The report, a copy of which was sent to Fides, shows, first of all, that this work was undertaken in the context of a contingency plan coordinated by the Caritas international network and guided by the same Caritas Haiti. In 2011, Caritas Spain continued to support the work of Caritas Haiti for the victims of the earthquake, taking a long-term development approach to try to address the causes of vulnerability, in particular poverty. Since 2010, Caritas Spain has invested 10.8 million euros in Haiti. Over the past year it has given priority to five areas: health, education, housing, protection of vulnerable communities, institutional strengthening of Caritas Haiti.
The first sector includes the draft response to the cholera outbreak in early 2011 and another program of basic health care, devoted to maternal nutrition, which is being developed in 4 dioceses on the border with the Dominican Republic, where Caritas Haiti has a long experience of working with health care operators of many of these communities. Closely related to these programs there are plans for the access to drinking water and sewage system in various parts of the country. With regard to education, Caritas Spain is working with several groups to create a plan for basic education and professional training for children and young Haitians and for the reconstruction of 2 schools in Gressier able to accommodate 923 students.
To provide housing Caritas Haiti has given priority to the most vulnerable families, and to this end it has launched a national program, supported by Caritas Spain, with the construction of more than 130 homes. Caritas Spain is also funding an old age pensioner center in the Diocese of Les Cayes, along with several programs addressing the needs of the sick, disabled, elderly, women and children.
Caritas Spain has finally started working with Caritas Haiti and other members of the Caritas network to develop a strategic plan regarding Caritas Haiti, in order to ensure the sustainability of the institution and reduce dependence on external financing, as well as improving the technical capabilities of all levels of Caritas Haiti national network. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 12/01/2012)
