Devasting Earthquake in Haiti Requires Everyone to Respond

Photo from Reuters.

13 January 2009 - A massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti, just before 5 p.m. yesterday, about 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince. The International Red Cross estimates that 3 million people have been affected by the quake and the Prime Minister has estimated that the death toll could be as high as 100,000. School and hospitals have been severely affected, and an already fragile infrastructure is being stretched beyond its capacity.

BRAC USA is mobilizing resources to support the relief and rehabilitation efforts working with its two partners in Haiti. In September 2009, Fonkoze, BRAC, BRAC USA, Partners In Health/Zanmi Lasante with support from CGAP, CHF Partners in Rural Development and Linked Foundation launched a Partnership at the Clinton Global Initiative to break the cycle of disease and poverty in Haiti.  BRAC has been providing technical assistance to Fonkoze over the last several years to adapt its program for the ultra poor and at the request of our partners, is planning to expand operations on the ground for long-term development.

Fonkoze is Haiti’s largest micro-finance organization with a mission to build the economic foundation for democracy in Haiti by providing the rural poor – mostly women – with the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty. Fonkoze is national in scope with more than 40 branches throughout Haiti offering a full range of financial services to the rural-based poor, currently reaching more than 225,000 savers and borrowers. To learn more about Fonkoze visit www.fonkoze.org.

Zanmi Lasante, the Haitian sister organization of the U.S.-based NGO Partners In Health, is one of Haiti’s largest health care providers, serving a catchment area of 1.2 million in Central Haiti and the lower Artibonite Department. Zanmi Lasante has been working for more then two decades in Haiti to increase access to a full range of high-quality health services and to lift entire communities out of poverty through a range of social support and community development. To learn more about Partners in Health visit www.pih.org.

Donations are being accepted directly by both organizations at Fonkoze USA or Partners in Health or if you prefer, through the BRAC USA website to support rescue and rehabilitation efforts in Haiti.  You may also send personal checks to:

BRAC USA
11 E. 44th Street, #1600
New York, NY 10017

Note: Please highlight that your donation is for the Haiti Earthquake Rescue and Rehabilitation efforts.

BRAC USA is a legally registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations made to BRAC USA are fully tax deductible with the US Internal Revenue Service.

About BRAC/BRAC USA
BRAC, the largest non-profit in the developing world, was launched in Bangladesh in 1972 and currently touches the lives of more than 110 million people through its programs addressing poverty including micro-loans, education, health services, self-employment opportunities and human rights education. BRAC’s vision is to improve the health, wealth and well being of millions of the poorest families primarily in Asia and Africa. BRAC has provided $5 billion in micro-loans to nearly seven million borrowers, mostly women, and created 8.5 million self-employment opportunities. BRAC’s 73,000 community health promoters have provided basic health services to more than 93 million people. BRAC USA is an affiliate supporting BRAC.