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Press Release One month after the devastation in Haiti, Salesian Missions is still providing
relief and saving lives Salesian Missions lost 85 percent of its schools and buildings in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake struck, killing hundreds of students. A month later, Salesian Missions and the Italian Navy are still working to retrieve bodies from the ruins of the primary and secondary schools that were a beacon of hope before the disaster. Fr. Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions in New Rochelle, NY – who toured Haiti last year and is there now helping with relief efforts – is quick to remind everyone that many of the problems that exist today were there before the quake. “Severe poverty, homelessness and lack of clean water and food were daily realities even before the earthquake,” he says. “That’s why we were already here in Haiti, working to make a difference by providing education and hope to children in the poorest slums.” Homelessness – while compounded now – was already a major problem in Port-au-Prince, he says. In addition to the schools Salesian Missions operated, shelters for homeless youth and feeding programs also offered youth and families hope and opportunity for a better life. The youth housed by Salesian Missions are homeless once again, but they are still being cared for under very challenging conditions, adds Fr. Hyde. The buildings that symbolized rays of hope are now all destroyed, Fr. Hyde says. “Our spirits, however, remain strong. We are working to tend to their immediate needs, in survival mode,” he adds. “But at the same time, we already planning to rebuild – and we will provide shelter and education once again to the homeless youth.” About 35,000 people have fled to Salesian Missions locations, where settlements are taking shape. The homeless are taking shelter in tents provided by the Salesians. So far, about 900 tents have been distributed, and 2,100 more have been ordered by Salesian Missions. Suppliers of tents (in the United States and around the globe) have been struggling to keep up with the demand. Additional shipments of tents purchased by Salesian Missions are due to arrive in Haiti any day now, according to Jessica O’Connor, Salesian Missions property and logistics officer. Since the earthquake, Salesian Missions has been working hard to secure and deliver essential items. Although their administrative offices in Haiti were destroyed, the organization was still able to respond quickly to the relief efforts because of their nearby administrative headquarters in the Dominican Republic. Because of their strong relationship with the government there, Fr. Hyde says they were able to work in cooperation with the military to provide secure delivery of aid. Thus far, 27 trucks of food shipments have been delivered, with additional shipments scheduled twice weekly in an attempt to keep up with the needs of the homeless. A container of 270,864 fortified rice meals arrived in Port-au Prince on Feb. 4 with a second shipment scheduled for this week. Salesian Missions will fund and coordinate the distribution of these meals in Haiti. Salesian Missions is also coordinating fundraising efforts in the United States to allow for such aid relief. “The successful coordination and delivery of essential supplies underscores why people trust us with their donation dollars,” says Fr. Hyde, adding that the organization’s long history of helping the people of Haiti is impressive and notable. “We have been in Haiti since 1936, helping the poorest children and families,” says Fr. Hyde. “And we will be here long after the news cameras turn their attention elsewhere.” He also added that Haiti is one of the 131 countries around the world where Salesian Missions is giving hope to the poor. Salesian Missions hit hard in Port-au-Prince, frantically working to provide aid,
as humanitarian workers become victims and are among missing The Salesian Information Agency (SIA) is reporting that an 85-year-old Salesian member of the Order, Brother Hubert Sanon, was among the victims of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti. Father Harold Bernard was reported rescued from the ruins alive Jan. 13. Fr. Ducange Sylvain, who was appointed the new Superior of the Vice Province of Haiti last December, described the situation to SIA, saying, “We have been hit very hard,” referring to the situation of the Salesians. Since the Salesian Missions offices and schools in Port-au-Prince are damaged or destroyed and the whereabouts of aid workers is unknown, an emergency response team has been formed from Salesian Missions’ Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic offices. The team was scheduled to travel by helicopter this afternoon to Port-au-Prince to assess the situation and help in emergency relief efforts, but they have been unable to secure air transport. Unless an opportunity arises, they will begin driving to Haiti by jeep at first daylight Friday, Jan. 15. Salesian Missions not only operated schools for thousands of students in Port-au-Prince, but services of all kinds for 25,000 of Haiti’s poorest children. Specializing in sheltering, educating and feeding street children, the humanitarian aid organization has its work cut out for it as all children in Port-au-Prince are now street children. “Salesian Missions has been in Haiti since 1936, and despite this set back and our personal losses, we will continue to provide hope to Haiti’s poorest children,” says Fr. Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions headquartered in New Rochelle, NY. “While some of the schools have been destroyed we can still partner with aid organizations in carrying out a food aid distribution program or any other humanitarian relief effort.” “The situation is critical and overwhelming,” adds Fr. Mark. “Salesian Missions is working hard to respond to the need for disaster relief and is calling for emergency donations. Salesian Missions is working frantically to help survivors with little resources. Help is needed immediately.” Funds are needed for:
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