The floods that hit Haiti over the weekend have currently claimed dozens of lives and displaced thousands. The Archdiocesan Charity of Olomouc (hereinafter referred to as ACHO) provides permanent assistance in the areas of Baie de Henne and Gonaives, which are also affected by this disaster. ACHO is asking the public to support a fundraiser from which it will be able to finance the aid.

Weekend rains caused widespread flooding and landslides in seven of the country’s ten departments. According to the UN, 37,000 people were affected and 13,400 people were displaced. The town of Léogane was particularly hard hit, with three flooded rivers causing widespread damage and loss of life.

The floods have caused extensive material damage and residents are in urgent need of food, drinking water and medicine. The situation is aggravated by the protracted humanitarian and political crisis in Haiti, and the current arrival of the hurricane season makes it even more complicated.

The affected areas also include the Baie de Henne area, where ACHO implements humanitarian projects, especially Distance Adoption, Donate a Roof Over Your Head and Community Support.

“We are in telephone contact with the local priest. It is P. Phechner Julmisse from the village of Baie de Henne. Through this priest, we also organized previous forms of aid, and he takes on aid in the region even now”, comments Roman Musil, coordinator of ACHO projects in Haiti. “We will now try to collect the funds for which he would subsequently secure the necessary material and organize its distribution”.

ACHO hereby turns to the public with a request and support for fundraising. This takes place on bank account 43-9935450227/0100. The charity thanks in advance for any donation that, together with others, can mean meaningful help in the poorest country in the Northern Hemisphere, now still afflicted by this disaster.

The latest information shows that in the coming days, the residents will first need to provide rice, which is available in the area. This will solve the problem of spoiled food. In addition, it is necessary to buy more basic medical supplies, because many people were injured during the floods themselves or during the cleanup of its consequences. After this first phase of assistance, the next step will be to support local people by providing tools to restore damaged homes and fields, including the procurement of seedlings and seeds.