Australian Salesian Bulletin

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic large earthquake.  Its epicentre was approximately 25 km west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. The earthquake occurred at 4.30 pm local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010. An estimated three million people were affected by the quake. Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive stated on 3 February 2010 that 200,000 people had been identified as dead and estimated that 300,000 injured had been treated.  Bellerive also estimated that 250,000 houses and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged.

The earthquake caused major damage to Port-au-Prince and other settlements in the region. Many notable landmark buildings were significantly damaged or destroyed.  Among those killed was Archbishop of Port-au-Prince Monsignor Joseph Serge Miot. Many countries responded to appeals for humanitarian aid, pledging funds and dispatching rescue and medical teams, engineers and support personnel.

Amongst the widespread devastation and damage throughout Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, vital infrastructure necessary to respond to the disaster was severely damaged or destroyed. This included all hospitals in the capital; air, sea, and land transport facilities; and communication systems.

The earthquake struck in the most populated area of the country.  Haitian authorities also estimated that 300,000 had been injured and as many as one million Haitians were left homeless. Edmond Mulet, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said, “I do not think we will ever know what the death toll is from this earthquake”, while the director of the Haitian Red Cross, Guiteau Jean-Pierre, noted that his organisation had not had the time to count bodies, as their focus had been on the treatment of survivors.

Pope praises rapid, generous response to victims of quake in Haiti

Pope Benedict XVI praised the rapid and generous response from the international community toward the people of Haiti and the bravery of all those who engaged in on-the-ground rescue efforts. The Pope’s comments came in two telegrams sent January 16 and published on January 25.  The telegrams were addressed to Archbishop Louis Kebreau, SDB, of Cap-Haitien, president of the Haitian bishops’ conference, to Haitian President Rene Preval. Pope Benedict expressed his hopes that the generosity being shown toward Haiti would continue and would reach and offer relief to those in need.

Salesian World Mobilises

There are ten communities working in the Salesian Vice-Province of Haiti, four of them located in the Capital itself. All buildings have suffered extensive damage with Salesians and pupils being among the earthquake victims. The Salesians have learned that Brother Hubert Sanon, age 85, is among the victims. Father Harold Bernard, age 38, was missing under the ruins for some time but was pulled out alive. Both were on the staff of the National School of Arts and Trades at Port-au-Prince.  It is better known by the generic name St John Bosco. The Rector, Fr Attilio Stra, and other confreres were injured. Over 200 pupils were buried there in the rubble. The emergency rescue services and the Salesians themselves concentrated on trying to pull survivors from the rubble.  The provincial house and that of Fleuriot-Tabarre, both in Port-au-Prince, have been severely damaged and two young Salesians in formation who were at the university are still missing.

The Salesian Sisters, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, have a province in Haiti, with six communities in Port-au-Prince and several communities dotted around the country. There are 79 Salesian Sisters in 14 communities. The Provincial House in Port-au-Prince has apparently not suffered major damage. However, the other houses have been badly damaged and a young Sister who was injured is now in hospital.

The works of the Salesian Sisters include schools, boarding schools, orphanages, promotion centres, welcoming centres for street children, literacy centres and youth centres.  There is a high population of young people and children.

Salesian Missions in New Rochelle is working with Feed the Children, Catholic Relief Services, and Catholic Charities to organize relief for the survivors. Fr Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, says that what is most needed are medical supplies, bottled water, food, clothing, tents, and of course cash. The Rector Major has also designated Salesian Missions in New Rochelle to coordinate the worldwide Salesian response to the disaster.

Heartfelt Appeal by the Rector Major

In a personal letter addressed to all the Salesians throughout the world, the Rector Major Fr Pascual Chávez makes “a heartfelt and at the same time a very strong appeal for solidarity by the Salesian Congregation” for the Vice Province of Haiti. “It broke my heart to know the extent of the devastation, the suffering, the deaths and the despair left behind by the earthquake,” Recalling how for Salesians the greatest loss has been that of the lives of so many young people, youngsters and children as well as three confreres, Fr Chávez gives an account of the state of the Salesian houses.

“Our Confreres in Haiti have been sorely tried but without doubt they are turning to us. They are asking for help and support so that Don Bosco may be able to continue his work in this country and may give them a sign of hope as they continue along their path as Salesians. For days they have been living out in the open with thousands of other people.”

The Rector Major expresses deep admiration for the Province of Santo Domingo which “has been a “good neighbour” and quickly sent food and first aid” and for the fact that the “poorest Provinces of Africa, Asia and America were those which have responded most promptly and spontaneously.”

“In the name of Don Bosco,” Fr Chávez concludes, “I can assure you that the Lord will bless this act of charity of yours.” Through the Offices of the Salesian Headquarters in Rome Salesians are invited to contribute to the relief work and to the reconstruction of the centres in Haiti: “Be generous therefore, even at the cost of having to “delay” some of your own particular projects!”

As of January 26, the Salesians in Haiti are providing shelter to about 13,500 Haitians left homeless from the earthquake. This doesn’t count what the Salesian Sisters are doing at their schools. Survivors are finding shelter in the limited number of facilities which remain standing, in makeshift tents, or in one of the more than 800 tents have been distributed by the Salesians. Currently, staff at the Salesian Missions headquarters in New Rochelle is working to secure an additional 2000 six-man tents for distribution to the homeless.

In a true show and spirit of cooperation and solidarity, the Salesians in Germany and Austria are sending two 40-foot containers with 1600 “schools in a box” kits, enough for 72,000 students. This is in preparation for makeshift schools when deemed appropriate. Prior to the earthquake, Salesian Missions of New York funded schools to these children. Every effort is being made to re-establish this as soon as possible, as well as attend to the more urgent, life-saving needs.

After consultation with the Salesians of Haiti, the Emergency Response Team expects to carry out an assessment and identification of needs in the areas of water and sanitation infrastructure that can be turned into “shelf projects” for financing.

Fr Joseph Simon, SDB, is receiving direct assistance in the form of a 40-kW generator for the street children program in Pétion-Ville.

Transition from emergency relief to reconstruction is expected to begin shortly after the flow of food assistance begins to normalize, which in turn is expected to happen a week or so after 40-foot containers of food assistance and other needed relief emergency items donated by Cross International begin to arrive in Santo Domingo for repacking and transport to Port-au-Prince. In the meantime, a continued food assistance bridge is in full swing with foodstuffs being purchased in the Dominican Republic.  Salesian Missions Association from Turin has offered to defray the cost of buying and delivering some 2000 urgently needed tents for Port-au-Prince.

More photos can be seen at: http://picasaweb.google.com/SalesianMissionsCampaign