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Jewish organizations play key role; American Jewish World Service raises $5m. in past year, "move from disaster to development."

NEW YORK – A year after the earthquake that killed an estimated 230,000 people, the island nation of Haiti remains in a state of profound disarray.

Over a million people remain housed in displaced person camps, and the capital area of Port au Prince remains devastated. With rampant destruction in the cities, villagers have attempted to help their fellow Haitians, but struggle with the sheer numbers of 600,000 people left homeless by the quake. Of those who survived, thousands have lost limbs, and disease and political turmoil are rampant.

Efforts to help rebuild Haiti from the rubble have made not insignificant inroads into the catastrophe, and, various non-governmental organizations said, will continue to work into the next year.

“Today, we remember those who lost lives, homes and livelihoods in the earthquake one year ago,” former US President Bill Clinton posted on Facebook, “and we’re hopeful for Haiti’s future.”

The Iron Market, a center of Port au Prince commerce, collapsed in the 2010 earthquake. Through the Clinton Global Initiative, , the rebuilding of the Iron Market started yesterday, using Haitian construction teams.

Jewish organizations played a prominent role in efforts at Haiti’s reconstruction. According to a report by the Joint Distribution Committee, the JDC raised $7.7 million for Haiti relief efforts in the past year, with the support of Jewish Federations of North America and individuals.

“Within days of the earthquake, the global Jewish community generously responded to this disaster,” JDC CEO Steven Schwager said. “One year later, we have helped improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Haitian earthquake survivors. Whether we’re getting people walking again at our rehab clinic and prosthetic lab or ensuring educational outlets for Haitian children, we do so inspired by tikkun olam and our unwavering commitment to the potential of every human life.”

JDC and its partners delivered medical services to over 53,000 Haitians, helping more than 800 people and fitting over 70 prosthetics at its state-of-the-art rehabilitation clinic at l'Hôpital de l'Université d'Etat d'Haïti and nearby prosthetic lab. JDC also ran 10 schools in tent camps in Port Au Prince and ensured that 150,000 displaced Haitians had access to 80 emergency water tanks.

In 2011, JDC plans to focus on rehabilitation -- both physical and psychological – as well as helping the disabled and schooling for Haitian children. JDC’s ongoing services for Haitian amputees will include professional training for local medical and paramedical staff and treatment by a team of Haitian/American/Israeli doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

American Jewish World Service plans to continue to support Haitian grassroots organizations, having raised over $5 million over the past year, AJWS Director Ruth Messinger said, to help the country “move from disaster to development.”

According to the organization’s one-year report, AJWS intends to focus on building Haiti “back better” by underscoring human rights through its long-term community development and supporting projects that empower marginalized communities.

Источник: www.jpost.com

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