Help MEDA rebuild lives in Haiti

Dear friends and neighbors,

We have all been watching in horror and with deep sadness the past few days as news has come out of Haiti about the massive devastation caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake around the capital city, Port-au-Prince, on Tuesday, January 12.

Naturally, as we try to comprehend the enormity of the loss for millions there, we wonder how we can help in the face of such widespread destruction and calamity.

Today, we heard from Jean Claude Cerin, MEDA's former country manager in Haiti:

"I appreciate very much your support and all the prayers that are going up for us in Haiti. The disaster is very big indeed.

The current situation is very critical. There is no organized relief assistance... Even the UN forces are very slow to react as they have had a lot of losses among themselves... Movement is quite difficult because there is no fuel being sold, no city power, no internal communication. Hospitals that were not destroyed have closed their doors because they are overwhelmed and the wounded population is remaining without care. There is a general feeling of fear across the population as people are scared of a rebound. Also there are many damaged buildings that could collapse any time soon. The bodies of dead people are accumulating and people don't know how to dispose of them. So they just throw them on the streets expecting the Government to get rid of them. But this is not happening quickly and this may create a catastrophic situation and health hazard."

Jean Claude ends his update with a request for our prayers - for a swift response, for comfort for those burying their dead, and for care for the injured. Many of our fellow NGOs are on their way to Haiti now to assist in emergency aid and relief efforts, and we commend and support their work.

But what comes next?

How do we help to resurrect the country's economy and people in a sustainable way?

As you may know, MEDA has a long history - dating back to 1984 - of bringing hope to the lives of the poor in Haiti, one of the world's poorest countries. Most recently, we have been working with Fonkoze, Haiti's largest microfinance organization, whose mission is 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's head office in Port au Prince was destroyed in the earthquake. They are still trying to reach their staff and clients throughout the country. But clearly there will be a massive need to rebuild and recapitalize Fonkoze - a task that will be crucial to ensuring that credit is available to hundreds of thousands of hard-working entrepreneurs trying to rebuild their businesses and support their families.

We urge you to consider a gift that will make a lasting contribution to recovery efforts in Haiti. Please give today. Your gift of $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or any size will have a real impact on survivors of this horrific event, and your generosity will bear witness that the people of Haiti have not been forsaken in their hour of need.

Please join us in praying for and supporting the people of Haiti.

Allan Sauder
President

Microloan helped Marie get back on her feet after hurricanes

Marie Rosette Sorey is a determined lady with a gentle smile. She is still trying to put her life back together after the infamous 2008 hurricane season destroyed everything. Marie Rosette explained the gratitude she feels for Fonkoze - "Without Fonkoze and the loan that was given to me, I would still be sitting in mud with my family, and I can say with certainty that my commerce would not have picked up again." Along with the loan, the moral support and the encouragement she received from her Fonkoze credit agent helped her to not "drag her feet."