The American Red Cross worked alongside families and communities in Haiti for over a decade.
The American Red Cross worked alongside families and communities in Haiti for over a decade.
Haiti Earthquake 10-year update >>
Immediately after a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, the American people opened their hearts and donated generously to help save lives. Thanks to donations, Red Cross teams did just that—providing food, water, medical care, emergency shelter, cash grants, and other essentials to millions of people. And when Hurricane Matthew—the strongest storm to hit the country in 50 years—made landfall, we prepositioned teams and provided lifesaving aid to those who needed it most. Americans’ generosity made this critical work possible.
See a complete financial breakdown of Red Cross spending for the Haiti earthquake >>
Some of our disaster relief and recovery work is very visible: hospitals and clinics (we funded more than 50), schools (we renovated or reconstructed more than 40), and housing (we helped more than 164,800 people through safe housing and neighborhood recovery).
Other parts of American Red Cross’s work are less visible—but just as critical. These include providing 70% of the funds needed for the country’s first cholera vaccine campaign; engaging the community in decision-making; granting seed money to entrepreneurs; and training disaster responders so they can keep their neighbors safe during future emergencies.
Recent civil unrest in Haiti has resulted in economic stagnation, insecurity, and shortages of social services and medical care. Large investments in Haiti after the earthquake have helped build resilience, yet families face challenges more complex than disaster recovery alone. In response to the civil unrest, the Haitian Red Cross is providing first aid and transporting injured people to medical facilities via ambulance. The American Red Cross has made financial contributions towards these efforts to help the Haitian Red Cross strengthen its capacity to respond to this and other crises.
Haiti Assistance Program FAQs (PDF, 516KB)
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“If I have goats, turkeys, and chickens, and I take care of them so they reproduce, that could help me during the hard times my family experiences,” said Monistile Celeste (left) who stands with livestock given to him by the American Red Cross to encourage economic activity in rural communities.
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The Haitian Red Cross suffered serious damage during the earthquake, so the American Red Cross has invested in the organization to ensure its strength and sustainability. The construction of a new office building and blood collection center is part of this work.
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In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, American Red Cross staff member, Rhode Jean Philippe, distributes cholera prevention kits—containing things like soap, buckets and water purification tabs—and educating residents on prevention and treatment measures.
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Frantz Volma stands behind the counter of his newly-opened restaurant in Carrefour-Feuilles, Frantz received financial support and training from the American Red Cross to open his new business and has high hopes for its success.
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Robin Yevline practices metal work at a professional training center in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The American Red Cross funded a scholarship for Robin to attend the vocational training, after which she hopes to obtain a job and support her family.
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Magdiana Jean and her 4-month-old son, Ricardo, visit the maternity and pediatrics ward of a clinic run by Red Cross partner HOPE in Borgne, Haiti. Since the earthquake struck, the American Red Cross has funded more than 50 hospitals and clinics in Haiti – helping to rebuild the country’s medical infrastructure.
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“We are happy and proud of our new school,” exclaimed Samantha Georges, a 6th grader standing on her school’s newly renovated walkway. The American Red Cross provided funding to renovate the school, Ecole CEMEAH, which can also serve as an evacuation center during natural disasters.
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Angeni Senpha and her children used to have a pit latrine but now use a composting toilet at their home. The American Red Cross funded and worked with partner organization, SOIL, in northern Haiti to install toilet and to expand the capacity of the composting waste treatment facility.
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In partnership with CARE, the Red Cross helped homeowners like Reynal Gue (right) repair and expand their houses, as well as make them more disaster resistant. The homeowners who benefited from this program agreed to provide a free room to former camp residents for 18 to 24 months, offering them a safe place to live as they rebuilt their lives.
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Ever since she found out she was pregnant, Elièse Louis has been coming to Mirebalais Hospital—built in part with American Red Cross funding—to receive ongoing prenatal, birth, and postnatal care. In June 2014, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Lovenosky.
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The American Red Cross, in partnership with Mercy Corps, has helped set up 35 savings and loan associations in the neighborhood of Carrefour-Feuilles. This savings group has been active since May 2014 and its members are proud to be able to save money by themselves.
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Sadia, Landy, Godson, and Gerdy-Ythamar celebrate education. Through the American Red Cross and HELP, the recent high school graduates received full-paid scholarships to attend college in Haiti.
