Haiti –Updates Jan 25

Many UCF students and alumni have a special place in their heart for Haiti and our partners in mission. The people of Haiti have seen unbelievable deforestation and mudslides, hunger and famine, poverty and homelessness, violence and chaos, political unrest, hurricanes and flooding and if any place on the planet doesn’t “need” an earthquake, it is Haiti.

The 7.0 earthquake struck 10 miles from the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, on Tuesday January 12.  From the The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System website, it appears that the epicenter of the quake was actually closer to Fermate and Kenscoff which is where Wings of Hope Orphange is located and down that mountain toward Port-au-Prince in Petion-Ville which is where most of our other partners in mission are located.

Updates

St. Joseph Home for Boys, Delmas … facility devasted; all boys were outside playing – all survived. Bill Nathan was on the chapel rooftop, on the 6th floor, and had to jump to other rooftops and suffered critical injuries. He has been transported to NC.  A Warburg Seminary student and guest at St. Joseph’s died.

Wings of Hope Orphange, Fermante … structural damage, but the kitchen area is usable. All kids accounted for and safe. They have rented a house minutes away to relieve the overcrowding of having to house St. Joseph’s kids.

Methodist Guest House, Delmas/PetionVille … building fine, no cracks. Church and school on same compound, casulaties reported.

LaSaline Clinic, LaSaline area of PAP … no word

Grace Childrens Hospital, Delmas 31. We heard on Jan. 14 that the Hospital withstood the quake. One child, a patient, died. However, we now understand that the hospital received extensive damage but the hospital is operating under tents and with generators.

Trinity Episcopal Church & School & The St. Margaret, downtown PAP… The convent, school, and cathedral have been destroyed. Sisters are all alive and unhurt. Jean Francois Alzinor, age 21, principal Alti of Les Petits Chanteurs died Mdm Lahens, recently hired to be in charge of discipline, also died.

St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children …  is destroyed and 6 kids died. The rest were able to evacuate to Montrouis.