The Haiti South site will provide emergency nutrition relief funds to 1,353 sponsored children.
The Haiti South site staff, under the direction of Br. Marcelin, are deeply concerned about Chalice sponsored children and their families in southern Haiti. They are experiencing a “major food crisis,” Br. Marcelin says, “with the proliferation of gangs on [the] national roads, which prevents the free movement of products.” The gangs are setting up illegal toll booths and charging extortionate fees for transporting food and essential products.
The vendors are passing those costs on to their customers. By the time anything makes it to Haiti South families, the prices are extremely high. In this crisis, most parents are unemployed, and economic activity has come to a standstill. Without outside support, the families cannot afford overpriced products, especially food.
“The population is left alone without preparation and has difficulty feeding itself and sending its children to school,” Br. Marcelin says.
Last year, Chalice supporters enabled the site to provide quarterly nutrition funding for all site staff and sponsored children. 1366 children and staff received extra funds each quarter.
“These funds helped cushion the impact of increasing costs as families struggled to meet basic needs,” says Br. Marcelin. “There are no other sources of support for these families in the Haiti South region.”
As the food insecurity emergency continues, the Haiti South site has requested $162,347.72 CAD to continue the program this year. This program will provide emergency nutrition relief funds to 1,353 sponsored children and their 5,100 family members to buy food locally.
Each sponsored child and staff member will receive an equal amount of funds each quarter. This approach is the safest for the site staff, as the situation is too volatile and dangerous to attempt a bulk distribution of food. Individual parents and guardians can maximize their nutrition funds in local markets.
Program Location: Haiti South, Haiti
Program Code: HDPHHL0724
Budget in Canadian Funds: $162,347.72 CAD
DONATEPlease note that any donations that exceed the request will be used to fund other community projects that may arise.