Haiti Earthquake 2021

Sr. Farzana Phillips, RJM has written from Haiti to give an update on the continuing plight of those affected by last August's magnitude 7.2 earthquake.

This trip had two agendas: 1. To have mobile clinic at three most vulnerable places, Mailloux, Sous De Vie and Garat. 2. Meetings with the community leaders to discuss the local community contribution in construction of the houses because some of the donors would like that the donations be used mainly for that purpose...

We, the ICM (Cœur Immaculé de Marie/Immaculate Heart of Mary) Sisters and RJMs (Religious of Jesus and Mary) started our three day visit to the south on 24^th August. We were 7 sisters (6 ICM and 1 RJM) with two cars (1 sent by the Parish Priest of the Holy Family Church, Toi Raque and the other from us RJMs). Since we were a big group, even two cars were not enough to take the people plus all the supplies. We requested that HAITI TRANSPORT send us a small truck, which they did. Haiti Transport is providing this service free of charge to all the Congregations or Organizations taking aid to the south of the country. They were a group of 3 men, a driver and 2 helpers. One sat with the driver and the other at the back to guard the supplies. In total we were 12 people...

August 14, 2021, 8:30 AM is a day and time that the people of southwest Haiti will not soon forget. Nor will the rest of the world, as we watched in horror and heartbreak as the first images of the earthquake's damage emerged.

While the 4 Religious of Jesus and Mary currently in-country are fine, all felt the earthquake's tremors and shaking, especially our 2 RJMs in Port-au-Prince which is only 90 miles from the southwestern area impacted.