Less than six months on Hurricane Sandy is all but forgotten, but the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia has not forgotten those hardest hit in Haiti. Today, ADRA announced their support for a project that will re-establish the agricultural livelihoods of more than 2,000 Haitians.
Extensive flooding, brought by Cyclone Sandy to the poorest country in the Americas last October, left up to 18,000 people homeless and destroyed hundreds of acres of farm land – most of which is owned by poor, subsistence farming families.
“Three months on and the people of Haiti face a severe food crisis,” said Chris Jensen, Director of International Programs for ADRA Australia. “Not only do they have no food now, but market prices have doubled and many families are not likely to see any harvest for the rest of the year.”
Up to 450,000 people, including 4,000 children under the five are at risk of severe malnutrition.
In response, ADRA Australia in partnership with ADRA Switzerland and ADRA Haiti, is providing both emergency food rations to 450 vulnerable families, and equipping them with the tools and seeds needed to re-establish their farms.
The emergency food rations include three month’s supply of rice, beans, sugar and cooking oil, while the farm supplies include rakes, hoes, watering cans and pruning knives along with sorghum, maize and black bean seeds and a goat for breeding and milk production.
“This kind of response not only ensures people can survive in the short term, but are provided opportunities to grow in the long term,” said Mr Jensen.
ADRA is also operating a long term agriculture project in the area.
In response to the 2010 Haitian earthquake ADRA Australia funded projects provided emergency food, clean water and conducted cholera prevention activities.
ADRA Australia is a Christian humanitarian agency that implements a wide range of community development and disaster response programs here in Australia and overseas. ADRA Australia works with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change through empowering partnerships and responsible action.
Media Enquiries:
Braden Blyde
p 02 9489 5488
m 0407 172 305
t @ADRAAustralia