IN HAITI BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE, DURING THE EARTHQUAKE
AND THERE AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE – SERVING THE COMMUNITY
Lions Clubs of the British Isles and Ireland
New total donated £ 287,008 + Euro 129,049
= US$ 629,891
Donations from Lions Clubs throughout the world have now almost reached US$ 5million through the “Lions for Hope” programme.
Day to day supplies and assistance at the Lions tented camps are being provided by LCIF working in conjunction with the International Organisation of Migration and partnership arrangements are being concluded with USAID and Catholic Relief Services.
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) are continuing to work alongside other NGO’s (Non-Government Organisations) and the Haitian Government to put in place a comprehensive rebuilding plan to restore major facilities. LCIF plans still identify education and medical facilities as its major objectives.
Lions in Haiti and LCIF are also currently evaluating the construction of more than 600 semi-permanent homes in partnership with NGO (HELP).
A Memorandum of Understanding is now in place to partner Humani Terra to provide orthopaedic surgeons and in the longer term, a national trauma and burns treatment unit. Sight Savers Vision 2020 also has a planned project for the area and the LCIF Sight First Grants coordinators are also involved in the planning work.
It is clear from our current discussions with LCIF that there is much planning work still to be done to ensure the true long term needs of the Haitian people as well as the continuing requirement to coordinate the involvement of the many NGO’s working in Haiti .
As your MD Lions Disaster Response Committee, we continue to keep in close contact with LCIF to obtain regular updates on progress and problems and to consider and determine projects for which your generous donations can be best utilised and we will continue to keep you informed.