Hurricane Isaac Relief Efforts

While FMSC does not primarily act as an emergency relief agency, our food is sometimes requested for an immediate need. After Hurricane Isaac in August, our partners, Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), requested additional aid for Haiti. Within the next few weeks, we’ll be sending two additional shipments–68 pallets of MannaPack-Rice, and one pallet each of Potato-D and Potato-W, totaling 559,872 meals.

According to the latest official reports from OCHA, Tropical Storm Isaac caused 24 deaths and left three missing and 42 injured. In addition, 15,812 people were evacuated, 7,753 people were left homeless, 6,000 people lost their shelters in IDP camps, and 1,000 houses were reported destroyed. Humanitarian assistance is being delivered to cover needs, but a possible increase in cholera, damage to crops, and food security are concerns.

On August 26, a disaster response team from PADF rushed emergency aid to affected areas after the storm destroyed homes, flooded towns, and littered the streets with debris. PADF was the first to arrive on the scene, and was able to provide immediate assistance of food, water, and beds. Their urban community development project used its extensive network of community organizations and contacts on the ground to get accurate assessments of the damage in Port-au-Prince. PADF was asked by the Haitian government to take a leading role in the government’s disaster response.

FMSC is blessed to have effective partners already in place when a disaster hits. In such cases, like the 2010 Haitian earthquake, we’re able to simply increase the meals they receive, putting our meals into action sooner for recovery efforts.

The extra FMSC food being shipped will provide short-term support for the vulnerable population affected by Isaac as the long-term initiatives continue by our partners. Please continue your prayers for those affected.

For more on the Hurricane Isaac relief efforts by our partners, visit PADF’s web site.
Photo credit: Ivy Kuperberg/PADF Haiti.