AMERICA/HAITI - Signs of recovery while the population is still in crisis: schools reopened

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Port-au-Prince (Agenzia Fides) - Three years have gone by since the earthquake in Haiti that destroyed 90% of schools and 60% of hospitals, killing thousands of people, leaving more than 350 000 injured and causing more than one million children orphaned. Half of the island's population lives on less than a dollar a day, 500 million people are homeless, 90% of children have diseases caused by contaminated water, the cholera epidemic shows no signs of stopping, and also the international economic crisis has reached the country already sorely tried. However, the population has never given up and continues to fight for a better life. Recently, more than 3 million children have returned to their schools, more than 20 000 in the Salesian institutes on the island, among these over 10 000 receive one meal a day at the Little Schools of Father Bohnen. In a statement by Ans sent to Fides says that the Salesian missionaries have been living in Haiti for over 75 years, working with the most vulnerable children, women, the sick. According to the World Bank, various interventions seem to suggest the desire for a rebirth of the country. For example, the removal of 11 million cubic meters of debris, a million people have left the camps for the displaced, 600 000 people will soon have access to electricity. In addition, the Prosecutor of the Salesian Missions of Madrid has launched an appeal for solidarity, promoting the campaign "75 years in Haiti," which calls on the international community to continue to work and support missionaries so that the island is not forgotten. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 09/10/2012)


Share: