Save the Children Working to Bring Relief, Normalcy to Haiti

Just eight days after a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12, another large aftershock, measuring 6.1 in magnitude, struck the country Wednesday.

Save the Children staff in the nation's capital of Port-au-Prince heard already weakened structures collapsing, according to a news release. The threats to and fears of children in the disaster zone remain undiminished, said the Westport-based organization that works to help children in need throughout the world.

"Children and families are still sleeping in the open, among the rubble. They are very vulnerable — this aftershock would have terrified them," Save the Children's Annie Foster said in the release. She is the organization's emergency team leader in Port-au-Prince.

Some families, such as 5-year-old Melody and her mother, live in makeshift camps. Melody and her mom live on the grounds of a church in an open area away from buildings that might collapse, according to Save the Children.

With little access to water, food, shelter or medicine, people are camped out with whatever belongings they could salvage from their destroyed houses. Conditions are cramped and there are not enough toilets. Children have nothing to do and nowhere to play.

"I cannot go to school anymore and I would like to go back soon," Melody said in a statement released by the organization. "I like school and I love singing. I can also play piano. ... In the camp I play with my friends but we don't have any toys or a playground. I was very scared when the earthquake happened. I tried to run away but I fell down. In the end I was able to escape. But now I am starving - there is not much food here. We are here in the camp since last week with no tents, no food and no water. We get some food from friends from time to time. During the day
it's hot and cold during night."

Foster said Save the Children is working to bring in much needed supplies, roll them out as fast as they can and set up places for children to play.

This week, Save the Children began to set up the first of many "Child Friendly Spaces" planned for shelters and camps housing earthquake survivors. Forty children have already been registered and another 250 children are expected to start activities today.

These safe spaces protect children and give them a place to play and recover from the suffering they have endured and witnessed, according to Save the Children. The agency plans to set up an additional three Child Friendly Spaces this Friday. The spaces also serve as an area for temporary schooling to meet children's educational needs as the country works to rebuild and reopen its schools.

"We know that children are very resilient. Given the right care and support they can recover from what was a terrifying ordeal," Foster said in the release. "Our Child Friendly Spaces will help children regain a little normalcy in these highly abnormal times and have a chance to come together and play with other children. This is the first step in their long road to recovery." 

Save the Children will be receiving six plane loads of supplies with urgently needed relief items in the coming week.  

HOW TO HELP

You can donate to the relief efforts by clicking here.

Donate any amount at www.savethechildren.org or by calling 1-800-728-3843 or 1-203-221-4030.

OR DONATE $10 BY TEXTING "SAVE" to 20222 (U.S.Only).

Learn more about the emergency response to the earthquakes in Haiti.