Five years after a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, the Canadian Red Cross continues to help earthquake survivors rebuild and recover. Efforts have shifted from immediate life-saving assistance to long-term recovery to ensure communities can build a stronger and healthier future.
Natasha Dumolas is a 29-year-old mother of six from a remote community in Jacmel. The Dumolas family received a safe, durable shelter from the Canadian Red Cross after the devastating earthquake.
“This new home has brought a great change in my life,” says Natasha. “I was sleeping in a leaky house, when it rained you had to go up and patch the roof or cover all of our belongings so they wouldn’t get wet. No I can sleep without worrying about the rain”
Natasha has also benefitted from other Red Cross projects, including community-based health and first aid projects that provide monthly training on how to treat water before drinking and soap for hand-washing to avoid diseases.
“I’d like to thank the Red Cross for what they have done,” she adds. “Until the day I die, I’ll never be able to return the favour.”
Thanks to the generosity of individual Canadians, corporations, provincial and all levels of government, the Canadian Red Cross has received over $210 million to support relief efforts in Haiti.
Learn more Haiti: Five Years On