Donations to American Red Cross Helping Long-term Recovery in Haiti at Three-Year Anniversary of Earthquake

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Jan 03, 2013, 02:03 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three years since the Haiti earthquake, hundreds of thousands of people are living in safer homes and have improved access to water and health services thanks to the generous donations to the American Red Cross.

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In an update on progress made since the magnitude 7.0 quake shook Haiti on January 12, 2010, the Red Cross described the emergency relief it provided after the earthquake, the eventual transition from relief to recovery, and the steps being taken toward building healthier and more resilient communities. The three-year report can be found at www.redcross.org/Haiti.

"The past year, we have worked to make progress permanent by ensuring people can leave camps and return to stable communities. This work included building new homes, repairing quake-damaged homes, helping to complete a new hospital and a clinic and signing an agreement for a second hospital," said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross.

"We are also getting Haiti better prepared to face future threats, and we saw a positive impact from our efforts to support disaster preparedness in camps when Tropical Storm Isaac and Hurricane Sandy passed over the country within just months of each other," McGovern said. "Early warning and evacuation systems saved lives and property, and the Red Cross was there immediately afterward to provide quick assistance to those affected by the storms."

As part of its goal to help people move out of camps, the American Red Cross has assisted more than 20,000 people with rental subsidies and also continued its work to upgrade transitional homes and repair permanent homes. In addition, the American Red Cross has been transitioning toward projects that are aimed at building long-term solutions to meet more than just individual or family needs. This approach invests in the creation of fully functioning and resilient communities, from infrastructure and housing solutions to health, sanitation, livelihoods and disaster preparedness.

Since the earthquake struck, American Red Cross programs in Haiti have:

Provided clean water and sanitation services for more than 545,000 people;
Invested more than $65 million in health services and infrastructure, including construction or operational funding for several hospitals;
Reached 3.1 million people with cholera response and prevention activities, including the country's first-ever cholera vaccination campaign;
Assisted more than 465,000 people to be better prepared for disasters like Tropical Storm Isaac and Hurricane Sandy;
Spent more than $32 million on livelihoods assistance, including grants, job training, cash-for-work and other help

Virtually all of the $486 million that was donated to the American Red Cross following the earthquake has been spent, committed or allocated for planned housing and neighborhood recovery. American Red Cross projects will continue to provide the people of Haiti with long-term health, clean water and sanitation, livelihoods and disaster preparedness improvements, even as the organization remains flexible and prepared to respond to health and disaster emergencies that may arise.

The American Red Cross remains committed to its support for Haiti and to its promise to continue to invest in the nation's development until every last dollar has been spent. On average, 91 cents of every dollar spent by the American Red Cross goes directly to humanitarian services and programs

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

SOURCE American Red Cross