Supporting Haitian Relief Efforts

During a recent trip with the international aid organization Global DIRT, Trade Wings’ Zac Clancy got a first-hand look at the devastation in Haiti. As you can imagine, daily life continues to be a struggle with many citizens lacking food, water and sufficient shelter. Across Port-au-Prince, where the earthquake’s devastation was particularly severe, the recovery and rebuilding process has been slow.

As you can see from these photographs, many Haitian citizens are now living in large tent cities and moving through the relief lines is a long and tedious process. With the hurricane season looming on the horizon, there is growing concern about the potential for conditions to deteriorate even further.

 

Acting as an intermediary between large aid organizations, hospitals, military personnel and Haitian citizens, Global DIRT provides food and medical supplies in addition to services such as transportation, minor construction and security. Medical-specific services including hospital transfers and vaccination distribution also fall within the organization’s activity.

 

 

Trade Wings' employee, Zac Clancy, talks about his personal experiences aiding Haitian citizens to obtain food and water in the aftermath of the devastating Jan. 2010 earthquake.

 

Global DIRT, which was on the ground in Haiti within days of the earthquake, was founded in 2005 by New Hampshire residents Adam Marlatt and Robert Sullivan. The organization employs one full-time doctor and a small group of Haitian citizens who help provide security and act as translators. With the situation in Haiti continuing to evolve on a daily basis, Global DIRT plans to remain in-country for six to nine months during 2010.

 

If you are interested in helping to support Global DIRT, monetary donations are now being accepted to help purchase lumber, medical supplies and water. To make a donation via PayPal, please visit www.globaldirt.org. Clothes (of all sizes), canned food, unused medical supplies, toys, tents and waterproof tarps are also needed. Zac has set up a donation drop point at his home. Contact Zac at zclancy@tradewings.com.