2016 has been a year of transition for International Action (IA). We were able to able to make two trips to Haiti this year. Our first visit was in March with the second in November. Our November mission was to review the progress and sustainability of our water supply projects, continue to develop local relationships and plan the expansion of our future efforts in Haiti.
In early October, the southern peninsula of Haiti was devastated by hurricane Matthew. Some of the hardest hit areas were Nippes, Sud, and the Grande Anse. The extent of the devastation is still being evaluated but we already know that water, sanitation, and food are in short supply in these regions. They were even before the hurricane. Haiti’s people are suffering, and we are doing all we can to alleviate some of their pain.
Moreover, we are currently working with several relief agencies to lend support in getting clean water and supplies to the hardest hit areas. While the rest of the country escaped the primary wrath of the storm, significant rains and wind have caused extensive peripheral damage. The good news is this year saw an end to a seven-year drought in Haiti, making local agriculture once again possible.
Last year, a concerted effort was made by us to establish new well sites and chlorination systems that ensured the water was free from contaminates and safe for the people to drink. This year, we returned to those sites to assess their effectiveness.