Haiti: Two months after the hurricane

It’s been almost two months since the super hurricane went through western part of Haiti, ripped through houses and farmlands leaving very little from people.

Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) distributed tarpaulins and blankets in late October in southwestern Haiti of Torbeck commune in Les Cayes. Recently, PWJ staff went back to the area to see how our relief goods had been received and used.

“My family took refuge to our neighbors with stronger house when the hurricane went through our area, I had never experienced anything like that before. We found out next day that our house was mostly gone.” said Alceus Makela. “All my family was safe but we had no safe home anymore. Then PWJ provided a tarpaulin and a blanket. We used the tarpaulin from PWJ to make a living room in our temporary shelter, where we can eat and children can play. But we have no idea when we can build our home back.”

Families like Alceus are very common. They are living day-to-day, hoping someday they can save enough money to start rebuild their homes.

When PWJ staff visited Torbeck, we saw tarpaulins were used in a various way. Some used it to create kitchen area, in Haiti, it is very common to have kitchen separately from the house due to charcoal usage for fuel.

Some resident combined multiple tarpaulins and had a professional build a brand new temporary house. This way, the house is built more solid and it feels and looks like a real home to live in.

PWJ also witnessed some of the tarpaulins were used to cover the bags of charcoal which are to be sold at the market, for their income means.

The recovery continues in hurricane-hit areas of Haiti and PWJ also stays together with them to provide additional support to communities in need. We appreciate your support!