On August 14, 2021, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Tiburon Peninsula in the Caribbean nation of Haiti. It had a 10-kilometre-deep hypocenter near Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, approximately 150 kilometres west of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
2,248 people were confirmed killed as of September 7, 2021, and above 12,000 injured. Seventh-day Adventist leaders confirmed that 12 church members were among the dead. “21 members have been injured and 20 homes among the membership were destroyed,” reported Pastor Pierre Caporal, president of the Church in Haiti. “Moreover, five Adventist churches were destroyed, seven more were partially damaged and six schools were also damaged,” concluded Caporal.
In Haiti, at least 136,800 buildings were damaged or destroyed. The deadliest earthquake and deadliest natural disaster of 2021, it is the worst disaster to strike Haiti since the 2010 earthquake. UNICEF estimated more than half a million children were affected.
Three days after reeling from the recent quake, Haiti was additionally impacted by Tropical Storm Grace, which left torrential flooding in areas of the country, adding to an increase of people in need of humanitarian assistance.
Adventist hospital providing around-the-clock care
Hôpital Adventiste d’Haïti, nestled in Diquini, Carrefour, in Port-au-Prince, has seen patients non-stop since 5:00 pm on Aug. 14. The hospital has set up six tents outside to assist the flow of injured patients, according to Jere Chrispens, administrator of the Haiti Adventist Hospital. “Our hospital is unique in providing trauma surgery and remains focused on our patients who can be in and out and [are] in recovery,” explained Chrispens, adding that many area hospitals continue sending in patients for surgery in exchange for postoperative care. “Our surgery teams have been working 16-20 hours a day in each of the three operating suites in the hospital,” concluded Chrispens.
Moreover, a team of doctors and nurses were sent by the union office, with some staff from the Adventist hospital, to Les Cayes, a coastal town in the southern peninsula hit hard by the earthquake, to assess and help those with the greatest needs, Caporal explained.
ADRA’s contribution
“ADRA has been working on several relocation projects to assist internally displaced survivors of gang violence, and is working closely with the Haiti Adventist Hospital in Diquini, where injured people being brought to the facility require critical orthopedic medical care and treatment,” said Bissereth, country director for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Haiti.
The hospital has already been saturated with many wounded and injured people since the earthquake struck on August 14.
“ADRA is working closely with the local Adventist hospital to offer logistical and coordination support and provide assistance for transport, food and purchase of medicine,” confirmed Bissereth.
The contribution of the Inter-European Division (EUD)
The administration of the EUD recently voted for a 250 000 US$ relief amount to the Church in Haiti. Pastor Mário Brito, president of the EUD, affirmed: "The Haitian people have once more suffered a terrible natural catastrophe that makes their lives a daily challenge, needing material aid and spiritual support. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Haiti is a means from God to provide it and we are called to help it, in our capacity, at distance. By releasing this fund, we encourage our dear brethren to use their will to rebuild infrastructures and strengthen mission plans of the Church, relieving suffering and transmitting hope."
The administration of the EUD assures that ‘The fields and brethren from EUD territory are praying for the Haitian Church and Mission’.
