As Evangelical Alliance member organisations continue to respond to the earthquake in Haiti, the Alliance is calling on Christians to keep praying for the survivors and the relief efforts. 

On 25 January Douglas Alexander, International Development Secretary, met with British faith-based groups that are providing aid in the country to talk about how to coordinate long-term efforts. The emphasis in the meeting, which Alliance members World Vision and Tearfund attended, was on allowing Haitians to take the lead in rebuilding their country. The earthquake, which measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, struck on January 12. Relief and development agencies, including Alliance members, responded immediately, deploying staff and creating emergency appeals.

Magalie Boyer from World Vision, who have 370 staff in the country, spoke of the earthquake: "It felt as if a truck had hit a wall. There is extensive damage in the city. People had to spend the night in the streets. They are not comfortable staying in their houses."
 
Boyer added: "World Vision Haiti will distribute first aid kits to survivors, along with basic materials such as soap, blankets, clothes and bottles of water as an initial response."

Power and communication lines are down for miles, roads are blocked and damaged and there is a lack of equipment. This has all stalled the relief effort and made bringing aid to survivors more challenging.

Jennie Evans, Tearfund's Head of Region for Latin America and the Caribbean said: "'With so many buildings destroyed and so many people made homeless, the need for shelter and basic essentials such as food and water is extremely urgent.'

Impoverished Haiti is no stranger to disaster, but this latest earthquake is the largest to hit the Caribbean in 200 years, causing widespread devastation.

With the epicentre just 10 miles from the capital Port-au Prince, countless buildings (including the presidential palace and UN office) and homes have been destroyed and the official death toll is rising continually.

British rescue teams and Government rescue specialists landed in nearby Dominican Republic and although figures are uncertain the Red Cross estimated that three million people are in need emergency aid.

Distressing news pictures depict the injured and dead lying in the streets and screaming from underneath rubble. However there are stories streaming in of people being found alive in the rubble two weeks on which is heartening.

Bishop Gerald A. Seale, General Secretary of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean, said the earthquake has had a devastating impact on the progress made in recent years to develop Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere.

"The social and material gains made in the past two to three years have been totally wiped out by this earthquake," he said. "As Christian NGOs gear up for a major response in the next few days, we need to give sacrificially and pray."

Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance UK, said: "At a time like this many of us feel powerless to do anything when we see devastation but as Christians we can always do something.

"Please give generously, and pray passionately for those who have lost everything in this disaster, that aid workers reach the thousands in desperate need and that the Church in Haiti is able to respond to the needs of those suffering."

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Prayer points

Pray for Haitians as they cope with the shock and aftermath of the earthquake.

Pray for the injured, that they would receive the medical attention and assistance they need, and for God's comfort for those who have been bereaved.

Pray for rescue efforts - that survivors are reached quickly and that communication and power lines are restored.

Pray for the local church leaders and Christians as they minister and offer spiritual, physical and emotional help to their neighbours in need.  

Pray for the government and leadership in Haiti as they respond.

Pray for the safety and protection of relief staff, rescue workers and aid agencies.

Pray that the appeals for help and financial support will be met with a fast and generous response across the world.

Tearfund have produced a Pray for Haiti powerpoint  for use in churches or small groups

News

Read Your Stories on Haiti

2 Feb

Guardian - Girl found alive under rubble 15 days later

BBC - Future uncertain for Haiti amputees

Guardian - Haiti heads for debt crisis

Telegraph - Haiti earthquake - voodoo high priest claims aid monopolised by Christians

Times - American church group arrested on Haitian border accused of abducting children

26 Jan

BBC - British donations to Haiti earthquake appeal reach £46m

Aberdeen Press & Journal - Haiti insists it can lead recovery from front

Scotsman - Haiti aid talks to focus on keeping assistance flowing

25 Jan

BBC - Haiti capital earthquake 'tops 150,000'

Guardian - Haiti earthquake: Religion fills the void left by aid agencies

22 Jan

BBC - Pictures HCJB work

Guardian - Haitian empowerment must be prime goal

BBC - BBC broadcast radio programmes in Creole

Guardian - Haiti Aid agencies accused of jostling for position

Times - UK joins Haiti Telethon

20 Jan 11.30am

Daily Mail - Haiti hit by second earthquake!

BBC -Getting Aid to Haiti

Guardian - UK urges cancelling of Haiti's debt

Telegraph - Hunger bites a week after disaster

15 Jan

Times - Ray of hope as aid effort stutters to life

Guardian - Aid agencies hit logistical problems

Independent - Bottlenecks hamper aid

BBC - Pictures - Haiti under rubble

Guardian - Obama announces $100m US aid

14 Jan

Guardian - Quake death toll rising rapidly

Independent - Vain search for survivors

Telegraph -  Race to save thousands

BBC -  Live coverage of news from Haiti

EAUK's member organisations are responding swiftly to this disaster.

Some of these include….

Tearfund which has dispatched emergency funds and a response team

Samaritan's Purse which is sending a disaster assistance team and mobilising resources

World Vision which has 370 staff in country and is providing immediate relief for victims

World Emergency Relief which is providing emergency supplies

Compassion has mobilised its Disaster Relief Fund

WorldShare are channeling funds through their partners working in Haiti on the ground

Mission Aviation Fellowship have three aircraft based on west coast of Haiti. Medical supplies are being flown in.

HCJB Global have an emergency medical response team in the country at Baptist Mission Hospital.

Please consider whether you can support or donate to these efforts. Each of the above have an appeal or you can donate to The Disasters Emergency Committee.

Records for Haiti

In addition to the Everybody Hurts single out
on Sunday 7 Feb and recorded by top Brit pop acts, the Christian community are recording 
a benefit single.  

Lawrence Johnson, co-founder of the London Community Gospel Choir and Les Moir of Kingsway Music have joined forces to organise the recording of a charity single to raise money for Haitians victims. The recording will bring together praise and worship artists, urban gospel artists, gospel artists, CCM and choir members who want to take part in the recording on February 27 in central London.  Artists who've agreed to take part include Roger Samuels, Sonnie Badu, The Wades, Divine and Nicky Brown
 
The last charity single they did was in response to the 2004 Tsunami. All funds raised from this recording will be donated to the charity Compassion which is working relentlessly to bring relief to the people of Haiti.
 
If you are interested in participating in this event email one_voice2010@yahoo.co.uk