New update from Star of Hope Haiti Projects

Bois Negresse

We have been to Bois Negresse to evaluate their situation after hurricane Matthew. It has taken many hours longer than usually to reach Bois Negresse because the road is very bad, but we finally got there. Big trucks can still not make it to the village which has caused a total loss of income from the food they picked and saved after the hurricane. They thought they could sell what they saved to buy basic food to feed their families. Unfortunately, everything spoiled by too much humidity and no sun.

Contrary to the south of Haiti, we have registered only a few leveled homes and about eight houses are severely damaged as well as 1 of our school buildings. However, with the heavy rain and strong wind, all farmers lost their crops, of banana, corn, cabbage, carrots and potatoes. We have also registered that they lost 125 goats, 8 cows, 1 horse and 3 mules.

Like all affected by Matthew, the village of Bois Negresse needs a quick humanitarian intervention to bring food into the community. People are starving due to the loss of all food at their farms. No food has come to the village since the hurricane; this is due to the condition of the road. We need to be ready and intervene with food packages as soon as big trucks can get through to the village. It is a matter of time before starvation sets in.

Dano

As of today, we still can’t reach the village of Dano because the road is cut into pieces and part of the entrance is flooded. It is a walking time of close to 2 hours to reach Dano. It will take another week before the roads get repaired. We do have contact with our project leader and received the news Dano was hit hard by the hurricane. The new soccer field is damaged and the 2 changing rooms reserved for the soccer players to sit have been destroyed by the heavy wind. Repairs will be needed. Farmers lost everything they planted for the season. They have also reported that many houses have lost their roofs. As traffic is still impossible to get to Dano, after 10 days now, the population is out of all basic food stuff that they are used to having locally; cooking oil, sugar, rice, flour and herring. The population of Dano, like many others, are starving and waiting for humanitarian intervention.

Hesse

Hesse; located on top of a hill is the most affected SOH project. People lost their livestock, banana fields corn fields, beans, and houses. Some of the houses are severely damaged, some are destroyed and some have their roof missing. But all houses in Hesse received a lot of water damage by their windows which had soaked everything, even their reserve food, and their beds. The metal roofing on 3 classrooms flew miles away. As we are in the rain season and children can’t be taught in the open sky, the school leaders walked miles searching for the sheet of metal roofing, sadly when the roofing was found their condition was not good enough to put it back on the roof to welcome the children to school. But a big serious problem incurred, all school books and school materials are soaked with water and can’t be of any use.

Although the entire community lost everything and waiting on humanitarian aid relief to find food to put on the family table, people living in Hesse is very happy for inaugurating 2 new Star of Hope water wells in the community. Having drinking water in Hesse is a must need that they are now satisfied by having it at everyone disposal at anytime.

Marigot

Marigot is a coastal village located on the southeast side of Haiti. Their main income rests on agriculture; mostly big plantation of plantains and fishing. With the heavy wind, many farmers have seen the loss at 100% with fields leveled and ruined; the crops lost. Many people are confused and gave up in despair due to this major loss.

Boyer, Jeanton, and Rigaud

These 3 projects are the less affected with only small damage reported. In all 3, only Jeanton registered 2-3 houses with light damage on the house roof by missing 1 or 2 roof panels. The church has no damage, praise the Lord. Because the south peninsula which is the food production area for all Haiti is devastated by total agricultural losses, there will be problems to find food to feed their families. Jeanton is still moving forward with the construction of a water kiosk that soon will give drinking water to the entire community, a blessing in midst of the aftermath of the hurricane.

Boys and Girls Home, no reported damage.

Thank You for what you do for our children in Haiti. Myrtha Dor, Star of Hope, Haiti