CARE Distributes Food, Water and Supplies to Haiti's Hardest Hit

Humanitarian Group Partners with Communities to Ensure Safe Delivery of Aid

ATLANTA, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CARE continued delivering aid to Haiti's hardest hit earthquake survivors Wednesday, despite security challenges, broken infrastructure, logistical roadblocks, and a severe aftershock that rocked Port-au-Prince in the early morning hours.

Over the last several days, CARE has brought clean water and water purification powder to some 14,000 people, and those efforts are scheduled to ramp up in the days to come. CARE also has distributed high-protein biscuits; 1,500 collapsible water containers; and 1,200 hygiene kits, targeting women left particularly vulnerable. And the organization has procured 5,000 mattresses that will be handed out in the coming days.

Shipments of PUR water purification powder, tents, first aid kits, hygiene kits and blankets are scheduled to arrive in Port-au-Prince today, with generators and more blankets scheduled to arrive later this week. The flow of aid will continue to increase over the coming days and weeks.

To ensure safe and efficient delivery, CARE works with community leaders to prepare and facilitate distributions. At its hub in Leogane, for example, CARE met with the town's leadership and logistics committees to finalize the distribution plan.

"The community wanted to be involved, and they came to the table with a plan," recounts Patrick Solomon, senior vice president of CARE's global support services, who participated in CARE's efforts in Leogane. "It was inspiring to see the community – and even local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts – come together with CARE to distribute aid to their neighbors impacted by the earthquake."

In Leogane, aid distribution took place in the driveway of a telecommunications building, which is temporally occupied by the municipal authorities whose building was destroyed in the quake. The community leaders gave out chits to individuals in need, and when called upon, individuals were escorted by Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to collect their items before being guided to the exit. Distributions are calm and orderly.

"The distribution in Leogane is an excellent example of how CARE works within communities to safely and successfully distribute much-needed supplies to those who need it most."

The humanitarian supply chain is getting stronger by the day, and distribution hubs have been established in the neighboring Dominican Republic and Panama, where supplies can be transferred over land or by plane. That has allowed for faster delivery of an increasing supply of aid, and despite its limited capacity the airport has handled more than 600 aircraft in the last week. CARE has sent three logisticians to ensure CARE shipments of aid arrive safely in Port-au-Prince and are quickly loaded onto trucks for swift distribution.

CARE recognizes the following partners for their generous donations and in-kind support of our emergency relief efforts:  Abbott, Baxter, Cargill, CARFAX, Cox Enterprises, Inc., Delta Air Lines, General Mills, Goldman Sachs, Hanesbrands Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Pfizer, Potash, Procter & Gamble, Quiznos, Sealift, Symantec Corporation, Teavana, 3M, Troutman Sanders and UPS.

To Donate: Go to www.care.org or call 1 800 521 CARE.

About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is one of the world's largest humanitarian aid agencies. Working side by side with poor people in 72 countries, CARE helps empower communities to address the greatest threats to their survival. Women are at the heart of CARE's efforts to improve health, education and economic development because experience shows that a woman's achievements yield dramatic benefits for her entire family. CARE is also committed to providing lifesaving assistance during times of crisis  and helping rebuild safer, stronger communities afterward.

SOURCE CARE