CRC Responds in Haiti, Cuba

The Christian Reformed Church is stepping up efforts to help people in Haiti and Cuba who continue to suffer from several storms that tore through the Caribbean recently.

Luis Pellecer, Latin America Regional Director for Christian Reformed World Missions, said that "of all of the areas in the Caribbean, Haiti was hit the hardest. Haiti had 500 deaths while there were five deaths in Cuba.

“None of our missionaries in any of those places was affected,” Pellecer reported, “other than they went through wind and rain."

At least one CRC church in Cuba was destroyed and others were damaged, said Pellecer. Getting help into Cuba, he said, is hard, given that the United States has an economic embargo in place. Some help is currently getting into Cuba through efforts launched by the Catholic Church.

"World Missions has given grants in the past for church re-construction. In the case of the church that was destroyed, I'm not sure how we will proceed, but we will certainly consider helping," said Pellecer.

There are about a dozen CRC congregations in Cuba. Many members of these churches, said Pellecer, lost the roofs and other parts of their houses due to the weather. There is extensive flooding and most places are without water and electricity.

In Haiti, the bulk of the relief and rehabilitation work will be done by the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and its partners, all of whom report damage in the areas where they work, said Ken Little, CRWRC senior project relief manager.

Currently, CRWRC has six emergency relief projects in action after Hurricanes Fay, Gustav and Hannah struck, causing more than 3,000 people to loose what little they had. They are receiving $40,000 in food, clothing, and roofing materials through Christian partner groups.

"While nearly all areas in Haiti have been hit by now, partners have their zones where they normally work. Their network of churches and communities, and leaders helps them to do an effective implementation of the emergency aid. Due to the limited capacity of its partners CRWRC decided to have several small emergency projects with its main partners," said Little.

Through its partners in Haiti, CRWRC also will provide health services, address educational needs of children, hand out clothing, make emergency food available, and provide home repair services.

Part of the overall CRC response includes a request from CRWRC for at least $1 million in donations to help in the widespread recovery work that is necessary following a very active hurricane season, especially in the Caribbean.

-Chris Meehan, CRC Communications