PDA has also published the following notices in recent days:
Help is on the way – what is needed, what is not
The response in Haiti is still in the relatively early phase of emergency relief. The most effective way to respond is through financial support. PDA is not requesting material aid, other than the preparation of Gift of the Heart hygiene and baby kits, to replenish the supply after more than 35,000 kits have been directed to Haiti. Volunteers are not requested at this time.
Relief distributions
As of January 27, relief services through ACT partners include:
- distribution of clean water; installation of latrines; health/hygiene team
- provision of hot meals and/or funding to purchase meals
- health and nutrition clinics
- food distribution and assistance for people with disabilities
- hygiene kits, baby kits, blankets
- medicines
According to the January 27 OCHA report, the government is reporting more than 260,000 people who have left the earthquake-affected areas, moving to departments in the north and south. While Leogane was affected, the Hôpital Sainte Croix is functional, and together with the Faculte des Sciences Infirmiere l’Universite Episcopale d’Haiti (FSIL) nursing school is offering support to those injured. PDA is supporting these entities as they work with people injured during the earthquake.
Upcoming needs
As assessments continue, needs for intermediate support and long term recovery assistance will become more clearly defined. Updates will be provided on the needs and the response. Some of the needs being identified at this time include:
- Food preparation items and cooking facilities, for people to prepare locally purchased foods
- Support for restoring livelihoods
- Options for shelter
- Community based psychosocial support
- Staff care
- Rehabilitation services
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will continue to care for those in need, regardless of religion, race, creed, or nationality of the recipients. The coordinated response will include (but may not be limited to) the areas of relief, education, psychosocial support, water and sanitation and disaster preparedness.
Message concerning Haitian orphans
This report does not refer to the issue of orphans who were already in the process of adoption prior to the earthquake. Some of these are the children you might see on news reports or other communications, as they arrive in the United States.
Caution is needed when dealing with other children in the disaster area. Frequently, well meaning people and organizations rush to get the children out of harm’s way and into the arms of well meaning adoptive parents. Unfortunately, there are often issues related to the fact that the children may actually still have caring and concerned family, even parents, in the disaster area who were separated due to the event. Taking such children out of their own communities in these circumstances does not do them a service when they have caring family who would eventually find them.
Another issue is to watch for the security of the children, to avoid not-so-well-meaning people preying on vulnerable children following a disaster.Protection of children should be a key issue for all of us, and sending them out of their home area may not be the appropriate answer.
As media gives attention to various aspects of humanitarian care for disaster survivors, please be aware that underlying issues must sometimes be considered when discerning how to best serve the most vulnerable people. As assessments and the Haiti response continues, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), through PDA, will make every effort to support the children of Haiti affected by this disaster in an effective and appropriate response.
ECPAT has prepared a manual 
about protecting children from trafficking and sexual violence during emergencies. ECPAT is a network of organizations and individuals working together to ensure that children around the world are free from commercial sexual exploitation.
There is much, much more to be done. PDA is asking us to stand in the GAP for disaster survivors as we Give, Act, and Pray for Haiti and its people.
about protecting children from trafficking and sexual violence during emergencies. ECPAT is a network of organizations and individuals working together to ensure that children around the world are free from commercial sexual exploitation.There is much, much more to be done. PDA is asking us to stand in the GAP for disaster survivors as we Give, Act, and Pray for Haiti and its people.
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