Strength, Resilience Help Stir Possibilities in Rural Haiti
Stories from ACDI/VOCA’s Work in La Vallée, Southeast Department
The people of southeast Haiti have shown incredible resilience and strength in the aftermath of January’s historic earthquake. The area is well-acquainted with the economic hardship and chronic hunger caused by natural disasters and political turbulence, yet this is not a community of people prone to complain.
Hardship is acknowledged and solutions rapidly sought—a temporary shelter may be made from any materials at hand, a new market springs up to trade food. In the typical Haitian spirit, many youth are optimistic about the future in the face of disaster: They bear each crisis with fortitude and know it too shall pass.
Yet some of the elders of southeast Haiti recognize that this disaster is different. “The youth are not thinking about the future. They are just hanging out on the streets," says La Vallée resident Anisia Tussent, 56.
In many ways, La Vallée is typical of rural towns in the southeast. Needs are great. Populations are rising. Uncertainty is widespread.
Still progress is possible and, as these stories illustrate, already underway.
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Rachelle Cheristal with her 2-year-old son. Rachelle is resilient but faces uncertainties in caring for her family following the earthquake. Photographer: ACDI/VOCA-Haiti |
Widespread Uncertainty
On February 6, ACDI/VOCA distributed emergency food rations of bulgar wheat, oil and beans to 300 families, one of many distributions made since the day after the earthquake.
One recipient was Rachelle Cheristal, a pregnant 19 year old with a 2-year-old son. Despite being in her ninth month of pregnancy, Rachelle is graceful and tranquil about the present; she is accustomed to problems. When asked about the future, however, her strength gives way to nervousness and she can only repeat, “I don’t know, I don’t know.”
Rachelle’s family was lucky—their home suffered only minor earthquake damage in a community where one in five homes were destroyed or damaged. Everyone knows someone who was killed: One out of every 50 Haitians perished in the earthquake, the highest rate of death from a national disaster ever recorded.
Rural Populations Rise
Although reeling from their own losses, rural communities have become a haven for many survivors from Port au Prince who escaped to the relative safety of their rural homes. For example, Rachelle’s sister Marianze and Marianze’s husband and 1-year-old son lost their Port au Prince home in the earthquake.
Marianze is fiercely proud of her husband, who was studying to become a doctor. She expects he will be able to resume his studies, but for now he is seeking temporary work as a mason along with the other men in the family. It is unclear when medical classes will resume.
Marianze’s story is repeated many times over by the 7,400 people who sought haven in La Vallée, raising the community’s population by 19 percent.
Great Food, Income Needs
The scarcity of food and loss of income to purchase provisions is threatening child welfare.
Even before the earthquake, the Demographic Health Survey reported that 24 percent of Haitian children suffer from general chronic malnutrition, and another 9 percent suffer acute malnutrition. Malnutrition in the southeast has led to a high incidence of stunting.
The emergency rations of bulgar wheat, oil and beans help round out diets for people in La Vallée when complemented by the fruit and vegetables that are still readily available in the area.
Progress and Possibility
Fortunately, ACDI/VOCA established its presence in Haiti two years before the earthquake with a program focusing on long-term agricultural programs and public health initiatives. This presence enabled the team to become one of the first providers of emergency relief, leveraging pre-existing distribution pipelines, food stocks and local community relationships.
ACDI/VOCA continues to partner with key local and international organizations to ensure an ongoing, coordinated response.
Going forward, ACDI/VOCA will step up not only to fulfill pre-existing project commitments in Haiti, but also to extend and expand that work to ensure adequate coverage of needs in spheres that may not be covered by other partners, such as in agriculture and food, water, sanitation and hygiene, economic recovery, and health and nutrition.
As these basic needs are addressed, the optimism and resilience for which the Haitians are known may yet return to southeast Haiti. The community’s hope is that youth again dream about the future and its possibilities.
For more information on ACDI/VOCA's project in Haiti, click here.
For more information on ACDI/VOCA's work in food security, click here.
