Haiti

Haiti’s history with humanitarian aid and the Canadian Red Cross
Red Cross support in Haiti
Rebuilding and strengthening Haiti’s communities

Haiti’s history with humanitarian aid and the Canadian Red Cross

Red Cross helping a mother and her children after Hurricane Matthew
(Photo credit: Marko Kokic / Canadian Red Cross)

The Canadian Red Cross has been working in Haiti for over 30 years. Following the 2010 earthquake, we partnered with the Haitian Red Cross to provide critical assistance to communities and support their emergency response capacity through several projects, which focused on safe shelter, health, violence prevention, and reducing the vulnerability of Haitian women, men, boys and girls.

In the years that followed, the Canadian Red Cross has continued to work alongside with the Haitian Red Cross Society as they support communities' resilience in the face of challenges, including a cholera epidemic, hurricanes Sandy, Matthew and Irma, and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic.

Red Cross support in Haiti

Red Cross workers playing with children after hurricane
(Photo credit: Marko Kokic / Canadian Red Cross)

Today, ongoing partnership with the Haitian Red Cross adapts to the changing and challenging context on the ground. We continue to support communities impacted by the 2021 earthquake while also boosting the Haitian Red Cross’s capacity to respond to health emergencies. This ensures stronger local responses to community needs and helps manage crises like COVID-19 and emergency health services, especially in today’s complex landscape.

Despite the current challenges, the Haitian Red Cross has sustained the essential work needed throughout Haiti by linking emergency response operations with ongoing long-term development programs. The Haitian Red Cross supports health and civic protection systems and enhances community-based responses and prevention through community organization. The Canadian Red Cross supports the Haitian Red Cross in navigating these priorities as their work continues with teams in Jérémie, Grand'Anse, and Port-au-Prince.

The Canadian Red Cross focuses on responding to humanitarian emergencies while supporting sustainable local responses. Several health facilities have received support to be constructed or rehabilitated in Haiti along with community health initiatives, water and sanitation projects, safe shelter solutions, and disaster preparedness efforts. Red Cross initiatives prioritize assistance for individuals in highly vulnerable situations, including women, expectant mothers, youth, people living with disabilities, and seniors.

When it comes to health and sexual and reproductive rights, community members - especially those in hard-to-reach areas and in the most marginalized communities - have received training and education on preventive health practices. These practices include sanitation, family planning, safe motherhood, risks associated with pregnancy, and many other topics related to health concerns. The Canadian Red Cross has further supported these efforts through community awareness activities and by training frontline health workers, including Haitian Red Cross staff and volunteers. A range of interventions has been implemented to improve maternal and child health, distribute sanitary pads to women and girls, and address the protection and prevention of violence against women. Trainings also cover essential components such as Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Protection, Gender Inclusion, and Engagement (PGIE).

Your donation in action: 2021 Haiti Earthquake donor report

Rebuilding and strengthening Haiti’s communities

A child receiving a throat exam from a Red Cross doctor
(Photo credit: Marko Kokic / Canadian Red Cross)

The best way to support Canadian Red Cross programming in countries like Haiti is to make a donation to the International Programs Fund.

Donate to the International Programs Fund

Your gift helps us establish health care and water and sanitation programs focusing on improving particularly access for women, girls, and other marginalized populations and contributes to making families and communities more resilient against future disasters, climate crisis or conflict situations. Your donation allows us to help prevent, prepare for, and alleviate the suffering of those impacted by disasters and crises by responding to humanitarian needs, promoting community agencies to address humanitarian crises, strengthening local capacity, and investing in preparedness. Your support will contribute to building more resilient communities in areas around the world.

Read more about how International Program Fund donations have helped Canadian Red Cross deliver programming around the world.