Haitians wait in line for water. Photo: UN Development Programme
Here’s the latest on Matador’s efforts in responding to the earthquake in Haiti.
There are three important updates to share this evening, so let’s just get right to it.
1. All volunteer information submitted to Matador is being reviewed by relief agency partners to match skills to need.
We have been collaborating with relief agency partners to match volunteers with service opportunities. All prospective volunteers need to submit their information using this online form. The organizations will review volunteer applications and follow up if your skills match needs for upcoming projects in Haiti.
Initial priority will be given to volunteers with medical/nursing skills; proof and verification of all credentials will be required.
We are not able to respond to individual inquiries about volunteering at this time due to the volume of volunteers who have expressed interest in offering their time and service.
Please note: Volunteer opportunities are not likely to be immediate. The Port-au-Prince airport remains clogged with international military planes and an influx of volunteers is still not feasible at this time. You will be contacted if a volunteer opportunity is identified for you.
2. Matador continues to work with American Airlines and other local organizations and businesses to coordinate donation efforts in New York City.
Over the weekend, we will be working with local donation centers approved by the Haitian Consulate to determine how volunteers can assist with sorting and packing items for shipping. Details will be provided as they become available.
We’re grateful to American Airlines, the Association for the Social Advancement of People, and Caribbean Cargo & Packaging for their collaboration.
3. Matador members in other cities are coordinating local efforts in their communities.
As information is available about these opportunities, we will announce them here.
Thank you for your continued support. We are in contact with volunteers on the ground in Port-au-Prince, and will be sharing direct reports as they become available.
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16 Comments... join the discussion!
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God Bless Haiti.
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We have made it safely to Port-au-Prince, after a 7 hours drive from Santo Domingo. We have been in the Port-au-Prince airport since waiting on a safe and secure way to get on the ground. Please check our facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=251695312938) for updates and photos – we will keep it as current as possible, considering the electricity and internet connection issues.
Vladimir
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I have been so impressed the past few days, Julie, with your passion, and that of Matador responders, but also with the intelligent and tireless way you are going about this. How you’re doing it with a baby in the house, I have no idea! You are a very good person that I’m proud to “know,” if only virtually.
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Kathy-
I haven’t been able to read all the comments on all the articles yet, but I happened to see yours and it meant so much to me. Thank you for your support.
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I am a certified EMT experienced in disaster relief. I completely understand that medical volunteers will be needed for a long time, and that immediate volunteering is restricted to specifically trained, governmental sanctioned DMAT teams.
However, I am also a Post Doc at an Ivy League institution, and have access to hundreds of Med students, dental students, nurses and other highly intelligent people. We have a Spring break coming up in March, and I would be able to gather many, many trained people for volunteering at that time, later on in the humanitarian effort. Please let me know if you would be interested in coordinating something at a later date, when things are working more smoothly in Haiti than they are now
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Can definitely be available whenever…I am a qualified childrens nurse and general and neonates with many years experience and dedication… based in the UK..Would so like to help……..
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Do you need an logistics experts. I was a sargeant in logistics of combat brigade during the war in Croatia and have large experience of distributing supplies in crise situation.
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For anyone in the Miami area: We are taking donations of medical supplies, food, and blankets (clothing and building materials will be accepted later on as the wharehouses are overwhelmed and the most vital stuff is what’s going out first). The stuff is shipping out Monday aboard the USS Comfort.
Drop off:
Sunday 9am-3pm
Monday 1pm-5pm7230 NW Miami Court (Little Haiti)
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I am a paediatric registered nurse in Canada and would be available to volunteer in April for a couple of weeks.
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Hi, i am pediatric and Nicu nurse in Toronto, Canada, and ready to volunteer in Haiti in march,
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Hello everyone
I am an emt and electrician, and am trained in disaster relief. I came to Haiti on my own a week ago and met people along the way to partner with and work on projects, and have partnered with a British builder named Joshua, who brought tools to build with. Its been both difficult but rewarding. We have found organizations that need people but are unable to accept volunteers, and opportunities to volunteer our skills that have been meaningful but temporary. Tomorrow we are going to the UN to see about joining a temporary shelter building organization. For now, we are staying with a large school housing medical and disaster relief workers that is feeding us a little bit and offering us the opportunity to meet and network with other orgs. Most of the people here are American, and most are only here for a week. That means their trip is hard and fast, and they spend as much time traveling as they do volunteering their skills.
.Things are going to get a lot worse soon. Secondary health issues relating to sleeping outside on the ground, and infection from poor wound treatment, as well as the spread of disease by vectors like flies, and the piling up of human waste are troubling problems that nobody has solutions for yet. There is plenty of stuff, plenty of med supplies, gasoline, water. There is not enough temporary housing, or food. Real food, not just rice and corn soy mash, is what people are lacking the most of. Also, psychological care and things like music and arts are severely lacking
If anyone is coming here with a group and wants projects or more information, i can be of service. If anyone is coming alone with skills, you can join up with us. But we dont have much money or resources, and things are destabilizing.
Thanks for reading
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Justin-
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Please keep us posted and don’t hesitate to let us know how we can help from afar. Thanks for the work you are doing.↵ -
I am very interested in going to Haiti. My friend and I have been looking for a way to go there and help; if anyone has information for us, please reply.
Thanks!
Suzanne↵ -
I have little knowledge on it. then I search more information online and finally found your posting. Its very useful to increase my experience on it to run my blog too.
thanks a lot,
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