E-Connections

01-14-10 E-Connections

Dear Friends,

As my class in St. Louis began this week, my laptop and iPhone began to explode with news of the earthquake in Haiti and people asking how to respond. My first thoughts were already with the many friends and former IPM Partners working in Haiti. They also turned immediately to our Immersion Experience delegation in the neighboring Dominican Republic. As I sit here on the 14th, it is clear to me that the scope of this tragedy will not be fully apparent to us for years. I also know from prior experience and two days of almost constant communication back-and-forth with people we trust on the island, now is the time for IPM to respond.

The earthquake of January 12th was massive, and the devastating tragedy caused by its 7.0 magnitude has stretched throughout Haiti and into the bordering Dominican Republic. While officials can only still speculate on the death toll in what is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, many reputable sources are estimating the death total to reach over 100,000. In addition, more than 3 million people are estimated to have been affected throughout the country, either injured or homeless, with most having extremely limited access to potable water, food, and emergency medical care. Just today, IPM Board Member Doug Horner shared with me a story that even those with homes are fleeing to the hills for fear of banditry.

IPM has worked and partnered with the people of Haiti and its neighboring Dominican Republic throughout our history. As we continue to hope and pray for the children and families devastated by this unimaginable tragedy, we ask also for your continued support for our Project Partners in the region who are working to provide emergency support during this time of crisis.

An almost unimaginable number of people lack food, clean water, shelter, and medical care. IPM has been in contact with Joanne Peterson in the Dominican Republic (where a delegation from Oberlin College is currently on an Immersion Experience) and other local Project Partners and friends in Haiti to assess the situation, identify priorities, and help direct our efforts for emergency response. Joanne and friends are currently organizing medical supplies to be sent to Rick Frechette, CM, in Haiti by helicopter (which costs $5,000) to the hospital San Damian and the Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos orphanage. Money donated to IPM will be used to ensure the transport of these essential supplies. In addition, Doug and friends are working with us to identify a number of small, community- and faith-based organizations that he has known in Haiti over the years who are also in need of financial support. Per Joanne and Doug’s suggestion, gifts of cash directed through IPM’s Emergency Fund for Haiti will go to support these and other to-be-identified programs To make an online donation please click here. You may also mail your tax-deductible gift payable to: IPM at 3091 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118, USA.

Please also keep IPM’s Immersion Experience delegation members in the Dominican Republic, but near the border with grief-stricken Haiti, in your thoughts and prayers. They are all OK but they join in us in being deeply concerned for the countless lives lost and affected by this tragedy in Haiti.

We will keep you updated as we continue to learn more in the coming days. On behalf of all of us at IPM, and most especially our Project Partners around the world, thank you for your gift of partnership, solidarity, and generous support!

Faithfully yours,
Joseph F. Cistone
Executive Director & CEO