Caritas President visits Haiti

(Feb.24,2010): The president of Caritas Internationalis visited the earthquake victims in Haiti, bringing them solidarity and aid, as the relief effort continues. Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga visited the destroyed cathedral in Port-au-Prince, observing the rubble of the archdiocesan buildings, where Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot lost his life along with many others. He also went to the Renaissance Hospital and the Champ de Mars camp, where tens of thousands of people are taking refuge, Caritas reported.
Cardinal Maradiaga’s meeting with the representatives of the Haitian bishops' conference, included a discussion about the relief and reconstruction efforts. He also met the Caritas staff working in that country at the agency's Haitian headquarters and thanked all of the Caritas chapters from the various countries worldwide for their support.
The agency reported that its members from 40 countries collected $198 million from private donors for the quake survivors. Another $36 million was promised to Caritas for Haiti from governments and institutions. The Cardinal told them that it is essential to carry on, in order to rebuild Haiti culturally and spiritually as well as materially. The aid agency has given food to over 500,000 people, shelter kits to 43,000, and medical treatment to 12,000. After a two-month campaign focused on relief, Caritas will begin a reconstruction program focused on housing, education and livelihoods, which will last up to five years.