International Action - Bringing Clean Water to Haiti

School in Marigot, Haiti receives clean water and renewed hope

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

International Action installed a 150-gallon tank and chlorinator at Collège les Quatre Evangelistes, a school located in the Sud-Est city of Marigot (just outside Jacmel). Now, 103 students, their families, and nearby residents in the neighborhood have access to clean, safe water.

Award-Winning Documentary LIFT UP Documentary Commemorates the Two-Year Anniversary of the Haitian Earthquake

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The award-winning film follows the return of two Haitian brothers to Haiti after the earthquake in 2010 to commemorate their grandfather's passing. To celebrate the life of the man who molded their childhood, they begin to build a kite. While they are building the kite they record the experiences of their countrymen. The kite eventually becomes a tapestry, depicting life in Haiti after the earthquake. Starting on January 12, 2012, you can share in their experience as LIFT UP will be released online at http://liftupmovie.com

International Action’s Southeast water project takes off!

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

In collaboration with fellow Clinton Global Initiative Haiti Action Network member Architecture for Humanity, International Action has installed the first clean water system for the Southeast water project at École La Dignité, a primary school in the town of Cayes-Jacmel. École La Dignité, headed by Mrs. Vivianne Vieux, is the only free private school in Jacmel. The school supports 8 localities, some of which are 3 km away from the school, including Corrail Soult, Nan Model and La Pierre.

Strength in Numbers: How Cooperation and Water Saved Paulin Marius Father

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

Water is essential to our survival. Imagine being without it or having to walk hours to have access to the most vital commodity that we need to go about our daily activities. -- Madame Nicole Defay, Director of Williamson Village in Haiti

After a Year, Threefold Spikes in Cholera Infections in Haiti

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

A year after the cholera outbreak, the infection has sickened close to half a million Haitians, and experts fear that the number of dead may reach 10,000 by the end of the year. It is, says Paul Farmer of Partners in Health, "far and away the biggest epidemic in the world right now."

Looking for Partners to Distribute De-Worming Pills

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

Does your organization work with children in Haiti? If so, help us fight malnutrition and dysentery, and boost school attendance, by distributing albendazole de-worming pills. We have a supply of albendazole de-worming pills ready for distribution from our warehouse in Port-au-Prince. If your group works with a school or clinic in Haiti, why not partner with us to combat this scourge? Complete our Albendazole Request Form.

Solar Light Installed in Trou-Sable

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

By providing potable water to disadvantaged neighborhoods in Haiti, we expected that the residents lives would improve. They did, however an unlikely and unfortunate consequence presented itself; if people needed to collect water at night, how would they do so safely? There have long been reports of armed robbery and sexual assault (as people in Haiti call --kadejak) at communal water stations.

Missions of Love Distributing De-Worming Pills

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

Children and Missions of Love staff at the Good Shepard Orphanage The percentage of Haitian people currently infected with worms is staggering; nearly 80% of Haitis 9.7 million people have some form of intestinal worms. These parasites are especially threatening to children who are malnourished already; intestinal worms can consume up to 20% of a childs daily intake. Being infected can lead to dysentery, stunted growth, learning disabilities, and habitual fatigue.

3,500 New Books, 3,500 Reasons for Hope

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

Mercy School students in classroomBelieve it or not, even in the second decade of the 21st century, only 52% of Haitians between 15 and 24 years of age are literate. Haiti also faces a shortage of education supplies, severely hindering young Haitians chances of building a better future for themselves and their country.

Cholera Death Toll Rises, So Does Number of People Protected From Waterborne Illness

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

Since October 2010, the death toll from cholera has reached 6,435. The Haitian Health Ministry places the number of people infected just under 500,000. The mode of transport of cholera from person to person is unclean water; other illnesses profit from untreated water, such as chronic diarrhea, hepatitis, and typhoid fever.

Back to School With Clean Water and Renewed Hope

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

Back to School! For students starting the new school year at Collège Chrétien Emmanuel, Ecole Nationale de Thozin, and Collège Vision Moderne, back to school supplies include: paper? (check)--pencils? (check)--uniform? (check)--and clean water? CHECK! In July of this year, we installed clean water systems at these three schools, ensuring the 2,193 students would have access to clean, safe water for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year.

International Action Brings Water Treatment to Shantytown

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

One of the displaced-persons camps in Port-au-Prince, called Martissant 2A, has developed into a sprawling shantytown of 35,000 people and also gained the nickname --the lawless zone, due to how under-served its residents are. In July of 2011, DINEPA (the Haitian governments water agency) undertook the responsibility of building five water stations around the area, with the aid of the International Organization for Migration and the International Red Cross.

Emory University Public Health Graduates Evaluate Our Programs in Port-au-Prince

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

Eric Harshfield and Shivani Jain, two graduate students from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, are providing a six-week evaluation of International Action's flagship program -- Campaign for Clean Water in Haiti. This is our community-based chlorinator and water storage tank program. The primary custodians of this project are the community leaders and members, who have an invaluable role in every step of the process.

Two Schools, Orphanage Receive Chlorinators, Water Tanks

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

Thanks to International Action, Institution Vision pour le Developement de Delmas has a 2,000-gallon tank and chlorinator. There was no clean water in this neighborhood. Now there is. Residents have reported that 16,000 people are benefiting, but more tanks are needed.

International Action Provides Water for Top Government Officials

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

The mayor of Delmas' compound -- also known as the "Palace of Delmas" -- contacted International Action, because they needed clean water. We installed a 2,000-gallon tank and two chlorinators. This tank provides safe water for employees and communities that work with the mayor. Government officials and the president are among those who make appearances at the compound.

International Action and DINEPA Help Haitians Confidently Return Home

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

To further the "return home" goal, International Action installed two chlorinators in the neighborhood of Cité-aux-Cayes while DINEPA has worked to restore water there. Also, a school with over 200 students in Cité Soleil received a 150-gallon water tank.

International Action and Red Cross Provide Clean Water for Cité Soleil Neighborhood

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

International Action is working with the CICR (Red Cross) to return clean water to the slums in Port-au-Prince. Our role in this partnership is to disinfect the water. The project is being realized in the neighborhood of Drouillard, a commune of Cité Soleil.

Clean Water Comes to School with Noble Goals

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

International Action installed a 2000-gallon water tank and chlorinator at the Community Center of the Haitian-American Caucus in the commune of Croix-des-Bouquets. Students, professors, and the community of Michauad will now have access to clean water. The goal of the school is to "foster sustainable changes in the Haitian community through volunteerism, community service, social programs, and partnerships with other organization with similar goals."

International Action and Action Against Hunger Team Up to Provide Clean Water

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

International Action and Action Against Hunger have partnered to reestablish water infrastructure in the poorest neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince. Mont Jolie is one of these communities. Some 2,000 people call Mont Jolie home, but nearly 30,000 come to this neighborhood to get clean water.

Albendazole De-Worming Pills Available for Non-Profits or Communities in Haiti

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

International Actions Haiti office is distributing 500,000 albendazole de-worming pills to protect Haitis communities and get its children healthy and back in school. The pills are available free of charge to non-profit or community organizations that can administer them.

A Message from Dalebrun Esther, Our Haitian Director

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

Cholera resurgence is heavily hitting the community of Carrefour. Our team will focus its efforts in that zone to bring a solid response. We will work with the local community such as the mayor, delegates, and water board leaders.

Weeks of Rain Trap Children

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

Day after day in May it rained in Port-au-Prince. Wesley Laîné reported to us, Children were huddled up under blue tarps and tents, praying, hoping that the rain would stop. It does not. This morning, gutters, and sewers are overflowing with rainwater mixed with mud and trash. For many, it will be their only source of drinking water. Some will bathe in it. Others will use it to cook. The end result will be the same, more waterborne illnesses and more deaths.

Dalebrun Installs Many Tanks for Clean Water

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

In April, Dalebrun Esther sent us a list of new major installations with 2000-gallon tanks. This most recent report from Dalebrun Esther -- our Haitian director -- lists the following new chlorinator installations:

Maternal Clinic in Poorest Haitian Town, Cité Soleil, Gets Clean Drinking Water

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

International Action installed a 2,000-gallon water storage tank at a maternal clinic in the Boston section of Cité Soleil, the most impoverished town in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Our water tank will supply patients at the clinic as well as local residents with clean drinking water. According to the head of the clinic, more than 7,000 people live in the neighborhood. Shelly Chvotzkin -- an employee at the clinic -- has stated, "This will help us to better care for our patients and have a bigger impact on their lives as well as help us save lives!"

Orphanage, School, Church, 400 Residents in Lison Receive Access to Clean Water

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

International Action installed a 2000-gallon water tank to provide clean drinking water to an orphanage, school, and church in Lison. The community had no drinking water infrastructure. Our recently installed chlorinator and water tank will disinfect drinking water for children at the aforementioned institutions and more than 400 residents in the neighborhood.

3,000 Residents of Rosenberg in Croix-des-Bouquets Will Be Provided Clean Water

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

The local leaders of Rosenberg contacted International Action and requested for help. Previously, residents with enough resources purchased water from a privately owned water kiosk at 7 gourdes (US 17 cents) per gallon. The poor gathered any water they could from wells with untreated water. Upon the leaders request International Action installed a 2000-gallon water and a chlorinator, which will provide clean drinking water to the residents of Rosenberg.

Help Request from Jemima Derac Desir Douge, MD

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

First I would like to thank International Action for the positive work they are doing in my country, Haiti. Thank you for targeting the issues at their root by trying to eliminate the problem, not just dealing with the negative outcomes. The purpose of my email is to inform International Action that I will be having a medical mission in Carrefour, Haiti at the College Elie Blaise starting Saturday, June 25. During the mission we will offer complete physical examination, screening (diabetes & blood pressure), eye exams, patient education to raise awareness, screening and treatment for malnutrition, acid reflux, wound care and much more.

School in Biggest Slum in Carrefour Receives Clean Water

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

Bertin is the biggest slum in the town of Carrefour and is located 5 miles west of the center of Port-au-Prince. The neighborhood is very poor and ill-serviced and has an estimated population of over 400,000 people. International Action installed 10 chlorinators between 2006 and 2007 and has been working with local water board members to maintain chlorinators and distribute de-worming pills.

Orphanage in Northern Suburb of Port-au-Prince Gets Water Disinfection System

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

International Action has installed several chlorinators to provide clean, safe drinking water to the town of Croix-des-Bouquets, a northern suburb in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. The number of locations with access to clean water continues to expand. The newest on that list is the LOCC Mission orphanage.

Delmas Commercial Center Shopkeepers Get Access to Water

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

International Action installed a 150-gallon water tank to provide more water storage for the Delmas Commercial Center, formerly known as the National Television of Haiti building. Delmas has much of the capitals commercial and industrial enterprises. The Commercial Center has more than 400 shopkeepers. None of them had access to water or sanitation before the presence of our 150-gallon water tank and chlorinator that is now providing safe, clean drinking water to the shopkeepers. Our Chlorine test after the installation shows that there are no more waterborne disease-causing bacteria.

Bringing Clean Water to ARCHIVE Development Projects

Sat, 28 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

The ARCHIVE institute is an organization that builds housing in order to improve the overall health of the people served. They recently contacted us, because they need assistance fitting one of their newer projects with the physical infrastructure necessary for safe drinking water. This project aims to help two small housing projects as well as an orphanage. The housing project is specifically designed for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Cleaning the Water at Mirbalais with Rio Revolution Church

Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

Doug Frye, an assistant minister at the Rio Revolution Church, recently contacted International Action because of our water treatment expertise. This church creates prison ministries and maintains an orphanage in Haiti. Upon their last visit to the Mirbalais prison, it became apparent to them that the standard of water quality in the prison was atrocious, causing widespread disease in the inmate population.

Exxon Mobil GEMS Students raise money for Haitian De-Worming Project

Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Communities in Schools Dallas Region (CISDR) is a stay-in-school program, founded in 1985. CISDR partnered with the Exxon Mobil program Girls Exploring Math and Science. The two groups will participate in the 2010 TEDxKids event. One of the goals of the event was to have the participating students complete a service learning project. These students chose to support the Haitian De-Worming project because they felt they could make a positive impact in the lives of many Haitians. They rallied together and created a penny drive in order to purchase and ship albendazole tablets to Haiti. Their tagline was simple: one penny is enough to rid one person of debilitating intestinal worms. There campaign was so successful, that they raised $1816.29!

Partnering with Action Humanitaire to Supply Clean Water to People of Camp Wouj Tapis

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

In the midst of preparing many IDP camps for the rainy season in Haiti, International Action was contacted by a NGO working directly will internally displaced person camps in Carrefour. Action Humanitaire is an organization helping the residents of Camp Wouj Tapis, an IDP camp with 13,000 residents that lack access to safe water and food.

Joining Forces with Join the Journey to Aid Displaced People of Capvva

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

Recently, International Action was contacted by an organization called Join the Journey, a Christian humanitarian organization, regarding the situation in the tent city of Capvva. This IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp located near Cité Soleil in the northeast corner of Port-au-Prince, is full of Haitians still displaced from the January 2010 Earthquake that ravaged the country.

International Action Protects Camp Residents During Rainy Season

Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

Early this morning a homeless Haitian boy kneeled by an open drainage ditch to clean himself up. Due to the increased rainfall experienced during the rainy season, the drainage ditch is at the brink of overflow, allowing this boy to wash his hands and face with its waters. This water is contaminated.

Kromrey Middle School Helps Bring Clean Water to Maternal Clinic in Cité Soleil

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

In the midst of numerous water projects in Port-au-Prince and provincial towns in Haiti, International Action was made aware of the Haiti Clinics dire water situation. There simply was no water. Haiti Clinic, located in Cité Soleil, is a maternal clinic that provides free healthcare to the neighborhood residents. The clinic was in dire need of clean water to meet the needs of its patients and staff. Its patients, mostly comprised of pregnant women and children, were going thirsty during their visits to the clinic.

Largest Camp in Corail, Haiti, Receiving Water Delivery

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

Please take a look at the first photos of our first water delivery in the schools. This particular schools is situated in the largest IDP (Internally Displace Person) camp in Corail, Haiti. There are 136 students, 6 professors, 10 staffers. Most of the children are orphans from the January 2010 earthquake.

Introducing the Campaign for Clean Water in Schools [Video]

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

International Action is excited to introduce our newest campaign in Haiti. The Campaign for Clean Water for Schools aims to bring clean water to all students enrolled in schools in Cité Soleil, one of the poorest slums in the capital of Port-Au- Prince. The goal of the campaign is clear: bring clean water to students so that they may focus on their education rather than be debilitated by stomach aches and diarrhea caused by dirty, bacteria ridden water. By focusing on their education, they can rise up and overcome the cycle of poverty that they currently exist in.

International Action Participates in World Water Day

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

DINEPA official checks out IA tank and chlorinator The National Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation (DINEPA), in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), invited International Action and other non-profit entities in Haiti to participate in an exhibition and panel discussion to commemorate World Water Day 2011. The event dedicated to water challenges in Haiti, featured International Actions water tank and chlorinator and its dedication to make clean water a reality for the most impoverished people in Haiti.

New Water Truck, More Clean Water

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

In response to the growing demands for clean water from the internally displaced people living in camps throughout Port-au-Prince, International Action has launched a new initiative to fulfill the urgent requests for intervention. We purchased a new water truck, 1,000-gallon capacity, which will serve several camps, clinics, and schools in the metropolitan Port-au-Prince area.

Clean Drinking Water for 73 Schools in Cité Soleil

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

Having grown up in Haiti, I understand the acute dangers of living without clean water. I remember vividly the small worms that we had to remove by hand in the water buckets in our house. The frequent trips to the local clinic were a constant reminder that each sip of water was a risk. As a result, ensuring that water is safe, secure, and sustainable for my younger Haitian brothers and sisters has always been a personal and professional priority. International Action has granted me the opportunity to do just that.

One Glass of Clean Water for the Holidays

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

The most amazing element of the Holiday season is neither the surprising gifts nor the delicious food; it is the loving spirit of togetherness and love that drives the holiday magic. When fully understood and embraced as such, suddenly, the foods taste better, the lights shine brighter, and the moments seem perfect.

144,200 Reasons to Give Thanks

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST

A reason to give thanks! Clean Water in the city of l'Estère! Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is two days away. Although it has been a very difficult year for many of us, Thanksgiving Day always offers us an amazing opportunity to reflect and express gratitude for the often-overlooked blessings in our lives. Without a doubt, if you are able to read this newsletter, you are blessed in so many ways. And you may ask, how? According to one of my favorite authors, Anna Quindlen, the answer is very simple; one simply has to realize that life is the best thing ever, and you have no business taking it for granted. The people of Haiti understand this too well.

Haiti: A Report from the Ground

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST

The great American novelist and activist, James Baldwin, once said that we must look unblinkingly at the circumstances, confront the constructed reality, face the tears of the wounded, and harness ourselves to a great collective effort toward justice.

When Clean Water Is Restored to Neighborhoods, People Will Return Home

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST

Two weeks ago, a powerful storm plowed through Haiti, destroying thousands of tents and battering camp clinics, schools, and childcare facilities. The vast majority of the 1.3 million homeless in Port-au-Prince have little more than flimsy tarps protecting them from the onslaught of additional seasonal hurricanes. Countless "bladders"--large plastic bags continuously filled by trucks for water distribution in displaced persons camps--were also badly damaged.

Storm Hits Haiti: International Action Provides Clean Water

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

Last week, a standard early-fall storm swept through the city of Port-au-Prince. In a span of 10 minutes, the strong winds damaged thousands of tents, injured many, and killed at least 5 people. With most of the quake's 1.5 million homeless survivors still living in sprawling tent cities, the heavy rainfall left them at a dangerous public health crossroad. The precarious water supply is forcing many to drink from the rainwater flowing from gutters and sewers. Hence, more people will be fighting deadly waterborne diseases.

L’Union Fait la Force - Unity Creates Strength

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

International Action joins EWB in Les Anglais Inscribed in the middle of the Haitian flag is the powerful national motto, L'union fait la force, literally translated in English as, unity creates strength. Indeed, International Action believes that through partnerships with other organizations, our collective work will have a greater impact in our respective target communities. Without a doubt, intra-agency cooperation with various entities has been a key element to our overall success in Haiti's water and sanitation sector.

Clean Water Campaign in Haiti Gains Partners, Momentum

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

In the last month, International Action has reached an additional 21,235 Haitians with safe, potable water, and more and more charitable and humanitarian aid groups are getting interested in our crucial, lifesaving work and chlorinator technology.

In Haiti, Typhoid Outbreaks Reported, Diarrhea Threat Looms

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

Last week, I returned from conducting a 6-month post-quake assessment of our clean water program in Haiti. What I saw was truly heart-wrenching. Vast stretches of displaced persons camps and countless makeshift shelters on the street. People collecting filthy grey-water from trash-strewn drainage ditches. Open sewers.

Port-au-Prince Water System Reconstruction Underway, Partnering with UNICEF and Others

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST

Women and children walk long distances for International Action-supplied clean water Almost 5 months after the quake, Port-au-Prince's public water infrastructure still lies in disarray. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, while diarrhea cases have remained low in the city, limited water supply for affected communities and displaced persons camps has translated into inadequate quantities of water for even basic hygiene. Many camps have already seen a rise in skin diseases.

Help International Action Lead Global Giving’s Open Challenge

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST

A few weeks ago, we were urged to join Global Giving -- a website devoted to helping select causes. We did so. To qualify, we needed to pass Global Giving's Open Challenge to have 50 donors give a minimum of $4,000 by midnight April 26th. Our donors came through, along with their friends and family. So far, we have raised $6,353 from 74 donors, but there are still 2 weeks to go.

Help Us Give Clean Water to Haitis Survivors, Help Us Give Hope

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST

In Haiti, more than 230,000 have lost their lives to last January's quake. One estimate predicted that the final death toll may reach as high as 500,000. More casualties from preventable, water-borne diseases, like chronic diarrhea, hepatitis, cholera, and typhoid in the upcoming rainy season are expected.

"Clean Water for a Healthy World:" International Action and World Water Day 2010

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

March 22 is World Water Day, an opportunity to focus attention on the crucial need for freshwater worldwide and the ability to responsibly manage it. This year's theme is "Clean Water for a Healthy World." The day offers a chance for governments, civil society groups, and individual citizens to show support for safe, affordable, and sustainable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) internationally.

"Where There Is No Water, There Is No Life:" International Actions Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

For the past few weeks, all of our resources have been devoted to responding to the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti last month. As you know, much of the pre-existing water system suffered extensive damage during the quake, and tens of thousands in Port-au-Prince remain without a safe, reliable water supply.

Map of Haiti Water System in Development Will Aid Humanitarian Workers in Haiti

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is creating a map of the Haiti water system based on information from multiple water sources, including International Action. Because this map will have precise data about the water infrastructure in Haiti, it will aid humanitarian efforts to provide water in the wake of the crisis.

Donations Empower International Action to Rebuild After the Earthquake

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

We have received gifts totaling $200,000 from Child Relief International, the Mitchell Foundation, Glickenhaus Foundation, Ed Rawson's Ravenscroft Foundation, Arch Chemicals, and the Chlorine Chemistry Foundation. This includes the first payment of $100,000 for a $500,000 pledge. The funding covers our initial spending for chlorine, chlorinators, staff, and water truck rentals in the Haitian Earthquake crisis.

After the Earthquake: Progress Report and Photos

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

Dalebrun Esther, our director of operations in Haiti, sent photos along with his update about the situation in Haiti after the earthquake. I am negotiating with owners of private reservoirs in Cité Soleil. No food or water is available in the worst slum, Cité Soleil. I will focus our work on bringing clean water to Cité Soleil by working with owners of reservoirs in the communities.

Your $100 Will Give Water to 15,000 Haitians Today

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

We need your help right now in Port-au-Prince. The earthquake knocked out many neighborhood water tanks, but 28 have survived. However, no water is coming to these tanks from the local water agency (CAMEP). So Dalebrun Esther -- our Haitian Director -- has designed a system to supply water.

Earthquake Emergency Update

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

We have now heard from Port-au-Prince that our staff are all alive - Dalebrun Esther and our 4 plumbers.

Earthquake Emergency Message to Members

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

We are helping the US task force going to Haiti to rebuild the water system in Port-au-Prince. We have given them our list of all water systems in the capital city, gallons each produces and population served.

357,759 Haitians Get De-worming Treatment

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

Our report to the Pan American Health Organization is attached showing each province of Haiti with who was treated. We reported 110,827 preschoolers -- 3 years to 6 -- got treated, 90,768 in the 6 to 14 year range, and at 15 years and older 79,410 women and 76,754 men.

A Christmas Scene in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

This is a neighborhood water station in Port-au-Prince with the mothers and girls gathered to fill their buckets. Each bucket is 40 pounds of water. Until you and I treated the water with chlorine, this fountain spread cholera, typhoid, hepatitis and chronic diarrhea to the children. But it was the only source for drinking and cooking.

We Have Much To Be Thankful For!

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Children at our installation in Cité Gerard We have designed a new project to build fiberglass water tanks in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We hope to make and install 24 tanks each year. To do this, we will send a fiberglass factory to Haiti and keep materials coming from Miami each month. The cost will be $103,000 in the first year. Putting the new tanks in neighborhoods now without water in Port-au-Prince will add 20,000 people each month to our customers. That's more than 200,000 added each year.

Andrew Weiss, International Action Honored by President Bill Clinton for Work in Port-Au-Prince

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

Andrew Weiss, a trustee of International Action, received a certificate of recognition from former President Bill Clinton at the Annual Meeting of Clinton's Global Initiative in New York City on September 25. Weiss was joined onstage with Clinton by six other non-governmental groups including Partners in Health, FONKOZE, and Habitat for Humanity International, all, "who have done some extraordinary work in Haiti."

New Urban Clean Water System Demonstrated in Haiti

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

The first urban chlorination system designed for developing countries is operating in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, announced Andrew Weiss at the Clinton Global initiative meeting in New York City today. It's a great success. Installed on 150 public water tanks in Haitis capital city, the chlorination big city system is supplying 400,000 residents with clean, safe water. This is the first time Haitians have had access to clean water for cooking and drinking.

International Action Is Going South!

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

After spending the first few years installing chlorinators in Port-au-Prince in the West and in the provinces of the Center, International Action has installed its very first chlorinator in the South of the island near Jacmel -- a city renowned for its beautiful beaches.

Another Chlorinator Near Mirebalais

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

International Action recently installed one LF 1000 chlorinator in Domond; a town located about 15 km away from the city of Mirebalais. This neighborhood was formed under the government of Francois Duvalier. The Péligre dam project for the biggest hydrolelectric factory in the country, led the President to relocate people of the region who lost their land and goods in this small area now called Domond.

Two More Chlorinators in Cité Soleil

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

International Action just installed two more chlorinators in Cité Soleil! The School Foyer Elohim requested a visit from us in their school last month to evaluate the site and see if we could provide them with one of our water treatment systems.

Clean Water for Cité Gérard

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST

Installation of our chlorinator in Cité Gérard Cité Gérard is one of the 47 sections of Cité Soleil. Like many of its neighboring communities, the community of Cité Gérard had been in recent years in a state of dramatic violence. Since 2006, the violence has gone down only to be replaced by rampant poverty. In Cité Gérard, insalubrities, famine, low rate of school enrollment, and a very high birth rate all have kept the population in a grave state of misery.

The Bon Samaritains Clinic

Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

The mission of le Bon Samaritain founded in 1989 by a Canadian named René Marcotte in the city of Montrouis, a coastal town located in the West Department north of Port-au-Prince. Since its creation, the mission has repaired and built many schools in the region, founded an orphanage and recently erected a two story clinic with a lab and pharmacy. The staff immediately decided to use the clinic as a point of clean water distribution for the patients as well as the population. A filtering system was installed but due to technical difficulties the project had to be terminated.

Seven Chlorinators Installed in One Weekend

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

During the week-end of April 24 & 25, our staff in Haiti installed 7 new chlorinators in the city of Petit-Goâve located in the south of Port-au-Prince.

Whats To Be Done? [Video]

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

Watch the short video, "What's to be done?" In Haiti, the place to start is water. That is the message of our short film (seven minutes) about the work of International Action in Port-au-Prince. "It's a heartbreak," comments Sister Michele-Marie about typhoid, hepatitis and chronic diarrhea the children get from dirty water. Sister Michele is a star in the film and a powerful spokeswoman for clean water.

Historic St. Bosco Church/School Gets Clean Water [Video]

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST

Watch our short video on St. Jean Bosco School. On March 12, 2009, the International Action staff installed two chlorinators on a 9000-gallon concrete tank at the St. Jean Bosco School in the Saline district of Port-au-Prince. It will serve 500 students immediately.

International Action Finds Promised Land in Haiti [Video]

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST

Watch a short video from the field. Recently two members of our Washington Staff -- Youngmin Chang and Amélie Cardon -- visited several of the poorest and most dangerous parts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Their purpose was to see our De-Worming Haiti Campaign in action.

Albendazole Distributions in Port-au-Prince

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

We have begun distributing a pill - Albendazole - to Haitians in the 30 neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, Haiti where we have chlorinators. We have given out 90,000 pills so far and have 400,000 doses yet to distribute. Mostly, we are using the members of our local water boards - now more than 1000 members - to distribute the pills. The initial feedback is excellent:

International Action Distributes De-Worming Pills in Port-au-Prince

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

In Port-au-Prince, Dalebrun and our team of plumbers go around our circuit of neighborhoods to check the chlorinator installations and supply water boards with chlorine tablets; this month the team also brought with them boxes of de-worming albendazole pills.

Ensuring Clean Water in Port-au-Prince; New Installations in Delmas 30

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This month the residents of Port-au-Prince are suffering from important water shortages. In an effort to relieve them Dalebrun Esther and our team of plumbers have been going around the poorest neighborhoods of the capital on a rotating basis and supplying the population with clean, safe water; this prevents unsafe behaviors such as using water from contaminated rivers for drinking, cooking and bathing.

Inhuman Conditions in the Jails of Port-au-Prince

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

A drastic increase in violent crimes has recently taken jails of Haiti way beyond their capacity. According to Clarens Renois from the caribbeannetnews.com, inmates live in inhuman conditions. "Amid increasing arrests of drug traffickers, kidnappers and the arrival of numerous Haitian criminals extradited from Canada and the United States... inmates often lack water, medical care or enough room to sleep lying down." Haiti's Penitentiary Administration Director, Jean-Roland Célestin, admits, "Conditions inside are awful. The facilities are overwhelmed and no longer meet international standards, but we cannot do any better."

Solar Water

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

There is a way to disinfect water using only sunlight and plastic bottles. Contaminated water is put into clear plastic bottles and exposed to strong full sun for 6 hours. Placing the bottles on a roof for six hours will do the job.

Four New Chlorinators in Haiti

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

During the month of October, our team in Haiti has been making a lot of progress on helping populations that have been struck by hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, and Ike. We have installed a large chlorinator in Arcahaie, a town located on the Western coast about 20 miles above Port-au-Prince. This chlorinator provides clean water for the 100,000 inhabitants. In collaboration with CAMEP, the entity in charge of water supply in the Metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, three more chlorinators have been set up on water tanks in Delmas 65 and Foyeau-ville, two neighborhoods of the capital.

500,000 Children in Haiti Will Get De-Worming Pills

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST

We just received 500,000 doses of de-worming medicine in Port-au-Prince. We will distribute the pills through our local Water Boards in 23 neighborhoods and several school systems in the city. The World Health Organization (WHO) says worms eat up to 20% of a child's nutritional intake everyday. Haitians are among the poorest fed children in the world, and no child there can afford to lose 20% of their food.

Hurricane Relief Efforts

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST

From September 1 to September 9 2008, Haiti endured a tragedy. Three of the four hurricanes that hit Haiti, destroyed every household in almost all of the 10 departments of the country and the entire food supply. This catastrophe caused extremely high water pollution. To overcome this epidemic, AME-SADA the humanitarian relief and development entity of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, asked International Action in treating some of the polluted water supplies. On the first day the team treated nine wells in Cabaret. This effort provided a dozen families with safe drinking water.

My Name is Paulette Champagne

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST

My name is Paulette Champagne. I am 55 years old. I have lived in this neighborhood of Port-au-Prince -- Villa Rosa -- for 22 years. I ask you to please transmit not only my thanks, but the thanks of all the residents of Villa Rosa to your principal donors.

Safe, Clean Water for Madame Dupitons Pupils

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST

The kids must go all day in school without water to drink, and some simply collapse before the day's end. --Madame Madline Dupiton Your gift brought clean, safe water to Madame Dupiton's pupils.

New Chlorinators for Three Schools

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST

In July, International Action installed chlorinators in three schools providing clean and safe water to 1,633 children. International Action's intervention is a miracle according to Dr. Rémy, the pediatrician in charge of the schools for the African Methodist Episcopal Church Service and Development Agency (AME-SADA). Before the installations, children would go all day without water and sometimes faint to the dismay of their teacher. Now the chlorinators will provide them with clean water and give them the energy to focus and be livelier in class.

Mapping the 1854 Broad Street Pump Cholera Outbreak

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST

In 1854, a cholera outbreak occurred in London. Dr. John Snow plotted the cases of cholera on a map of the city and was able to identify the water pump in Broad Street as the source of the disease. Dr. Snow used his map to convince the local council to remove the handle of the pump, preventing further spread of cholera. The outbreak stopped.

"Frogs in the Water"

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST

This month the focus is on schools, and providing clean water to students in need. We are working with AME-SADA, an organization that works to improve schools and nutrition centers. Certain schools do not have any chance to benefit from our chlorinators because of lack of infrastructure or water supply, but we have found three schools where installations will be possible. A pediatrician working for AME-SADA, tells us that the water makes the children sick with typhoid, malaria, and diarrhea. After we installed a chlorinator, these illnesses have evaporated. Dr. Remy claims that it's the highest satisfaction the students have ever had during the 2007-2008 school year. Neighbors are amazed with our work.

Tablet Chlorinators Stop Waterborne Disease in Haiti

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

Holding as many as 20 four-inch tablets of chlorine, the chlorinators we use in Port-au-Prince can treat 5,000 gallons of water each day. Most of our sites serve up to 10,000 Haitians by providing water to family members who stand in line with 5-gallon plastic buckets. When full, each bucket weighs forty pounds, a heavy burden for a child who totes one.

IA Staff Travel to Haiti in Spite of Political Unrest

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

April 22 was a huge day for Haitian water projects. A workshop was held in order to review the progress of the Clean Water Campaign and look at the work ahead of us. Dozens of representatives from all major towns and local NGO's were in attendance, including members from our International Action Washington D.C. staff, Lindsay Mattison and Youngmin Chang. Other groups included Rotary International and Pure Water for the World, and several radio stations such as Radio Caraïbes and the television station Télé 11.

Dlo Pwòp Se Pwop dwa Nou

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST

This month we are busy preparing a big meeting on April 22nd with community leaders to discuss and analyze the clean water effort. Several prominent organizations will be there, including an international ambassador from Rotary International. Two members of our Washington office staff are attending, if the political situation in Haiti stabilizes.

Haitian State and NGOs Unite for Clean Water

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST

This month a forum at the Montana Hotel took place sponsored by the MTPTC, the national public works ministry. All the actors in the public sector along with several NGOs attended. The meeting focused on how to reform the public water system and provide clean water based on a fair price policy and shared loyalty to the public. The meeting showcased a partnership between the Haitian state and NGOs.

Young Slums and the Death of a Poet

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST

As of today, 68 chlorinators have been installed by International Action. Of the more than a dozen recent installations, here are some of the most significant are Cité Militaire and Tichéry.

"Gate Jo" Attracts Community to Spoiled Water

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

One of our most recent chlorinator installations occurred in Baillergeau, a city area with an interesting story. The area came to be called Baillergeau for a white American named Jo who lived in the area. The gate to his home was the only access to water for the community, so it became known as "Gate Jo", or in French "Barriere Jo", and eventually into the Creole "Baillergeau".

Bel Air, Bois Neuf, Villa Rosa, and Drouillard

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

Dalebrun and his team installed 2 chlorinators in two water towers of 1,200 gallons in the neighborhood of Bel Air. Bel Air, a slum area with a population of about 13,000 people, is located in Port-au-Prince and has much gang violence.

Congress, Rotary Clubs, and Haitian Agency

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EST

Our Haitian coordinator, Dalebrun Esther was invited to speak about our Clean Water Campaign to a delegation including some members of U.S. Congress in the El Rancho hotel, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he talked about our current water project and the chlorinator technology.

International Action Reaches 251,000

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 EST

The total number of installed chlorinators has reached 37. International Action has ensured clean water for over 251,000 people (not including the 400 hospital patients served each day). The IA water team in Haiti has targeted more than 25 schools in the Cité Soleil area, 9 community reservoirs in Kenscoff, two reservoirs in Cité Canada, and 4 water tanks in Bel Air for the next installation phase.

Installation of Three Chlorinators Completed at Médecins Sans Frontières

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EST

The IA water team completed the installation of three chlorinators at St. Catherine's hospital in Cité Soleil.

Despite Violence at Cité Soleil Office, International Action Installs Chlorinator in Simmond-Pélé

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST

The IAWater team, with a substitute technician standing in for Bastin while he is recuperating, has completed evaluations of water reservoir sites in Jalousie, L'hôpital Fermanthe, Mont Jolie, a school in Cité Soleil, and an orphanage in Kenscoff. The team also evaluated Hôpital St. Catherine's, which is currently staffed by Medicins Sans Frontiers, to assess its feasibility as an installation site. The team will install a chlorinator on each of its two water tanks.

Status Report

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST

The IAWater team spent February evaluating sites where chlorinators have been installed over the past year to check on maintenance, function ability, and durability.

International Action Technician Suffers Burns from Home Propane Stove

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 EST

International Action technician Joanes Bastin was lighting his oven when the propane gas tank it was attached to exploded. He was burned quite badly over his face, head arms, and upper body. He has a hard and painful recovery ahead of him as he has lost quite a bit of skin. His wife was also burned but not as badly. Joanes saved her by taking the brunt of the explosion.

Despite Worsening Security Situation, International Action Moves Forward with Installations in Hospitals and Orphanage

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST

Even though the security situation in Haiti has deteriorated over the past months, the IAWater team has moved forward with installations. In December, the team installed a chlorinator in Hopital Communaute Haitienne, two in Hopital Fermanthe (one in the water reservoir used for the surgical unit and one in the water reservoir used for drinking water), and five chlorinators in the Hopital Croix Vert Orphanage in Kenscoff.

Number of Installed Chlorinators Tops 18

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EST

The total number of installations is now at 18 chlorinators. In September, the team conducted an additional five site evaluations and identified 26 individual needs for chlorinators.

Installations Completed on 10 Chlorinators in Bertin

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EST

Installations on ten chlorinators in the Bertin area have been completed. Update - February 2007: Bertin did not receive water until last week. Since Bertin began receiving water, they have called each of the members of the IAWater team to say how extremely happy they are to have clean water. They even called Joanes in the hospital to tell him this. Knop wrote, "The communities where we are installing chlorinators are places that most NGOs don't dare to venture into because of the insecurity. So when they see us coming to their communities, even though there are big security problems, they know we are committed to doing our job."

Chlorinators Installed in Carrefour

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EST

Chlorinators have been installed in 10 300-gallon tanks in the Bertin neighborhood of Carrefour. The International Action Clean Water Campaign team completed all 10 installations the week of August 11.

Chlorinators Installed in Cité Soleil

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EST

IA CWC team finished the last of three chlorinator installations in the Tokyo neighborhood in the poor Delmas section of Port-au-Prince on August 25. These three systems will provide clean drinking water to the 20,000 residents of the Tokyo neighborhood of Cité Soleil. Each installation cost $175 (more than usual), because the water-holding tanks are difficult to reach.

Cite LEternal in Carrefour Set to Receive Clean Water for 100,000

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EST

On Tuesday, August 28, International Action's Clean Water Campaign team, led by Laurie Knop and Dalebrun Esther, met with a community group in Cité L'Eternal to organize support for the installation and maintenance of 10 chlorinators. Some 100,000 capital-city residents will be served by the chlorinators in the Cité L'Eternal neighborhood of Carrefour, Port-au-Prince.

USAID Experts Find LF-500 Chlorinator "Appropriate" for Haiti

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EST

Two consultants to the U.S. Agency for International Development presented an evaluation of the Norweco LF-500 chlorinator for use in Haitian villages. Daniele Lantagne of the Center for Disease Control and Dr. Rochelle Rainey of U.S. AID found the benefits of the chlorinator to be a simple chlorine system, low-cost, with only one point of intervention for each community to provide "appropriately dosed chlorinated water."

International Action Postpones Installations in Martissant Due to Gang Violence; Temporarily Moves Efforts to Trousable

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 EST

An escalation of violence between rival gangs in Martissant and Grand Ravine has led the IAWater team to reevaluate where they are installing chlorinators. More than forty people were killed and twenty houses burned in ongoing gang fighting. The team has decided to install four chlorinators in Trousable until the security situation in other areas improves. It has also identified several sites for installations: two in the hills above Pétion-ville, one in Delmas 33, one in Cite L'eternal and several in Cité Soleil.

Jalousie Chlorinator Causes Diarrhea Cases to Drop

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 EST

The director of the Jalousie local health clinic reported a noticeable drop in chronic diarrhea cases in the two months after an IA Clean Water Campaign installed a LF 1500 Chlorinator in May 2006, and proposed a joint study to document the impact of the new chlorinator.

Chlorinators Installed in Nazon, Port-au-Prince

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 EST

In the last week of July, the IA Clean Water Campaign Team installed LF-500 chlorinators on four water tanks in the Trou Sable neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. The tanks serve some 25,000 people, mostly children.

Carrefour Targeted to Receive 10 Chlorinators

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 EST

The IA Clean Water Campaign team has completed a site evaluation of the Bertin neighborhood of Carrefour, a large town just west of the capital Port-au-Prince. During the first week of August, the team will install LF-500 chlorinators on all ten tanks serving this area.

Knop Meets with Government Agencies to Gather Support

Mon, 01 May 2006 00:00:00 EST

Laurie Knop, director of International Action's on-the-ground partner agency, QIFD, met with Haitian government agencies SNEP and CAMEP to gather data and synchronize efforts to install chlorinators. Knop signed a contract with M. Gerald Jean Baptiste, who is coordinating the reorganization of the Ministry of Environment, outlining International Action's goals and plans to support the technical training and supervision of government circuit riders.