Haiti (MNN) ― Shelter needs for Haiti's earthquake survivors grew into an emergency as rain began falling over Haiti late last week. Several hours of it turned the makeshift camps for the earthquake homeless into a swampy mess.
Ray Cooper with Operation Mobilization says, "I heard from the team that it was miserable. With so many people still lacking any kind of decent shelter, it's terrible."
The situation poses a tough challenge to relief efforts in the quake-shattered country. Food distribution is further complicated by the camp conditions.
Cooper is back in Haiti today to facilitate OM's response through a network of local partnering ministries. Their group divided into three ministry directions: providing medical care, working with a local orphanage, and distributing of food and supplies.
The network is critical to the distribution, says Cooper. "Doors have been opened for OM's involvement, thanks to the connection to the orphanage through the local church partnership here, and then to a number of local churches in Haiti where we've helped pastors in the past."
OM is working outside Port-au-Prince where they are linked with a network of orphanages, providing them food and other supplies. Additionally, they've set up water systems, sent medical teams, and sent structural engineers to evaluate buildings.
The U.S office collected donations of specific supplies from churches near the office, and these were distributed in Haiti on February 17. The team also visited five orphanages and supplied them with bed linens and food.
OM also assessed another orphanage's needs for future assistance. Through the orphanages, the team touched the lives of 751 children in one day, plus countless adults being helped by the orphanages.
Cooper says their overall focus is eternal. "Teams that are going down are able to pray with people and see what doors are being opened up for them either to come to Christ or to find healing."
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