Sep 27, 2016

Federation Partner American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Helps Haitians Following Hurricane Matthew

Immediately following the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti and our neighbors to the north, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation set up a fund to help with relief efforts. Focusing on Haiti’s southern region, the area most affected by the storm, Federation’s overseas partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), has been working with a number of other organizations, including Heart to Heart International and UNICEF, to provide much-needed medical supplies, including hygiene kits, water purification tablets and other aid. In addition, disaster relief experts and emergency field medics are working throughout the area.

Given the scope of the disaster, many other Jewish organizations including the American Jewish World Service, World Jewish Relief and IsraAID have also been active in the relief efforts. Federation-supported IsraAID has been on the ground in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake and thus was able to respond immediately to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Beyond emergency supplies, the organization is also supplying child-friendly spaces, psychosocial services and shelter to thousands of displaced people that were living in tents at the time of the hurricane.

In recent years, the JDC has provided aid to nations struck by large-scale humanitarian crises, including the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which claimed more than 100,000 lives. CEO of JDC Alan Gill said, “All too familiar with the acute needs facing Haitians… JDC mobilized relief efforts in an expression of humanitarian solidarity and Jewish values…Our response to this crisis is especially poignant during the Jewish High Holidays, when we examine carefully our actions in the last year and recommit to our obligation as individuals and a global people to aid those in dire need.”

To participate in this collective Jewish response to Hurricane Matthew, Click Here.