International Rescue Committee in Haiti

A month after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, it has been a bit easier to deliver and organize distribution of much-needed supplies to the survivors. An approximated 700,000 people are currently without a home in Haiti, and their needs are tremendous. Ranging from basic needs such as food and water to trying to locate family members, the Haitian people are experiencing unprecedented hardship. Non-profit organizations and governments from around the world have responded to the wide-ranging needs of Haiti. The International Rescue Committee is one such organization that is focused on providing assistance in whatever ways needed to help Haiti in the long road to recovery and stabilization.

The International Rescue Committee, "a global leader in humanitarian aid," is present in more than 40 countries. The organization assists people that are "uprooted by conflict and oppression." The IRC stays in countries over the long term to help ensure stabilization and growth. It is also one of less than a dozen organizations that resettles refugees in the U.S.

The IRC voiced its support for the granting of temporary protection status to Haitians already in the United States that will allow them to stay and work in the U.S. for up to 18 months. The United States government granted this status to Haitians in the U.S. recently. George Rupp, president of the IRC, stated in a letter to Secretaries Clinton of the Department of State and Secretary Napolitano of the Department of Homeland Security that remittances from Haitians working in the U.S. will be of help to Haiti as it seeks to rebuild its infrastructure.

On the ground in Haiti itself, the IRC has been working to prevent the spread of disease in the camps for displaced individuals and families by building latrines and washing stations. Sanitation is of great concern in these camps given the large amounts of people occupying them and the lack of proper facilities.

The IRC has also partnered with other organizations to find and register children that are not currently with their families. A database is being created that will assist in the placement of these children with their parents or relatives. "Child-friendly spaces "are also being constructed that help children gain some sense of normalcy and routine with staff on hand to provide care for these children.

Medical care is also a priority in the IRC's work in Haiti. The organization is partnering with other groups to ensure delivery of vital supplies to make-shift clinics and in providing necessary care for those injured.

Given the wide range of needs in Haiti at the moment and that will be seen in the coming months and years, the IRC is working to cooperate with other organizations to provide much-needed assistance and care for Haitians. The work will continue, and the IRC will be on the ground to ensure that those in need receive the support and encouragement they need to build a new and better Haiti.