World Vision assesses damage in small towns in Chile, works to rush relief supplies to 25,000 survivors

Photos by World Vision staff.

UPDATE: On March 7, World Vision opened a new children's center in Dichato, Chile, which was devastated by the Feb. 27 deadly earthquake and tsunamis.

The children's centers, called Child-Friendly-Spaces, are areas set up in tents, schools, churches, and other structures where children can enjoy activities such as arts, crafts, music, and drama, which provide them with some of the structure and safety that they lose following disasters. There are also opportunities for them to talk to peers and psychologists to begin emotional healing after their frightening experiences.

Meanwhile, whole towns are "completely destroyed" or have "totally disappeared" following the deadly 8.8-magnitude earthquake, report World Vision's teams, following assessments of the humanitarian needs in small towns and outlying areas. World Vision is working to distribute relief items to 25,000 survivors, but faces logistical challenges as roads remain impassable.

Assessment teams report that many people continue to live on the streets and in tents. In coastal cities, tsunamis have sent many people into the hills and away from their towns. Aftershocks continue to threaten structures and fray nerves. And supplies are low nearly everywhere.

'I've never seen anything like this'

After being struck by three tsunami waves, the city of Coliumo, 70 miles from Concepcion, has "totally disappeared," reported World Vision assessment team member Paula Saez.

A Chilean national, Saez recently returned from Haiti, where she served in the early stages of World Vision's relief response to the Jan. 12 earthquake there.

"I've never seen anything like this," said Saez, arriving in Dichato, a tourist and fishing town 40 miles north of Concepcion. "This town was completely destroyed. A tsunami hit here after the quake, and there are boats sitting in the middle of the city. The earthquake damaged some things, but the sea took everything away. You can see chairs, tables, even a house floating in the sea."

In Dichato, World Vision staff members report that food, clean water, and medical supplies are virtually depleted. In Coronel, 20 miles south of Concepcion, World Vision estimates that food supplies will last one more week. And in Lota, some 25 miles south of Concepcion, residents have access to clean water for only one hour per day.

Relief efforts to intensify

Our staff members will continue to conduct assessments of more small towns while relief teams work to bring supplies, particularly food and water, to underserved communities. Damaged roads into these cities make access impossible except via helicopter or small plane, so logistics continue to pose challenges.

We are working to bring relief supplies to 25,000 families in Lota and Coronel, and to additional families in Dichato. Our teams have already distributed water in Telmuco and are working to bring in additional supplies from Santiago and from our relief warehouse in La Paz, Bolivia.

World Vision has been working in Chile for 30 years and had more than 100 staff members on the ground before the quake hit, many of whom lived and worked in areas close to the epicenter. We have worked extensively in the south of Concepcion as well as in the capital of Santiago. Our teams began distributing blankets and water containers nearly immediately following the quake.

Three ways you can help

Please pray for the children, families, and communities devastated by the earthquake in Chile, and for the efforts of relief teams like World Vision to bring critical, life-saving assistance in the aftermath. Check back for further updates as they become available.

Donate now to World Vision's Chile Earthquake Relief Fund. Your gift will help our teams deliver assistance to quake survivors in desperate need, including emergency food, clean water, and family survival kits.

Sponsor a child in Chile. Your love and support for a child in need will provide basic essentials and help him or her be better equipped to cope with present and future disasters, like the recent quake.

Haiti's rural communities risk chronic food and water shortages as burden to care for displaced grows

March 2, 2010

Families in Haiti's rural communities are struggling to cope with the influx of people seeking refuge from destruction in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. These communities are at risk of chronic food and water shortages and lack of adequate shelter as the rainy season approaches -- burdens that could lead to more displacement and deeper poverty as resources are rapidly depleted.

"Haiti's rural communities were already struggling to make ends meet before the earthquake," said Jean-Claude Mukadi, relief response manager for World Vision in Haiti. "Now, as people continue to arrive in these communities, joining the hundreds of thousands who have already fled, they are all looking for food, water, and shelter. It's critical that efforts are put into place to help the families who were already living in these areas, as well as those who are displaced from their homes."

Situation critical on island of La Gonave

On the small island of La Gonave, located off the west coast of Haiti, more than 40,000 people have arrived, stretching the limited resources of the 100,000 people who were already living there. Before the earthquake, La Gonave had a chronic malnutrition rate of 13 percent. World Vision is concerned this rate could easily increase if food issues are not addressed rapidly.

"On La Gonave, the price of rice has already gone up 60 percent. Local providers are finding it very difficult to get products because many warehouses in the capital were destroyed," said Kimcy Blaise, World Vision's regional coordinator for La Gonave. "We are worried that the increased food needs on the island will result in children and families going hungry because they simply can't afford basic staples anymore."

In addition to the growing food insecurity, World Vision found that at least 50 water cisterns were damaged and unusable. Before the earthquake, World Vision had been working with local leaders to build community water tanks that would allow them to collect rainwater instead of having to walk several hours to the nearest water source. Now, the tanks must be repaired before the rainy season, or families will not be able to collect the much-needed water.

Schools, homes left devastated

World Vision and local government leaders conducted an assessment of the earthquake's impact on La Gonave and found that 28 of the 60 schools on the island were damaged by the earthquake. The schools that were not damaged have already seen an unprecedented increase in enrollment as a result of the growing population. Prior to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, only about two-thirds of Haitian children attended primary school, and fewer than 30 percent reached the sixth grade. The school system in Haiti already suffers from overcrowding, a lack of adequate facilities and materials, and few teachers.

The assessment also determined that 9,600 houses were either damaged or destroyed in the disaster, and many families have been left homeless or are living in households with three to four times as many people as they are used to. World Vision met one family that had grown from seven to 22 people overnight once their extended family arrived.

"World Vision has been doing rural development work in Haiti for many years, and while it is necessary to provide relief to displaced families in Port-au-Prince, it is critical to remember those living outside the city," said Mukadi. "If more resources are not channeled to the rural communities, the poor will be forced to return to the capital city, adding to the already overcrowded conditions there."

Widespread evacuation of Port-au-Prince

Unfortunately, the situation and the growing need for resources are not unique to this small island. In fact, over half a million people have already left Port-au-Prince, looking for shelter and a new life elsewhere.

In La Gonave, World Vision has provided food aid to 65,000 people and is planning to reach more in the coming days as part of its initial response. We have also increased supplies to the seven health clinics we run on the island and are setting up a reunification program to trace family members of children who have been separated from their families.

As part of our long-term plan to help rural communities like those on La Gonave, World Vision is considering cash-for-work or food-for-work programs that can stimulate the economy. The rehabilitation of damaged cisterns will also be a priority for the response, and our team is looking into providing psychosocial support training to teachers to help them work with children affected by the disaster and procuring temporary shelters for the damaged schools.

Learn more

Join the conversation about Haiti. World Vision has a variety of social media outlets by which you can not only receive the latest updates on our relief response, but engage in dialogue with our staff members and other World Vision supporters.

Two ways you can help

Please continue to pray for those left devastated by the quake disaster in Haiti, especially those who have been forced to flee their homes and now lack basic essentials. Pray for the efforts of World Vision and other relief organizations to bring not just physical assistance and protection, but emotional comfort and healing for those who have been hit hardest by this tragedy.

Donate now to support World Vision's Haiti earthquake relief efforts. World Vision has created a series of funds to which you can make a donation to support immediate and long-term needs of quake survivors in Haiti. Our teams were in Haiti for more than 30 years before the quake struck; with the help of our supporters, we'll be there for many more years to come.

Child sponsorship: providing stability in times of crisis

The Feb. 27 earthquake and tsunami in Chile caused catastrophic damages to areas south of the capital, destroying entire communities and leaving survivors without basic necessities, including shelter.

Though the death toll in this disaster will be much smaller than that of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, there are similarities -- most notably the fact that many of the affected areas in both countries had significant needs even before the disasters struck. In Chile, World Vision had more than 100 staff members on the ground before the quake struck, providing child sponsorship and community development programs.

Our sponsorship program provides a unique opportunity to help build a solid foundation of stability for a boy or girl in need. Providing physical essentials like nutritious food, clean water, healthcare, education, and safe shelter is just part of the benefit. You'll also have a chance to form a personal relationship with your sponsored child, receiving updates on his or her progress and having the opportunity to exchange letters and photos.

Most importantly, you'll provide a boy or girl with critical tools that help prepare for unpredictable crises like the recent quake in Chile. A sponsored child who has consistent physical, emotional, and spiritual support is better equipped to cope with and recover from current and future disasters.

Sponsor a child in Chile. You can help build stability for the present and hope for the future for a boy or girl in need.

A tragic pattern of exploitation

Nary* has been trafficked or sexually abused five times. The first time it happened, she was only 15.

"My stepmother...beat me, and when she told my father I had gone out at night instead of going to work, he beat me badly with a stick. That was when I decided to run away," says Nary.

'She was going to sell me'

Nary crossed the border from her home in Cambodia to Thailand with a recruiter who had promised her a better job and better life. But when they got there, Nary realized the woman's true intentions. "She told me she was going to sell me to a business man in Thailand and I would have to go," Nary remembers. "I was so lucky that a girl stopped her, a girl who had been trafficked by the same woman years before."

The girl paid off the trafficker and gave Nary some money to return to Cambodia. When she got home, however, her stepmother started beating her again. So Nary was forced to run away again -- this time to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital city.

"On the road, I met a woman who told me she could find me a job there," recalls Nary. "I don't know why I trusted her. I should have known better by now -- but her voice was so soft and comforting."

The woman took her straight to a brothel, where Nary was informed she had been sold. The girl spent a month of terror there, until an aid worker found her and got her released. However, when Nary returned home again, her situation was even worse. Her family knew what had happened to her and wanted no involvement in her life. She left home again -- only to end up in another brothel.

Exploited over and over again

Nary stayed there -- this time for much longer than a month -- until she found an opportunity to escape. This time, she didn't return home, but instead found work at a karaoke bar, where she faced exploitation for the last time. One of her coworkers lured her to a secluded place, where she was raped repeatedly by a group of men.

The next morning, Nary's situation changed for the better. She was able to report her attackers -- who eventually faced arrest and prosecution -- and request safe shelter. Since the most recent attack, she has stayed at a shelter for trafficked and sexually abused girls in Cambodia, which is funded by World Vision. There, she has learned about child rights and how to avoid becoming a victim of exploitation in the future.

Tragically, there are millions of other children like Nary around the world who remain vulnerable to trafficking. World Vision is committed to ending this tragic practice and helping survivors to recover and find safety. You can help.

*The girl's name was changed to protect her identity.

Learn more

Read more about child trafficking, including World Vision's response and how you can be involved.

Three ways you can help

Thank God that Nary was able to find safety after facing repeated encounters with abuse and exploitation. Pray for other children like her who are vulnerable to trafficking, and pray for the efforts of organizations like World Vision to bring an end to this crime.

Send a message to your representative. Ask him or her to support the Child Protection Compact Act, which would help enforce anti-trafficking laws by providing technical assistance and training to several targeted countries that have shown the political will to fight human trafficking and exploitation, but lack the resources to do so.

Donate now to help provide safety for a formerly trafficked child like Nary. Your gift will help World Vision provide such a child with a safe, secure environment and resources to prevent future incidents of exploitation and abuse.

World Vision assesses damage in small towns in Chile, works to rush relief supplies to 25,000 survivors

Photos by World Vision staff.

UPDATE: On March 7, World Vision opened a new children's center in Dichato, Chile, which was devastated by the Feb. 27 deadly earthquake and tsunamis.

The children's centers, called Child-Friendly-Spaces, are areas set up in tents, schools, churches, and other structures where children can enjoy activities such as arts, crafts, music, and drama, which provide them with some of the structure and safety that they lose following disasters. There are also opportunities for them to talk to peers and psychologists to begin emotional healing after their frightening experiences.

Meanwhile, whole towns are "completely destroyed" or have "totally disappeared" following the deadly 8.8-magnitude earthquake, report World Vision's teams, following assessments of the humanitarian needs in small towns and outlying areas. World Vision is working to distribute relief items to 25,000 survivors, but faces logistical challenges as roads remain impassable.

Assessment teams report that many people continue to live on the streets and in tents. In coastal cities, tsunamis have sent many people into the hills and away from their towns. Aftershocks continue to threaten structures and fray nerves. And supplies are low nearly everywhere.

'I've never seen anything like this'

After being struck by three tsunami waves, the city of Coliumo, 70 miles from Concepcion, has "totally disappeared," reported World Vision assessment team member Paula Saez.

A Chilean national, Saez recently returned from Haiti, where she served in the early stages of World Vision's relief response to the Jan. 12 earthquake there.

"I've never seen anything like this," said Saez, arriving in Dichato, a tourist and fishing town 40 miles north of Concepcion. "This town was completely destroyed. A tsunami hit here after the quake, and there are boats sitting in the middle of the city. The earthquake damaged some things, but the sea took everything away. You can see chairs, tables, even a house floating in the sea."

In Dichato, World Vision staff members report that food, clean water, and medical supplies are virtually depleted. In Coronel, 20 miles south of Concepcion, World Vision estimates that food supplies will last one more week. And in Lota, some 25 miles south of Concepcion, residents have access to clean water for only one hour per day.

Relief efforts to intensify

Our staff members will continue to conduct assessments of more small towns while relief teams work to bring supplies, particularly food and water, to underserved communities. Damaged roads into these cities make access impossible except via helicopter or small plane, so logistics continue to pose challenges.

We are working to bring relief supplies to 25,000 families in Lota and Coronel, and to additional families in Dichato. Our teams have already distributed water in Telmuco and are working to bring in additional supplies from Santiago and from our relief warehouse in La Paz, Bolivia.

World Vision has been working in Chile for 30 years and had more than 100 staff members on the ground before the quake hit, many of whom lived and worked in areas close to the epicenter. We have worked extensively in the south of Concepcion as well as in the capital of Santiago. Our teams began distributing blankets and water containers nearly immediately following the quake.

Three ways you can help

Please pray for the children, families, and communities devastated by the earthquake in Chile, and for the efforts of relief teams like World Vision to bring critical, life-saving assistance in the aftermath. Check back for further updates as they become available.

Donate now to World Vision's Chile Earthquake Relief Fund. Your gift will help our teams deliver assistance to quake survivors in desperate need, including emergency food, clean water, and family survival kits.

Sponsor a child in Chile. Your love and support for a child in need will provide basic essentials and help him or her be better equipped to cope with present and future disasters, like the recent quake.

Haiti's rural communities risk chronic food and water shortages as burden to care for displaced grows

March 2, 2010

Families in Haiti's rural communities are struggling to cope with the influx of people seeking refuge from destruction in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. These communities are at risk of chronic food and water shortages and lack of adequate shelter as the rainy season approaches -- burdens that could lead to more displacement and deeper poverty as resources are rapidly depleted.

"Haiti's rural communities were already struggling to make ends meet before the earthquake," said Jean-Claude Mukadi, relief response manager for World Vision in Haiti. "Now, as people continue to arrive in these communities, joining the hundreds of thousands who have already fled, they are all looking for food, water, and shelter. It's critical that efforts are put into place to help the families who were already living in these areas, as well as those who are displaced from their homes."

Situation critical on island of La Gonave

On the small island of La Gonave, located off the west coast of Haiti, more than 40,000 people have arrived, stretching the limited resources of the 100,000 people who were already living there. Before the earthquake, La Gonave had a chronic malnutrition rate of 13 percent. World Vision is concerned this rate could easily increase if food issues are not addressed rapidly.

"On La Gonave, the price of rice has already gone up 60 percent. Local providers are finding it very difficult to get products because many warehouses in the capital were destroyed," said Kimcy Blaise, World Vision's regional coordinator for La Gonave. "We are worried that the increased food needs on the island will result in children and families going hungry because they simply can't afford basic staples anymore."

In addition to the growing food insecurity, World Vision found that at least 50 water cisterns were damaged and unusable. Before the earthquake, World Vision had been working with local leaders to build community water tanks that would allow them to collect rainwater instead of having to walk several hours to the nearest water source. Now, the tanks must be repaired before the rainy season, or families will not be able to collect the much-needed water.

Schools, homes left devastated

World Vision and local government leaders conducted an assessment of the earthquake's impact on La Gonave and found that 28 of the 60 schools on the island were damaged by the earthquake. The schools that were not damaged have already seen an unprecedented increase in enrollment as a result of the growing population. Prior to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, only about two-thirds of Haitian children attended primary school, and fewer than 30 percent reached the sixth grade. The school system in Haiti already suffers from overcrowding, a lack of adequate facilities and materials, and few teachers.

The assessment also determined that 9,600 houses were either damaged or destroyed in the disaster, and many families have been left homeless or are living in households with three to four times as many people as they are used to. World Vision met one family that had grown from seven to 22 people overnight once their extended family arrived.

"World Vision has been doing rural development work in Haiti for many years, and while it is necessary to provide relief to displaced families in Port-au-Prince, it is critical to remember those living outside the city," said Mukadi. "If more resources are not channeled to the rural communities, the poor will be forced to return to the capital city, adding to the already overcrowded conditions there."

Widespread evacuation of Port-au-Prince

Unfortunately, the situation and the growing need for resources are not unique to this small island. In fact, over half a million people have already left Port-au-Prince, looking for shelter and a new life elsewhere.

In La Gonave, World Vision has provided food aid to 65,000 people and is planning to reach more in the coming days as part of its initial response. We have also increased supplies to the seven health clinics we run on the island and are setting up a reunification program to trace family members of children who have been separated from their families.

As part of our long-term plan to help rural communities like those on La Gonave, World Vision is considering cash-for-work or food-for-work programs that can stimulate the economy. The rehabilitation of damaged cisterns will also be a priority for the response, and our team is looking into providing psychosocial support training to teachers to help them work with children affected by the disaster and procuring temporary shelters for the damaged schools.

Learn more

Join the conversation about Haiti. World Vision has a variety of social media outlets by which you can not only receive the latest updates on our relief response, but engage in dialogue with our staff members and other World Vision supporters.

Two ways you can help

Please continue to pray for those left devastated by the quake disaster in Haiti, especially those who have been forced to flee their homes and now lack basic essentials. Pray for the efforts of World Vision and other relief organizations to bring not just physical assistance and protection, but emotional comfort and healing for those who have been hit hardest by this tragedy.

Donate now to support World Vision's Haiti earthquake relief efforts. World Vision has created a series of funds to which you can make a donation to support immediate and long-term needs of quake survivors in Haiti. Our teams were in Haiti for more than 30 years before the quake struck; with the help of our supporters, we'll be there for many more years to come.

One month later, Haiti quake survivors report need for protection from crime, rainy season

February 12, 2010

Haiti's homeless are in need of protection and shelter, say World Vision staff members, after a new survey finds that more than half of respondents indicated they are living in exposed shelter and reported security concerns, including fear of robbery and rape.

"Shelter is the utmost priority for people now in Haiti, not just in advance of the coming rains, but to provide privacy and some additional security," said World Vision's humanitarian protection specialist, Patrick Sooma. "Temporary shelters also leave children extremely vulnerable, particularly those separated from their parents."

Widespread safety concerns

As part of an assessment of need across Port-au-Prince, World Vision asked men and women living in spontaneous settlements, expansive camps, and tents outside their homes about their protection, security, and safety concerns.

More than half of the households surveyed said they were concerned about their safety. Fears included risk of robbery, "evil forces," rape, and general insecurity. More than one in 10 households said they lacked protection or security from authorities.

"World Vision encourages the United Nations to work with the government of Haiti to draw up crime-prevention strategies that provide much-needed protection to vulnerable people living in very difficult conditions," said Sooma. "Any planning must also make sure camps are well-lit and that communities have warning tools, such as whistles and mobile phones."

Steps needed to enhance security

World Vision is calling for security information to be coordinated and shared between government authorities, U.S. military leaders, and United Nations peacekeepers, but most importantly, with the communities themselves. During this period of acute vulnerability, protection forces must maintain high visibility throughout the city to protect people against potential crime.

"One camp we spoke to has resorted to providing its own security," said Sooma. "Others said they feel incredibly unsafe as they effectively sleep on the street, exposed to theft, violence, and attack. Some respondents asked for protective fencing around camps; even more asked for police protection."

To help protect and care for children in camps, World Vision has established safe places for children to play and learn in six camps across the capital and will open 16 more in the coming weeks. We are also distributing shelter supplies to thousands of people in camps and have helped more than half a million people with food and other emergency assistance. 

Learn more

Join the conversation about Haiti. World Vision has a variety of social media outlets by which you can not only receive the latest updates on our relief response, but engage in dialogue with our staff members and other World Vision supporters.

Two ways you can help

Please continue to pray for those left devastated by the disaster in Haiti, especially those who are homeless and vulnerable to crime. Pray for the efforts of World Vision and other relief organizations to bring not just physical assistance and protection, but emotional comfort and healing for those who have been hit hardest by this tragedy.

Donate now to support World Vision's Haiti earthquake relief efforts. World Vision has created a series of funds to which you can make a donation to support immediate and long-term needs of quake survivors in Haiti. Our teams were in Haiti for more than 30 years before the quake struck; with the help of our supporters, we'll be there for many more years to come.

Saints win, but Colts are winners for children in need in Haiti

February 8, 2010

The New Orleans Saints emerged as the winners of the 2010 Super Bowl. But the Indianapolis Colts are equally victorious for quake-devastated children.

The losing team's apparel, printed in advance in anticipation of a win, will benefit the children and families left with few possessions after Haiti's catastrophic earthquake. World Vision, which annually receives all donated post-season apparel from the NFL and its partners, will this year send Super Bowl game-day clothing to Haiti, followed by larger quantities in the coming months.

'These goods will go to very good use'

Haitian children and families need basic essentials and the ongoing generosity of Americans through established relief organizations. But they also need some semblance of joy restored in their lives -- and the dignity that new clothing brings. In the coming months, product donations from the NFL and its partners will be distributed by World Vision when clothing can be appropriately integrated into our relief response.

"For years, World Vision has helped us to ensure that no NFL apparel goes to waste," said David Krichavsky, NFL director of community relations. "With the enormous needs in Haiti and World Vision's long-term presence there, we know that these goods will go to very good use."

Prior to championship games, Reebok produces shirts and caps and McArthur Towel & Sports produces Trophy Towels announcing each team as the winner. These items are kept on hand for the winning team's players to wear immediately following the game. Since 1992, World Vision has accepted thousands of unusable shirts and caps following football's biggest event.

Apparel worth millions, but priceless to those in need

Additionally, major sporting-goods retailers and manufacturers donate large quantities of official apparel that they have stocked in anticipation of either team winning the Super Bowl. On average, this equates to about 100 pallets annually -- or $2 million worth. Instead of being destroyed, the losing team's items are shipped from the host city to World Vision's international distribution center in Pittsburgh.

World Vision also receives counterfeit NFL team apparel through its work with U.S. Customs. The program began in 1991 at the Storehouse of World Vision through a donation of confiscated goods from Customs in Los Angeles. World Vision disburses confiscated goods and official licensed apparel only in pre-approved, developing nations.

Two ways you can help

Thank God for providing World Vision with this opportunity to distribute brand-new clothing to children in need in Haiti through donations from the NFL and its partners. Pray for the survivors of this devastating earthquake who are still struggling.

Donate now to help World Vision distribute corporately donated clothing to children in need in places like Haiti. Your gift will multiply 15 times in impact to help provide brand-new apparel to those who wouldn't otherwise have access to it.

Sponsored children in Chile look forward to a brighter future after enormous earthquake

March 8, 2010

Summer vacations were coming to an end in Chile. Constanza Quiroga, 8, a sponsored child, and her parents and sister, Milena, 15, also sponsored, had stayed out late Friday night.

"That night I came home. I was going to go to bed when [the shaking] started. It was slow at first. Then, it got much stronger," Constanza remembers.

Earthquakes are nothing new for Chile or for these children. "I thought it was like the other [earthquakes] before, when all of a sudden the computer screen fell and my mom and dad started screaming," remembers Melina, who shares a room with her younger sister.

'It felt like the earth was going to open'

When the girls heard their parents screaming, they tried to get out of their room but couldn't. "We couldn't open the door," remembers Constanza. Eventually, their dad was able to make it to their room and get their door open. The whole family ran to get out of the house.

"We went to the top of the hill," says Constanza. "It felt like the earth was going to open."

Constanza, Milena, and their parents waited with other people from their community. "It was still shaking, and we were nervous because there were light poles and cables," remembers Milena.

Daylight reveals devastation

When the shaking finally stopped and the sun came up, Constanza and Milena went with their parents to see their house, or what was left of it. They found it knocked completely off its foundation, with big gaps between the walls and where the floors joined together. Worst of all, however, was that the house had moved. Their land was no longer flat. Now, their house was leaning down a hill.

"When I came to see my house, I was very sad. I didn't think it would be like that," remembers Constanza, her voice trembling. "[I thought], this isn't my house, and I cried a lot."

Constanza and Milena shared a room they had decorated together. Milena made Hello Kitty drawings for her sister, and they hung them on the wall. Their room was just the way they liked it. "It was pretty," remembers Constanza. "It had my jewels and carpet. Now, it's ugly. It is all broken up, and it doesn't have any of the things I like."

Constanza also carried an extra burden: "I felt bad because [my sponsor] had sent money to be able to build my room," she says.

'I thank God that we are all alive'

Today, Constanza, Milena, and their parents are all sleeping together in a tent with other families from the neighborhood whose houses were also damaged or destroyed in the Feb. 27 earthquake.

"Many houses fell here," says Constanza. "Some people died, and some people are living in tents. But [in my family] we are all fine. And that is what is most important.

"I dream that this city can be fixed and that I can have a house again," adds Constanza. "I thank God that we are all alive. Maybe God allowed this to happen so I can have a better house, a prettier house."

Relief items, Child-Friendly Spaces

World Vision is working hard to help the survivors of the earthquake in Chile. On the day our staff members visited Constanza, World Vision provided food and water to 5,000 people in Lota. Some 1,000 blankets and diapers were also distributed. And, with the rainy season on its way, World Vision will be distributing 1,000 tents to families who have lost everything.

Equally important for children like Constanza -- who relive the memory of this terrible day because of constant aftershocks of up to 7.0 on the Richter scale -- World Vision is establishing Child-Friendly Spaces in Lota, Coronel, and Dichato, providing children with a safe place to go during the day. These are places to play, to do arts and crafts, to return to a bit of routine, and to process what happened with their peers and psychologists to help them deal with the trauma they are facing.

Learn more

Join the conversation about Chile. World Vision has a variety of social media outlets by which you can not only receive the latest updates on our relief response, but engage in dialogue with our staff members and other World Vision supporters.

Three ways you can help

Please continue to keep the people of Chile in your prayers, especially survivors like Constanza, Milena, and their parents, who have lost their homes and are experiencing severe emotional trauma. Please also pray for our staff members, as they work to bring relief and comfort to those who are suffering, particularly vulnerable children.

Donate now to World Vision's Chile Earthquake Relief Fund. Your gift will help our teams deliver assistance to quake survivors in desperate need, including emergency food, clean water, and family survival kits.

Sponsor a child in Chile. Your love and support for a child in need will provide basic essentials and help him or her be better equipped to cope with present and future disasters, like the recent quake.

'We didn't know what was happening'

March 5, 2010

By Heidi Isaza, World Vision U.S.

"I was at home with my two children," Eldemira Fonseca Chavez remembers. "At the time of the earthquake, we didn't know what was happening. We didn't know what it was.

"The whole house had fallen down and my daughter was trapped," she shared. "The only thing I wanted was to be able to get out with my kids -- nothing else."

Her daughter, Ninoska, 18, almost didn't make it out. "When I opened my eyes, I saw the wall leaning over me. I don't know how, but I was able to get out [of my bed]," remembers Ninoska. During the earthquake, her family's house had split in half, and her bedroom was in the part of the house that had fallen down the hill.

"I couldn't hear my mom or my brother, so I started yelling," she remembers. Her mom tried to open the door to her room, but it was stuck. "I tried to open the door, but I couldn't. After a few minutes, I sat down with my Bible and I told my mom to leave, that I wasn't important and I sat, waiting for the wall to fall on me," she adds.

"I thought I was going to stay there, because there wasn't any way out."

Tragedy, hardship, and hope

Finally, after a few minutes, Eldemira came back with her brother, and they were able to get Ninoska out of her room. But the difficulties had just begun for Eldemira and her children. "I went to my parents' house, and they told me something had happened to my sister. I went to see her. She was dead," she said, through tears.

Today, Eldemira, Ninoska, and her son, Juan Sebastian, 11, a sponsored child, are living in a tent with her parents, siblings, and cousins. "It's not comfortable," shared Ninoska. "But the truth is, I am happy even though I don't have a house and my aunt died, because my mom is alive, my brother is alive, and my dad is alive. For me, that is the most important."

Running out of food

Eldemira couldn't agree more. At the same time, however, as a mother she can't help but think about the practical things, like what she is going to give her children to eat. She was able to go buy three 50 kilo bags of flour before the stores ran out of food. The 150 kilos would be a lot of food if she were just feeding her children and immediate family -- but she's not. "There are many neighbors who don't have anything," she says. "So, we have been giving them a little so they can make some bread."

But Eldemira is starting to worry because her supply is running out. She doesn't have any money to buy food, and even if she did, there are no stores to buy from. "We have only 50 kilos [of flour] left for 50 families," she said, unsure how long their supplies will last.

One thing that has helped Eldemira is to know that she is not alone. "Maria, [the local World Vision program manager], has been here with us," she says, noting that this has helped a lot.

'A walking miracle'

World Vision is in the process of distributing supplies to quake survivors and setting up Child-Friendly Spaces for children like Juan Sebastian, 11, who, according to his mom, hasn't been the same since the earthquake. "He's alright sometimes," she shares. "He plays. But, when night comes, he gets depressed and goes to bed."

In the middle of this tragedy, however, there are some bright spots for Eldemira and her family. Four days after the quake, they celebrated Juan Sebastian's 11th birthday. They didn't have a cake or 11 candles, but that didn't stop them from finding something positive to focus on. "We only had one candle," says Eldemira with a small smile, "so we blew [the one candle] out 11 times."

And Ninoska, a former sponsored child, says her faith has been strengthened by this terrible experience. "I tell my friends, 'Look at me, because what you are looking at is a walking miracle.' That's what I believe."

Learn more

Join the conversation about Chile. World Vision has a variety of social media outlets by which you can not only receive the latest updates on our relief response, but engage in dialogue with our staff members and other World Vision supporters.

Three ways you can help

Please continue to keep the people of Chile in your prayers, especially survivors like Eldemira and her family, who have lost their homes and are now running critically low on basic essentials like food. Please also pray for our staff members, as they work to bring relief and comfort to those who are suffering.

Donate now to World Vision's Chile Earthquake Relief Fund. Your gift will help our teams deliver assistance to quake survivors in desperate need, including emergency food, clean water, and family survival kits.

Sponsor a child in Chile. Your love and support for a child in need will provide basic essentials and help him or her be better equipped to cope with present and future disasters, like the recent quake.

Going against the tide

March 4, 2010

First-hand account by Heidi Isaza, World Vision U.S.

Amid the constant hum and buzz of helicopters and airplanes coming and going, I made it to Concepcion, Chile, near the epicenter of where the earthquake hit. It was a short ride from Santiago on a small airplane packed with blankets, diapers, milk, juice, and other urgently needed supplies.

It wasn't until we arrived at Concepcion's small but busy airport that I realized how strange our situation is as aid workers.

When I got off the plane with another World Vision colleague, it dawned on me that we were two of the only people trying to get into Concepcion -- everyone else was trying to get out. We were like fish swimming upstream. At the airport's exit, I walked through a crowd of adults carrying what they could and kids holding teddy bears, dolls, and even a little boy with a stuffed Mickey Mouse.

I wasn't on the ground for more than an hour before I felt the first aftershock -- the first big earthquake I have ever been in. We were sitting outside the airport when the ground started to sway back and forth, back and forth. The movements were small at first, then increased in size. I looked in my Chilean colleagues' eyes -- the tension was visible, no one said anything until the swaying stopped.

It didn't last more than a minute. When the earth stopped moving, everyone took a deep breath and went back to their duties -- until the tsunami warning started going off. Some people started running, saying, "Alerta de tsunami!"

After a few minutes, it was determined that we were safe, but there was some uncertainty as to the well-being of our colleagues who had gone to costal zones -- the hardest-hit areas. Later, it was confirmed that they too were safe. And everyone else went about the task of getting supplies to the survivors.

It might have been my imagination or the fact that I had just arrived, but it appeared that the line to leave Concepcion doubled in size after the aftershock.

For me, it is a privilege to be a fish swimming up this stream -- especially when I know there are others even further up who need help to survive.

Learn more

Join the conversation about Chile. World Vision has a variety of social media outlets by which you can not only receive the latest updates on our relief response, but engage in dialogue with our staff members and other World Vision supporters.

Three ways you can help

Please continue to keep the people of Chile in your prayers, especially those who have lost loved ones in the quake and now are living without basic necessities. Please also pray for our staff members, as they work to bring relief and comfort to those who are suffering.

Donate now to World Vision's Chile Earthquake Relief Fund. Your gift will help our teams deliver assistance to quake survivors in desperate need, including emergency food, clean water, and family survival kits.

Sponsor a child in Chile. Your love and support for a child in need will provide basic essentials and help him or her be better equipped to cope with present and future disasters, like the recent quake.

World Vision staff member aids Haitian mother during delivery

February 2010

Account by Fiona Perry, World Vision United Kingdom. Photos by Paul Bettings.

I have been in Haiti for a month, helping to address the health, hygiene, and nutritional needs of those affected by the January earthquake. World Vision is working in eight camps in the capital, all filled with thousands of people who have had their homes destroyed and have nowhere else to go.

A few days ago [before the rain started], I had one of those experiences that helped me to remember why I am here. I was visiting a camp with a particularly well-organized and obliging committee, who are a joy to work with. We walked through the labyrinth of narrow pathways -- around close to 200 families on a plot of land perhaps the size of a tennis court.

Here, World Vision has provided people with heavy-duty plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, and some cooking sets. It was great to see that each house had a plastic sheet, and most have made every effort to make their hut a home.

Giving birth without basic supplies

I was called over to a woman lying on the floor of her "house," having just given birth to a little baby boy not more than a few minutes before. New to the camp, she had very little in her home, which was made of four sticks and some bed sheets. The woman was lying on the ground on a plastic sheet.

A nurse, who happened to be in the camp, had helped her to deliver her baby, but had run out of equipment. She needed some more gloves and was out of plastic sheets.

There was no sign of any of the comforts that we in the United Kingdom take for granted -- a nice soft mattress, a pillow, some nice soothing music playing in the background, or someone to hold your hand. This mother was enduring a complicated birth.

I had been at the same camp the previous week, distributing clean delivery packs to pregnant mothers, so I sent the camp leader to get [an unused] pack from one of the mothers.

Gaining some perspective

Rather than demonstrating, as I usually do, I took out the clean gloves, plastic sheet, and piece of material from the emergency kit and helped the nurse with the woman's prolapsed uterus. We agreed she needed to go to the hospital. Her new baby was wrapped in a towel, and we assisted her to walk to the car.

At the busy city hospital, a doctor examined [the woman, and then told us that he too had] nowhere to live. I am constantly shocked at how everyone has been affected by this disaster.

When I went home that evening and felt tempted to complain about a lack of electricity, or that I have to eat the same food every day (rice and beans mostly), that there is no light in the bathroom, or that I have to have a cold shower every morning, I stop myself. One day with those affected and my struggles seem very small indeed.

Learn more

Join the conversation about Haiti. World Vision has a variety of social media outlets by which you can not only receive the latest updates on our relief response, but engage in dialogue with our staff members and other World Vision supporters.

Two ways you can help

Please continue to keep in prayer the survivors of Haiti's catastrophic earthquake, as well as the tireless efforts of relief workers like Fiona. Pray especially for pregnant mothers and those who have recently given birth; many of them lack basic supplies and shelter to care for their newborn babies.

Donate now to support World Vision's Haiti earthquake relief efforts. World Vision has created a series of funds to which you can make a donation to support immediate and long-term needs of quake survivors in Haiti. Our teams were in Haiti for more than 30 years before the quake struck; with the help of our supporters, we'll be there for many more years to come.

In war-torn Sudan, a new health clinic serves 15,000

February 2010

Photos and story by Dan Teng'o. Edited by Rachael Boyer, World Vision U.S.

For years, residents of Mugum village in eastern Sudan's Blue Nile state walked for at least three hours to access medical aid. But following the opening of a clinic funded by World Vision in January 2009, health services are now only a few minutes away for more than 15,000 people.

Magarafona Faraj, 22, is pregnant with her second child. During her first pregnancy, she walked for three hours in sweltering heat to reach a medical clinic.

"Walking for three hours to Derang village was a tiring and painful trip, especially in cases of health emergencies," Magarafona said.

But now she only walks for 15 minutes to get to the new World Vision clinic near her home in Mugum village.

'We are very happy'

The World Vision clinic directly serves more than 15,000 people, dramatically boosting their access to medical care.

Magarafona said the World Vision clinic provides better service "because medicine is always available, unlike in other clinics in the state." She also says that the medical staff members at the clinic are friendly and meticulous in their work. Plus, all its services are free.

"We are very happy with this clinic," Magarafona said. "Without it, we would continue suffering a lot."

Improving healthcare improves education

The clinic provides vital primary healthcare services, including treatment of common diseases, such as respiratory infections, diarrhea, and malaria.

It also provides child-focused healthcare services, such as immunizations, and maternal care to women such as Magarafona.

"We also offer health education and encourage the residents of this area to eat more vegetables and proteins," explained Dr. Sabir Hassan, a medical doctor at the clinic.

Mugum Basic School is located just yards away from the clinic. Ahmed Yousif, the head teacher, said some students and teachers used to miss school for days as they sought medical attention in far-flung villages.

Not anymore. "Now absenteeism has fallen sharply because we can all access medical services easily," Ahmed says.

The clinic in Mugum village is part of World Vision's larger program in Blue Nile state that aims to improve the lives of families returning to the area after two decades of displacement due to the civil conflict between northern and southern Sudan.

Two ways you can help Sudan

Thank God for this encouraging story from such a troubled country, and for the improved access to healthcare for the thousands of people impacted by this project. Pray that God would continue to bring peace and reconciliation to the Sudanese people and a better life for the country's children.

Donate now to help provide food and other care for children and families who have been affected by conflict in Sudan. Thanks to government grants and donated goods, your gift will multiply to help provide food, clean water, medical care, and other assistance to those in greatest need in this war-torn part of the world.

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