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Haiti

13 Facts about the Red Cross Response in Haiti

To learn the truth about American Red Cross work in Haiti, visit our Haiti Assistance Program page.

Our statement is also available: American Red Cross Responds to Latest ProPublica and NPR Coverage.

Myth:

The American Red Cross never had a final plan for its work in Haiti.

Fact:

The Red Cross began our long term planning shortly after the earthquake. Within the first year we had a working plan that established six strategic priorities and added a seventh:

  1. Emergency relief

  2. Shelter

  3. Health

  4. Water and sanitation

  5. Livelihoods

  6. Disaster preparedness

  7. Cholera prevention

Haiti is a complex place to work and because of that we needed to adjust and improve the plan to address the changing environment and challenges.

Example: When we could not secure land to provide new housing, we focused on safe housing with a wide spectrum of choices, not a one-size-fits all plan (rental subsidies, repairs and retrofitting of existing homes, as well as teaching people how to repair their homes).

Myth:

Internal issues delayed services.

• Staff turnover

• Lack of planning

• Poor relationships withpartners

Fact:

False.

• We have worked effectively, leveraging the capacity and specific skillsets of 47 partners to extend our reach and serve a spectrum of needs simultaneously.

• Staff turnover was relatively low and, as we understand, consistent with other NGOs in Haiti.

• The Red Cross continuously responded to changing circumstances by adapting our plan and remaining responsive to emerging and evolving needs.

Myth:

Red Cross service delivery statistics are misleading.

Fact:

• 4.5 million people have been helped through our disease prevention programs.

That’s the most conservative estimate of people assisted.

• Many who received help through disease prevention programs also benefited from multiple Red Cross services such as housing, job training, and access to clean water, but we only count them once.

Myth:

Details of Red Cross spending are so broad as to be useless.

Fact:

The Red Cross reports annually how we spend donor dollars on our website and break it down according to sector and our seven priorities:

  1. Emergency relief

  2. Shelter

  3. Health

  4. Water and sanitation

  5. Livelihoods

  6. Disaster preparedness

  7. Cholera prevention

Myth:

The Red Cross takes overhead, then grants money to partners who also take overhead.

Fact:

• 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends goes to our humanitarian programs and services.

• We partner with organizations that also keep their expenses low.

• It is more cost effective to rely on the expertise of partners than if we tried to build and staff these programs from scratch.

Myth:

The Red Cross gave donor dollars to the U.S. government.

Fact:

It is rare that we would grant money to a government agency, but in this case we pooled funds with the State Department’s U.S. Agency for International Development – which assesses no overhead – each bringing our expertise and strengths to the project.

Myth:

The Red Cross president promised to provide tens of thousands of people with permanent homes but only built six new homes.

Fact:

• The Red Cross has provided more than 132,000 people with safe and durable housing, through a variety of methods.

• Often, the fastest and most efficient way to get people into safer homes is through rental subsidies, or repairs and/or retrofitting of existing homes.

Disclaimer

American Red Cross
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is provided at no cost, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross also supplies nearly half of the nation's lifesaving blood. This, too, is made possible by generous voluntary donations. To help the victims of disaster, you may make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. To donate blood, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543), or contact your local Red Cross to find out about upcoming blood drives. © Copyright, The American National Red Cross. All Rights Reserved.