When the 8.8 magnitude quake struck off the coast of Chile on February 27, the resulting tremors and tsunamis destroyed or severely damaged approximately 500,000 homes. Habitat for Humanity Chile is a strong presence in the country and has been invited to be a part of the government’s assessment of housing needs created by the quake, one of the largest on record.
The Habitat affiliate has provided housing for more than 3,500 families since 1998 and works in each of the five regions of the country; the main office in Santiago, the capital, and 4 satellite offices. What Habitat volunteers and Chilean government agencies plan to do is still in the planning stages; but, the work ahead is staggering.
To aid Habitat for Humanity in its efforts, please donate through Habitat for Humanity’s web site, www.habitat.org or text “Chile” to 25383 via cell phone to make a $10 donation.
The damage in Chile was not as extensive as that in Haiti when its earthquake struck on January 12. Because Chile’s location makes it so prone to earthquakes, the government has instituted strict building codes which require all buildings be constructed to withstand what nature has to offer. That is not the case in Haiti.
Distribution of Habitat’s emergency shelter kits is under way. Habitat also continues to provide technical assistance to assess the safety of homes. While many homes are still standing, residents are afraid to enter for fear the structure will collapse. Damage assessment teams are using a simple classification system: green indicates it is safe to move back in, yellow means the home can be repaired, red means it will have to be torn down.
Habitat for Humanity International reports there are approximately 258,500 Haitian households either destroyed or damaged as a result of the quake. It is Habitat’s goal to serve 50,000 families with shelter needs – about 20 percent of those households disrupted.
With rains moving in over the last week, the misery was heightened in Haiti for thousands upon thousands of people forced to live in the open, in tents or under tarps near the capital of Port-au-Prince. The rains bring increasing concern about disease, and with hurricane season fast approaching, housing is a goal for which thousand of families desperately wait. To help, visit Habitat for Humanity’s web site, www.habitat.org, or text “Haiti” to 25383 via cell phone to make a $10 donation.
