Canadian Jesuits International joins the international community to make an urgent call for your support for relief efforts in response to the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. The Jesuit Community in Haiti is actively involved in relief efforts in aid of those affected. Canadian Jesuits International is working with the Province of Jesuits in French Canada, and Jesuit Refugee Service both of which are coordinating the Jesuit response in Haiti. Donations can be directed through Canadian Jesuits International by calling toll free at 1 800 448 2148 or through the donations section of our website.

The Jesuits have been present in Haiti for many years accompanying the very poor and disenfranchised. There are a number of Jesuits from the both Canadian Jesuit provinces currently in Haiti. Fr. Daniel LeBlond, Provincial of the Jesuits of French Canada reports that they have received word from some of the Jesuits in the Canapé Vert community and are awaiting more news. The Province of the Jesuits in English Canada who has two novices stationed in Haiti, has received news that they are safe.

The magnitude 7.0 quake struck at 4:53 pm on Tuesday, with its epicentre about 15 kilometres west of the capital city of Port-au-Prince. According to U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Kristin Marano, this was the strongest earthquake to hit what is now Haiti since 1770. The earthquake and aftershock is reported to have destroyed thousands of structures and homes in the capital city of Port-au-Prince including hospitals, the National palace, and the UN peacekeeping headquarters.

International Red Cross spokesperson Paul Conneally reports that an estimated 3 million people may have been affected by the quake. Preliminary reports estimate the death toll to be extremely high with many still trapped in the rubble and others missing. Elisabeth Byrs, a spokesperson for the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that about 250 UN personnel including mission chief Hedi Annabi of Tunisia were presumably in the mission headquarters at the time of its collapse. They were part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) comprised of a variety of countries including a significant number of Canadians.

Most of Haiti's 9 million people are desperately poor, and have been further impacted by a series of natural disasters and long standing political instability.

We ask for your prayers and support as we and the international community at large respond to this emergency. For more information contact us toll free at 1 800 448 2148 or by email at cji@jesuits.ca.