AMURT Global Network - European Page, Disaster Relief, Sustainable Development and Community Service

Haiti

Steven Landau, AMURT president, examines a baby in Tite Place, Haiti

Christine Ferreira, a member of the AMURT medical team, helped provide medical care to 750 patients over five days.

AMURT and AMURTEL Medical Team Assists Haiti.

By
Steve Landau, M.D.

AMURT President

On January 5, a team of 10 AMURT and AMURTEL volunteers arrived in Haiti amidst rumors of kidnappings, murders and other violence. Our mission was to support the wonderful work already done by AMURT and AMURTEL in Haiti. Specifically, our task was to provide medical relief and eye care to those Haitians who had almost no such care available to them, both in Port au Prince and in the northern province of Anse Rouge, which had been hit hard by recent hurricanes.

We split up in two groups - one to serve the city folk and the other to head for the provinces. The medicines were split in two, with each group carrying over 4 trunks full of supplies, pharmaceuticals and vitamins.

The city group treated 400 people over four days. Clinics were free. In addition, 300 pairs of reading glasses were fitted and dispensed for free.

The provinces group undertook the arduous 8 hour journey overland to Anse Rouge, where AMURT runs an integrated development program that includes water supply, afforestation and education. We set up clinics at Point des Mangle, Sourdes Chaudes, and Tite Place, treating an average of 110 people daily. We also fitted and dispensed 50 pairs of Lions' Club glasses per day. At night, we soaked and swam in the communal hot springs baths. Early in the morning we sang and meditated together.

The illnesses ranged from hypertension, with pressures over 200/110
being not uncommon due to their salt intake (salted water makes you forget that you're hungry), worms, scabies, neglected sores and fungus infections that were life- and limb-threatening, diabetes in skinny people, and malnutrition in babies. Women commonly had vaginitis and severe untreated cases of pelvic inflammatory disease. Inborn birth defects were uncorrected, and cataracts were rampant. One gentleman with pneumonia was saved from death - his blood pressure was about 60/40 on arrival, and Jennifer managed to get an IV into him and pump him full of fluids and antibiotics.

A total of about 750 patients were seen and treated, and 450 eyeglasses fitted and dispensed. We will be back soon!

Full Haiti Documentary

Guatemala

AMURT teams have reached Mayan areas
that were not served by other agencies.

Hurricane Stan

In early October Hurricane Stan battered the highlands of Guatemala, causing landslides and destroying the maize and potato crop. Over 1,000 people died in the disaster and over 3,000 were declared missing.

AMURT and AMURTEL teams assisted the Mayan population affected by the hurricane in Solola municipality. We have assisted over 500 families in the mountain villages of Sanat Catarina Palopo and Panajachel, providing them with food parcels that include rice, oil, beans, tortilla flour, oatmeal and a local healthy drink called incaparina. We have also distributed drinking water.

Under the guidance of a Mayan priest, our teams have helped people in remote areas. Many of the Mayans living in Panimache Tres in Queche municipality lost their homes when the river flooded the valley. AMURT has provided food and clothing for them.

First we approach the Mayan leaders to find the names of the displaced families, and then we call them to a central distribution point. The Mayan Indians were extremely grateful to receive the food, as many have lost their homes and their crops.

USA

Volunteers in San Antonio counsel survivors.

Hurricane Katrina

AMURT & AMURTEL volunteers are active in Baton Rouge, Louisiana about 80 miles from New Orleans as well as Houston, Austin and San Antonio Texas.

Our volunteers work in refugee centers providing medical assistance, administering compassionate counseling for trauma and stress, locating housing, and sorting and distributing in-kind donations.

Read full documentation

Kenly News Article | N. Carolina Recognition | Rotary Award

Karlton Garrison (left) was homeless for eight years, using his wits to survive the Washington streets. Now Carlton has a roof over his head, periodic food assistance from Food For All, and the regular company of one of our volunteers
to brighten up his life

Food For All volunteer stands behind Carolyn McGrier, and her neighborhood friend, outside her apartment in Washington, DC

Food For All, Washington, DC

AMURT received its fourth grant from the U.S. government’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program for its Food For All program in Washington, D.C. The grant will help AMURT provide emergency groceries to forty poor households a week in 2006. Many of our clients, especially the elderly and those with disabilities, are home-bound, so we deliver groceries to their homes. The Food For All program is helpful for social workers who know where to turn when a poor client shows up in their offices.

One does not think of Washington, DC, as being a place of poverty. However, according to U.S. census data for the year 2000, 17.7% of District residents live below the poverty line. That translates into a lot of people struggling to make ends meet.

AMURT’s Food For All program has been assisting such people with emergency food needs for the past fifteen years. 1n 2001, especially after September 11, the demand for our services increased dramatically. The Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union, for example, were struggling to support 4,000 recently unemployed members. We provided food for fifty union families every week until they found other resources.

"Food For All was a lifeline - it was the only organization helping us on a regular basis." Jorge Rivera, Relief Coordinator, Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union.

Many clients come to us after life takes an unexpected turn for the worse. Jose Ortega injured his hand and was unable to work for two months, throwing his family into a crisis. Food For All provided weekly food baskets for the Ortega family so they could focus their resources on paying rent and utilities. Now Jose is back to work and our services are no longer needed.

AMURT runs similar programs in Los Angeles and Portland.

Visit the Food For all website