BMS responds to Hurricane Matthew

BMS World Mission has just authorised a grant for £22,150 to help provide cholera treatment in the hard-hit south of Haiti

Widespread flooding and poor sanitation are predicted to cause cases of cholera to surge in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, which hit Haiti last Tuesday (4 October 2016). In fact, some have already reported three times the number of incidences of the infection following the disaster.



BMS World Mission has been in touch with partners on the ground to find out the most helpful way we can respond to the hurricane, and the provision of cholera treatment was identified as one of the urgent needs. On Wednesday (12 October), it agreed a grant of £22,150 to help towards treatment for 1,200 cholera patients over the next six months. This treatment will be provided through a hospital on the south west tip of Haiti, serving people hit by the heart of Hurricane Matthew.

BMS has a history of helping to prevent cholera and caring for cholera patients in Haiti. Following the 2010 earthquakes, it worked with a partner in Cap-Haitien to help reduce the cholera related mortality rate from around 13 per cent to under 0.5 per cent. 

“Haiti is one of the most marginalised and fragile countries in the world,” says Steve Sanderson, Deputy Director for Mission. “BMS has historically stood by Haiti in times of disaster, not least with the earthquakes and cholera outbreaks in 2010. As we continue to stand with the people of Haiti following Hurricane Matthew, we want to ensure that we demonstrate the love of Christ through helping those directly affected and leaving communities more resilient.”

BMS wants to say a huge thank you to all the churches and individuals who have taken up offerings, prayed for and given gifts to BMS relief work – both in Haiti and in other countries around the world. Your gifts means BMS has been able to respond quickly, providing support for some of the worst-affected people in the country.

"Please pray with us, that BMS, in partnership with people on the ground, would be able to prevent the devastating wave of cholera deaths that could be a natural outcome of this disaster."
 

You can give towards our relief work in Haiti and other disaster-affected countries by giving to BMS disaster recovery today.

All photos from BMS Haiti earthquake relief, 2011

This article first appeared on the website of BMS World Mission and is used with permission.