Helping in Haiti

Written by production

Wednesday, 20 January 2010 16:44

Devastation, destruction, loss and death face the survivors of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake which devastated Haiti last week, a country already struggling with poverty. The catastrophe, which may have taken the lives of as many as 50,000 people, strikes particularly close to the heart of Ruth and Les Babcock, a Bow Island couple who once called the island nation home and who still return to spend time with lifelong friends and to help fight the poverty and health issues there by pitching in, lending their talents to digging wells for much needed pure water for the populace. “It is a terrible disaster,” Babcock said. “The people need water and food. The best thing we can do right now is send money to the agencies who are working there. “Public health is even more at risk than before. In a few days babies will be dying of dehydration. They need help now and they need it ongoing as well. All their systems are down. For the most part they don’t have gas and power, so they don’t have the added issues of fires, but they do have a tremendous need.” Babcock explained the people of Haiti are already very poor. “Prior to this the people were almost in a state of disaster so this on top makes things very difficult. It’s one thing to help by sending equipment to bury the dead but they need a lot of outside government help.”Babcock said those willing to help can donate to the organization he works with: Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.ca/). He added World Vision (www.worldvision.ca) is another charity working hard to bring relief to the area. “All together we lived there about 11 years. Last winter we went for two months and I was looking forward to going again late in January.”He said if he is still able to go and be helpful, rather than another mouth to feed, he will. Babcock has a crew that drills wells year-round in Haiti he supports. They work about 90 miles north of Port-au-Prince so the area he knows best hasn’t been as affected as the epicentre of the quake. “If anyone wants to help with providing wells in Haiti as some people do in memory of a loved one, we are always happy to accept those kinds of gifts.”