COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Aug. 14, 2021) Food For The Poor is responding immediately following a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti’s southern peninsula, about 80 miles west of Port-au-Prince, early Saturday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Miraculously, the charity had just delivered rice, beans, sardines and tuna on Friday to three of its distribution centers in Jacmel, Leogane and Nippes. The quake struck about 5 miles from Petit Trou de Nippes.

Seismologists said the quake had a depth of seven miles. It was felt as far away as Jamaica, 200 miles away.

“High casualties are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,” according to the USGS.

“Thank God we’re safe in Port-au-Prince, but the damage in the south is truly catastrophic. Hospitals, churches, schools have collapsed,” said Bishop Oge Beauvoir, Executive Director of FFTP-Haiti. “We have spoken to our key leaders in the affected areas as well as Port-au-Prince and are trying to negotiate a humanitarian corridor to help those in need.”

This is the same region that was devastated by Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

“Once again, we wake up to news from Haiti that breaks our hearts and calls on us to respond immediately to those affected by this devastating earthquake,” said FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine.

“This could not have come at a worse time for this country that is reeling still from the assassination of President Jovenel Moise and that just narrowly escaped a tropical storm,” Raine added. “No matter what comes for Haiti, we stand with the people of Haiti.”

The quake comes at a time when the government is in the throes of crisis and civil unrest and gang violence are plaguing the country. Hospitals have been overwhelmed with a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.

Sometime in the next week, Tropical Storm Grace is expected to bear down on Haiti.

In early July, a convoy of 10 40-foot tractor-trailers delivered lifesaving supplies to four empty distribution centers, using a window of opportunity as the worst of Hurricane Elsa passed to move goods on roads that had been blocked by gangs for weeks.

Haiti is still recovering from a disastrous quake more than 11 years ago. More than 250,000 people were killed that day and an estimated 1.3 million were left homeless.

In this video, Bishop Oge Beauvoir, Executive Director of FFTP-Haiti, talks about the impact of Saturday’s earthquake, how the charity is responding and the emergency relief items needed. Watch here: https://youtu.be/h1vIBVdiCag

Following today’s earthquake, donors can help FFPC deliver aid to Haiti by donating now