Based on years of organizational experience that many HAWG members have in disaster response and recovery, they share best practices from lessons learned on the ground. We hope that all organizations responding in Haiti will share in these practices:
1. Support local community collaborations and initiatives. Haitian community networks mobilized to relocate, shelter and protect Matthew victims. They can most effectively and efficiently provide response and relief. International aid should support Haitian-led efforts.
2. Donate money. Money is easier to mobilize quickly in a humanitarian response. Donate funds to organizations that purchase locally and are able to reach communities faster.
3. Promote food sovereignty. Matthew devastated Haiti’s crops and washed away nutrient-rich topsoil which may result in food shortages in the coming weeks, months and even years. Aid must support localized, community food production.
4. Provide cholera treatment and prevention. Rains from Matthew will bring a spike in cholera cases. Medical treatment and potable water are urgent. Water and sanitation infrastructure projects to eliminate cholera should be prioritized in the long-term. Attention should also be on the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases such as zika and malaria.
Read the full list here: HAWG Best Practice Post Hurricane