The quake killed over 200,000 people and orphaned thousands of children. Though there was an immediate rush to provide emergency relief, Haiti has moved out of the media’s spotlight. Some organizations have returned home, leaving many in need. That is why Bill Blacquiere and Bethany Christian Services are staying and working even harder.

Blacquiere

“We are in the process of expanding our foster care and what I call our family preservation services,” he tells OneNewsNow. “One of the things we are working on is there are still people living in camps, and we are working with local churches to move those children and families … out of the camp.”

Since privacy is lacking in the camps, which can be dangerous, the churches are partnering to find housing for people, many of whom are single mothers who lost their husbands in the earthquake.

“The orphanages are overcrowded,” Blacquiere continues. “Some of that was due to the fact that Haiti did not have the infrastructure to make sure children were available for adoption or they could find their parents, so there’s just been a lot of delays with that. Adoption is starting, however, on a very limited basis,” the missionary adds.

Progress in recovery is slow, he concludes, but it is still progress