Weill Cornell and GHESKIO Begin Earthquake and Flooding Relief Efforts in Haiti

Five days after the southern region of Haiti was struck by a 7.2. magnitude earthquake and began bracing for flooding from a tropical depression, Weill Cornell is working with GHESKIO, our long-standing partner in Haiti, to provide disaster relief at affected sites and prepare for displaced persons to arrive in the capital of Port-au-Prince. GHESKIO experienced some flooding in the aftermath of tropical depression Grace, but prepared accordingly, and all sites are fully functional and providing care at this time. 

GHESKIO has also sent survival support supplies to our 20-year partner hospital in Les Cayes – the largest public hospital in the southern region – and will continue to distribute needed goods to other clinical care centers receiving patients evacuated from the area.

GHESKIO also keeps a full-time physician at this regional hospital at all times, who is currently working with government officials to coordinate all GHESKIO interventions at the hospital and its affiliates. We are working closely with GHESKIO to provide food, portable water, shelter, disease prevention and basic medical supplies to those in need and will update this page regularly about these efforts.

Map displaying the epicenter of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake. (credit: AFP New Agency)