Capital cash helps Haitians rebuild lives and businesses

SURVIVORS of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti are being given cash grants to help rebuild their lives thanks to funds raised in Edinburgh.

Residents in the Capital have now raised more than 350,000 to help victims of the disaster through an Evening News-backed appeal, launched by Edinburgh charity Mercy Corps and the city council.

Director of fundraising for Mercy Corps, John Cunningham, said the next critical step in kick-starting Haiti's economy was providing people with cash grants to allow them to rebuild assets such as small businesses, fishing boats and food carts.

He said: "We are also looking into partnerships using micro-finance loans and remittances to allow small businesses to stabilise and operate. Efforts like this are essential to return Haiti's economy to a functioning state."

Around 1,000 families will be receiving grants of 5,000 Haitian Gourdes each (85), and loans will be made available for between 100 and 160 during the initial phases.

Adrna Marc, 26, who now lives in the Impasse Corail tent camp in Haiti, hopes to use the microfinance loans and cash grants to reopen her small shop.

Mr Cunningham added: "The appeal has now raised over 350,000 in just two months. I would like to personally thank all the people, schools and businesses in Edinburgh who have donated.

"This cash is helping to give nearly 2,000 Haitians a daily wage to clear debris and repair basic infrastructure in the most damaged neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince. Getting money in their pockets means survivors can purchase the supplies their families need and, in so doing, help businesses and markets resume the normal flow of trade."

The charity plans to expand the cash for work programme by providing enough short-term jobs to benefit 7,000 households.

Mercy Corps has also distributed 4,000 child-friendly kits containing toys, hygiene supplies, blankets and art materials.

The kits are part of the charity's Comfort for Kids programme, which has already taught dozens of psychologists, nurses, social workers, teachers and parents how to care for traumatised children.

Mr Cunningham said: "Over the course of this programme, Mercy Corps is aiming to train 280,000 caregivers to address symptoms of trauma in children and help restore their wellbeing, so they can look toward a healthy future."

The earthquake, which struck the country on 12 January, killed 230,000 people and left 300,000 injured and 1.3 million homeless.

Aid efforts have been hampered by a series of strong aftershocks and huge challenges still remain, including a continued need for emergency shelter and latrines to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

The rainy season in Haiti is from April to June, and will be followed by the hurricane season.