News Alert: Project HOPE Ready to Respond to Tropical Storm Franklin
As Tropical Storm Franklin approaches the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Project HOPE is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to respond. Project HOPE has paused all programming in the Dominican Republic as team members shelter in place and prepare for potentially catastrophic flooding. Tropical Storm Franklin is anticipated to bring significant rainfall to the region, with communities in Hispaniola expecting five to 10 inches of rain and the possibility of up to 15 inches in certain areas. Communities will likely be without power for hours, if not days, starting Tuesday evening.
Project HOPE has a long history of responding to crises in the region. Earlier this year, Project HOPE responded to severe flooding and an earthquake in Jérémie, Haiti, providing emergency care to injured patients and distributing hygiene kits to affected households. Last September, Project HOPE responded to Hurricane Fiona in the Dominican Republic, providing medicines and supplies and mental health support to impacted communities. Project HOPE’s team has since provided emergency preparedness training, including how to save water ahead of and during an extreme weather event. Our teams across the region are already working in coordination with partners and local officials and have resources available to distribute if needed.
Adib Fletcher, Senior Regional Director for Latin America and Humanitarian Response, says:
“This is not an unfamiliar reality for people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Yet, Haitians have still not caught their breath from the impact of recent flooding just two months ago. People know what could unfold but they do not have the money or resources to prepare. Haiti’s health care system is fragile and on the brink of collapse. Health facilities everywhere lack the appropriate supplies and pharmaceuticals given the current socio-political context and gang violence impacting supply chain routes. Hospitals cannot handle an influx of patients as they lack staff, medicine, equipment, and resources.
As the climate crisis continues to intensify the frequency and severity of storms, both Haiti and the Dominican Republic’s healthcare systems urgently need additional resources to prepare for future crises in order to provide timely care, crucial in preventing outbreaks of diseases like cholera and other water-borne illnesses.”
Project HOPE’s team members in Haiti and the Dominican Republic are available for interviews – fluent in English, Spanish, and French.
To schedule an interview, please contact Courtney Ridgway: media@projecthope.org
About Project HOPE
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE is a leading global health and humanitarian organization operating in more than 25 countries around the world. We work side-by-side with local health systems to save lives and improve health. Our mission is at the epicenter of today’s greatest health challenges, including infectious and chronic diseases, disasters and health crises, maternal, neonatal and child health and the policies that impact how health care is delivered. For more information on Project HOPE and its work around the world, visit www.ProjectHOPE.org and follow us on Twitter @ProjectHOPEorg.