Pestel Earthquake Water Relief Drive
Paon Bleu Haiti, a finance company co-founded by a "Pestelois" Jean-Claude Fignole, is coordinating with Caribbean Bottling Company (Culligan Haiti) an emergency water drive.
Jean Claude O. Fignole, is the grandson of Pestel native, Antoine Fignole and the son of Jean Claude Fignole renown author who was born in the city of Jeremie but lived the last few years of his life in Pestel. Jean-Claude had a career in development work (please see my LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-claude-o-fignole-48a0b882) and have a history of collaboration with community groups and local authorities in Pestel, notably in the organization of the "Fete de la Mer" festival in 2018.
We are in direct contact with the emergency response committee set up by Pestel City Council to coordinate the response to the massive earthquake which left much of the city and district devastated. I have been assigned a role to leverage networks and contacts to bring much needed support to suffering communities.
Donations will be coupled with those of a parallel fundraise hosted by Atlanta, US based organization... the Sons and Daughters of Haiti (website here: https://sndhaiti.org/donate-2/) to provide 3 days to 1 week's supply of critical drinking water to communities in Pestel. The impact is life-saving given that the earthquake destroyed acces roads to the area and there are no fresh water sources within proximity to the area.
The funds will be used to purchase 2400 cases of 20 Oz. Fresh water bottles from Caribbean Bottling Water Company (CBC)https://cbc.ht/en/homepage/. As their contribution to the effort they have provided the water at a discount. CBC will transport the water to the port city of Miragoane where a boat sent by the city of Pestel will recuperate the cases and sail them to Pestel. The coordinating committee including civil society organizations, Catholic and protestant churches and other community leaders will distribute in accordance with the distribution plan of 2 cases per family.
Our goal is to provide 57,600 20-ounce bottles or 2,400 cases of drinking water to affected population of Pestel.
A joint effort between Sons and Daughters of Haiti and PAON Bleu to provide emergency relief to the population of Pestel, until they receive assistance from the National Authorities and Local Aid groups, has been launched.
Drinking water is desperately needed.
Support our effort by donating at
https://sndhaiti.org/donate-2/ or
https://gofund.me/6fadcd34
Our prayers are with the families’ woes lost loved ones, are suffering due to injury, lost off their homes and livelihood.