Mission Aviation Fellowship

Haiti Earthquake 2010

Following the tragic earthquake which struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, MAF’s 23-year history in Haiti and knowledge of the land, culture, and language are proving invaluable to outside groups providing aid.

MAF has established a satellite communications center at the Port-au-Prince airport, allowing relief agencies to effectively communicate with those in and outside of Haiti. The MAF hangar has become a logistics point for aid organizations bringing food, water, medicines, and other relief supplies into this devastated country. MAF relief flights transport teams of medical and relief workers to remote areas

---

UPDATES -

Ministry Response Transitions to Rebuilding
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti— 03-10-10
http://www.maf.org/news/maf-news/maf-playing-critical-role-in-haiti-food-distribution

Nearly two months following the Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) must continually redefine its role in Haiti. What began as crisis management shifted to food distribution to the Haitian people.

Now the aviation ministry is gearing up for the next phase: to assist with rebuilding the nation's shattered infrastructure and partner with ministries serving in the most remote areas of Haiti.

While these steps trace the usual path following a crisis, each disaster presents its own challenges, according to John Woodberry, MAF Disaster Response manager.

"Disaster response always throws something new at you, so you have to adapt. You can't just respond based on the needs following a previous disaster," said Woodberry, who has led MAF responses to other parts of the world, including efforts after Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh (2007).

(Read more on website)...

Transition to Rebuilding, Long-Term Needs
Most of the food now being distributed will become part of food-for-work projects. "Due to the disaster, countless Haitian people have lost their home, job and income. That's where the search comes in for sustainable solutions. "Haitians will be able to work, whether it's building a road, sanitation system or whatever, in exchange for food," Woodberry commented. Schools, clinics and other infrastructure must be rebuilt as well

As road conditions in Haiti improve, "more and more aid is being transported by truck," Woodberry said. This allows the focus of MAF flights to turn from delivering food to transporting missionaries and humanitarian workers to where they're most needed around the country. MAF will likely add more staff and aircraft to its Haiti flight program in order to address the long-term needs.

=============

http://www.maf.org/news/maf-news/maf-assists-harrison-ford-humanitarian-trip

MAF Pilots Brief Acclaimed Actor, Provide Airstrip Chart
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—02-18-10
MAF pilots recently provided acclaimed actor Harrison Ford with an airstrip chart of the Port-au-Prince airport and offered him a personal briefing at the MAF hangar.

Ford told MAF the information its pilots provided helped him in his humanitarian mission to relieve suffering following the Haiti earthquake. Ford flew from Los Angeles into the capital city’s airport in his own aircraft loaded with medical volunteers and supplies to help earthquake-stricken Haiti.

FACEBOOK -
http://www.facebook.com/maf.org#!

-------

http://www.maf.org/news/maf-news3/maf-responds-assists-international-response-to-haiti-earthquake#jIzGvlPdnebdGoZ80gMwHw

-------

Ramping Up to Meet Overwhelming Need
‘Full disaster response mode’ in Haiti

January 18, 2010 — As the massive humanitarian efforts continue in the earthquake-stricken nation of Haiti, the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) reports its members are in “full disaster response mode,” working with the international relief agency, Samaritan’s Purse, and others to provide relief to thousands of suffering people. Smaller GA aircraft like those operated by MAF are still not allowed to fly out of Port-au-Prince International Airport, which is under command of the U.S. military, but the organization continues to ready its fleet aircraft based in Haiti to contribute to the mammoth relief efforts in the weeks and months to come.

MAF is ramping up to aid agencies by coordinating the storage, distribution, and transportation of food, water and medical supplies, as well as tarps and water purification systems. A GATR Technologies inflatable satellite terminal at the Port-au-Prince airport will provide reliable Internet and wireless data connectivity, including VOIP (Internet telephone service) to aid organizations.

John Boyd, MAF president, stated in a news release, “MAF has been ministering in Haiti since 1986. We know the country, the culture and the language. This experience and knowledge will be invaluable to groups coming to Haiti to help. What’s more, MAF will continue to minister here in the months and years following this disaster.”

MAF was one of the dozens of mission aviation and public benefit flying organizations participating in EAA’s “Fly for Life” program at AirVenture Oshkosh 2009. Fly For Life shined some much-deserved light on benevolent flying by general aviation with a series of presentations and displays describing those who serve others around the world through flight.

MAF has received many inquiries about volunteering to assist in the relief efforts. Currently, MAF is unable to bring volunteers into Haiti. There may be a later need for those with specific technical skills in logistics and communications, coupled with disaster response experience, so officials ask tha they monitor the MAF website, www.MAF.org, for updates.

----------

How You Can Help:
MAF has set up the “Haiti Disaster and Recovery Fund.”
** You can donate here at: http://www.maf.org/donatecart?goMotiv=VVJ0U100&desig_4932=10
** Those in Canada, can go to:
https://mafc.org/donate/haitiearthquake.htm
for donation information.

NBAA Organizes Business Fliers
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), in response to its members who want to volunteer aircraft, supplies and personnel to support earthquake relief efforts, created www.nbaa.org/haiti. NBAA will continually update the site to provide the latest operational information and help match available assets with people and organizations involved in coordinating missions into Haiti.

Air Care Alliance
The Air Care Alliance, a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations, has posted Haiti GA response information on its Relief information page, including links to several organizations’ information. Visit www.aircareall.org/relief-info.htm.

=============
VARIETY OF DONATION CHOICES -
Source found:
http://www.maf.org/home/

Adopt a Plane »
You can help an MAF airplane bring desperately needed aid and assistance to needy people in remote places. For only $1 a day you can adopt a plane and help open the doors to the Gospel in places you'll never go.

http://www.maf.org/adopt

--

MAF Missionaries »
MAF missionaries face a host of challenges—tropical diseases, homesickness, dangerous weather, separation from loved ones, and more. Take a moment to learn more about the staff ministering overseas as well as those who support the ministry programs from the MAF headquarters.

http://www.maf.org/staff-sorted

--

MAF Gift Shop »
Help Transform Lives!
Every gift item you purchase helps MAF minister around the world.

http://www.mafgiftshop.org/

--

MAF Affinity Card »
Support MAF while earning rewards and enjoying exceptionally low rates!

http://www.maf.org/card