ACTED steps up its food distributions in Port-au-Prince

Officially, four days are left to reach the aim set for relief operations in Port-au-Prince: feed two million disaster-affected people. ACTED is notably managing the Saint-Gerard Church distribution site, lent by the neighbourhood’s parish. On Sunday, the distribution was called off for the mass to take place. On Monday, 1,900 people, instead of the usual 1,700, received 25 kilogrammes of rice each. Furthermore, it is estimated that up to 2,100 people will turn up tomorrow. ACTED has already distributed over 400 tons of rice on this very site. A determining factor for such success is the close collaboration with the local community; around fifteen parishioners lead the beneficiaries through the site, twenty people from a community association help unloading the 50 kilogramme bags through Cash-for-Work schemes, and ten young scouts help the most vulnerable beneficiaries. Under the surveillance of the ‘joint force’, the distributions are held with calm. Gerald Servé, the ACTED manager for the distribution site set a new objective: in addition to a bag of rice, each beneficiary should also get a warm welcome from the distribution staff. Besides the effectiveness of the assistance, respect and consideration for the beneficiaries are other essential factors of ACTED’s distributions.