Haiti's largest microfinance provider, Fonkoze, serving over 200,000 customers with savings, loans and insurance, thereby benefiting one of nine million people in that small country. Its Director, Anne Hastings just reported this morning 3 of its 750 employees are confirmed dead, and many others are still missing. She also said that 24 of their 40 branches nation-wide are functioning.
Anne wrote that, "we have 1 that fell completely down (Bizoton). We have six damaged to the point that people can't go inside. Five are damaged but could conceivably be repaired. Five we have no word at all from." They have yet to receive news from Fonverret, Jakmel, and Lavale among others. We know these towns also suffered devastating damage from the earthquake.
On Saturday morning, Anne and Fonkoze CFO Georgette Jean Louis (a former regulator with Haiti's Central Bank) went on the radio to reassure customers that their savings was safe. The branches in the rural areas are meeting the needs of clients with the limited resources at their disposal. It is not yet business as usual because they cannot yet replenish them with the cash they need to operate as the country's banks are all closed. Most of the branches do have access to the internet, and if they receive a transfer and they have enough cash in their vault, they will pay it right away."
Fonkoze's staff in Port-au-Prince met at their head office and successfully recovered key files, records and equipment. They also prayed together for the colleagues, family members, clients and friends lost in this tragedy. They draw strength from knowing that people around the world care and are sending donations to help Haiti 'build back better' as President Clinton vows. Anne said that "our two biggest problems for the moment are getting our network up and running, which may happen today...and finding space for a leadership team (about 15 folks) to work out of in Port-au-Prince."
Using her limited access to internet, Anne also sent her assessment on Saturday:
"That is where Fonkoze is. But it doesn’t tell the whole story:
1. Food is scarce. The majority of grocery stores are not open, nor are the informal markets.
2. Fuel is even scarcer. For instance, I have two inverters – one is my own to run my refrigerator. The other is the landlady’s. Both will run out in a matter of hours, at best days. There is NO source of power to recharge these. The government power company will take months to restart. My building has no generator. Those that have, have no gas to run them. Almost no one has solar power (those in my building were stolen several years ago).
3. Most people are sleeping in the streets – literally. They have no homes left or if they do, they are afraid of the aftershocks, which have not stopped yet. Everywhere the people are singing and praying that God will spare them. Many of them have had no food or water for days.
4. It is impossible to distribute anything – food, water, cash, fuel -- because as soon as any of them appear, throngs of people arrive and fight over whatever is there! It will only get much worse in the days to come.
The country is in much, much worse shape. Many government buildings were destroyed, including the palace, the ministry of justice, the parliament and many more. The U.N. forces headquarters collapsed killing the head of the forces, as well as his assistant, a very dear friend of mine. The archbishop, a great supporter of Fonkoze, was killed. The prison collapsed allowing all prisoners to escape! In effect, the entire leadership of the country is very, very fragile.
The problem is how will the country ever rebuild? This is SO much worse than the worst hurricane, because in Haiti, hurricanes bring flooding but they do not often DESTROY buildings.
At the moment, it is next to impossible to distribute anything … drinking water, food, gasoline, cash – because as soon as any of them appear, throngs of people arrive!
At Fonkoze, we are trying to reassure everyone that their money is SAFE, even though it is not immediately accessible. We are doing everything we can to reopen as quickly as possible. But we cannot reopen without cash liquidity, security and employees – all of which are difficult to find in these days. And those three elements are only the start – we also need internet connectivity, fuel, transportation for our employees, etc. Some of our branches in the provinces escaped with nary a blemish – but even they cannot function without cash. So while we are doing everything we can to reopen, we don’t how long it will take.
What we know is that our website – www.fonkoze.org – will be the best source of information internationally and for those who don’t have an internet connection, the radio stations locally will carry our news.
Please understand that my first internet connection came today and I had 654 messages to download. I waited over an hour and only 278 made it through. Every time there was a wrinkle in the connection, Outlook started over! So I never was able to get to the rest of my messages. Hopefully tomorrow will bring better luck. Please forward this message to anyone you think may be waiting for it, as I have not gotten to everyone yet.
Our clients and our employees are going to need our support for many months to come. We hope you will be with them in your prayers, in your solidarity, and in your giving. We will NOT give up, and we hope that you will not either.
With sincere thanks,
Anne"
BRAC's leadership team is mobilizing to support Fonkoze and the people of Haiti. Access to credit to create income generating opportunities will be key to the recovery. A majority of the population is under 30: young people will need avenues to learn, earn and contribute to the country's development. Let's convert this crisis into an opportunity to support Haiti's development.
--Susan Davis
The best of luck to you, my heart goes out to Haiti.
ReplyDelete