A child in Concepción, Chile, after the earthquake

March 12, 2010: SOS Children's Villages has decades of experience raising vulnerable children in Haiti and Chile. Emergency response is not the organization's primary mission in the 132 countries in which it operates. But when disasters such as the recent quakes in Haiti and Chile wreak devastation on children and families, SOS is there to help.

On site in Haiti for nearly 30 years and in Chile for 45, SOS draws strength during crises from its extensive network of local contacts to help children in need and to strengthen families.

Reuniting Haitian Families, Treating Children, and Feeding the Destitute

SOS is caring for more than 500 children in its Children's Village in Santo, outside of Port-au-Prince. According to Carlos Sibaja, Interim Director of SOS-Haiti's Emergency Relief Program, SOS has reunited 17 children with their families. Reunification is a key goal, but is not easy. One set of parents did not want to take back their three children because of an inability to care for them. The family is living in a shoddy tent and has no access to food, water, or sanitation. SOS will supply the household with a proper tent and monthly food packages for at least six months.

A father seeks shelter for his family at SOS Children's Villages - Santo, in Haiti

In Haiti, SOS is recruiting and training new caregivers, psychologists, and social workers to help the traumatized children under its care. It has arranged for opticians to identify the children who need glasses, engaged a pediatrician to conduct weekly follow-up exams of the children, and improved the process by which it is distributing food to needy families through dozens of community centers.

SOS staff in Haiti have suffered great losses: 19 lost family members to the quake and 22 lost homes. SOS-Santo has received ten tons of food, as well as latrines, tents, and toys donated by an array of international organizations. Four security guards now patrol the SOS Children's Village at Santo.

Counseling Traumatized Children in Chile

An SOS Mother holds a child at SOS Children's Villages - Santo, in Haiti

Children and staff at the SOS Children's Village in Concepción were traumatized by the long series of powerful aftershocks that rocked that area following the quake. SOS-Chile has mobilized psychologists at the University of Concepción to provide on-site assistance. SOS has also sent in regional staff to help run programs and bolster the emergency team.

SOS-Chile will be supporting 700 children from among the most vulnerable families living near Concepción, the most affected area. Staff will work in concert with community and church leaders to identify the neediest children.

One of the current challenges facing SOS in Chile is that the collapse of bridges and highways in and around Concepción has impeded the distribution of badly needed supplies. Communication was also cut off. SOS is happy to report that SOS-Concepción has just received an electricity generator.

Help SOS get food, shelter, and psychological counselling to more children in Haiti or Chile. Sponsor disaster orphans today.