The SASH team will shortly be returning home after helping thousands of people over the last two years.

We’re proud to have been able to support them and congratulate them on such a valuable initiative.

22-06-2011

News from Haiti – there’s even more need than ever to fund new wells…..

The number of cholera cases last week has spiked hugely, there were 241 cases of cholera which is the largest number of cases since the beginning back in October. Most of the cases seem to be in areas where the river has flooded and innundated latrines, open wells, peoples homes.

At this time the Cholera treatment centres are at capacity but are coping and the mortality rate remains 0.98% which is better than we’d hoped. All WASH and particulary hygiene promotion actors are focusing on education about how to protect families from contracting cholera but we’re still facing problems with people looking at water and deciding that it’s safe to drink if it looks clean which right now no water is safe to drink without treating it by boiling or by adding bleach/aquatabs

All partners are under no illusion that cholera can be eradicated from Haiti, it will become endemic here but the focus is on keeping the number of cases per week within the capabilities of the CTC’s until such time as the majority of the population has had it and survived.

Disturbing news and highlighting the need for ever more wells

Melanie Coull

SASH – Sustainable Aid Supporting Haiti

SASH Haiti Aid Ale : ABV 4.4% We are delighted to help the SASH team to raise vital funds by brewing a limited edition Aid Ale. We were approached by former employees Will Brown and Melanie Coull who set up SASH (Sustainable Aid Supporting Haiti) with a team of volunteers to help people in the rural areas of Haiti who are still badly affected by the aftermath of the 12th January earthquake. The brewery will help the charity by brewing special SASH Aid Ale and will donate 50p from the sale of each bottle to help fund the charity’s critical work in Haiti.

Will explains why they set up SASH; “We wanted to provide practical support to help people in rural areas of Haiti to access food, water, shelter and education. We aim to promote self reliance and opportunities to set up small local businesses so that the Haitian people can start to live independently again.”

Melanie continues; “Through the help of our team of volunteers and the generosity of the public, we have begun to deliver aid to these rural areas, but the challenge is immense and we need to continue to raise funds to sustain our five year plan.  We are delighted that Wold Top Brewery is able to help in such a generous way.” SASH Aid Ale is a crisp, light easy drinking beer with an ABV of 4.4%. As SASH does not use the funds raised for salaries and administration every penny of the 50p will go to support the most needy Haitian people. Former Combined Cadet Force Company Sergeant Major Will and Marine Biologist Melanie became aware of the plight of small communities who are unable to access aid from big organisations and become forgottenwhilst working with local people near Banda Ache after the tsunami and were acutely aware that the same thing could happen after the Haiti earthquake that killed 230,000, killed 300,000 and left a million people with virtually nothing. The SASH team comprises Project Manager Will, Haiti Co-ordinators Mel and Joe Basine from USA, Construction Coordinator Josh Lees from Birmingham, UK Coordinator Janet Brown, Chair of Trustees Dr Philip Brown and Katy Owen Smith.

News from the SASH team

Sustainable Aid Supporting Haiti (SASH) is a North Yorkshire based registered charity which was set up in response to the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010 The earthquake killed 230,000 people leaving thousands of fragmented families living in rubble. In March 2010 the SASH team arrived in Haiti. The epicentre of the earthquake was Leogane, 20 miles west of Port au Prince where people had received little or no help since the earthquake. SASH decided to stay and help. They found out from the local people what would improve their lives and this has guided us with our projects. The SASH team now work in 17 villages in this area, helping to provide shelter, clean water and education to this forgotten rural community. In our first year we have built two temporary schools and a medical centre. We have distributed 5,842 tents, 2,607 temporary shelters and we are now constructing solid housing for 350 families. We have partnered with a number of other organisations and this has enabled us to employ Haitians and form local committees to help organise the work. Our aim in 2011 is to provide clean water and better sanitation to combat the cholera outbreak. The earthquake moved underground land vaults and rendered most existing wells useless. Each well costs SASH £1,600 and we have money to drill 5 new wells, 2 have already been drilled and are providing water, but they are not enough. As a temporary measure we are providing hygiene education and have handed out 2,000 water filters to families with children under 10.  Clean water is essential to avoid the spread of debilitating diseases which affects the whole community, particularly children and the elderly. We need to raise money to continue with this project and we are planning a big fundraising event – more information will be posted here soon. How many wells could we provide?  This depends on its success and on your contribution.