New York, NY — Two humanitarian crises erupted back-to-back in August and weeks later, the people of Haiti and Afghanistan still face desperate conditions. In response, Carnegie Corporation of New York today announced that it is making donations totaling $1.5 million to provide assistance to many groups and communities affected by the disruptions.
The funding will support four relief organizations based in the United States but working in the affected countries.
For Afghanistan, the Corporation is donating:
$500,000 to Women for Afghan Women
$500,000 to the International Rescue Committee
For Haiti:
$250,000 to Catholic Relief Services
$250,000 to the Pan American Development Foundation
In Afghanistan, the late August withdrawal of U.S military forces and the government takeover by the Taliban created widespread turmoil. Women for Afghan Women has been on the ground in Afghanistan for over 20 years, working to improve the lives of Afghan women, children, families, and communities, and is determined to continue its mission of providing critical humanitarian assistance. The International Rescue Committee is distributing food and cash to displaced families in Afghanistan who face a major food crisis. It is also preparing to relaunch programs that provide essential health services, protection for women and girls, and education for out-of-school children.
In Haiti, the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the Caribbean island on August 14 killed more than 2,200 people. Catholic Relief Services and the Pan American Development Foundation both have experience working in the country and moved quickly to address immediate needs, such as clean water, sanitation, shelter, and emergency supplies, and to provide services from specialists such as engineers and search and recovery teams. They are now assisting displaced people and helping to rebuild their communities.
The Corporation has a history of responding to disasters at home and abroad, including Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the devastating hurricanes that hit Houston, Miami, and Puerto Rico in 2018.
