First Water Treatment Systems Arrive in Haiti and Water Missions International Prepares More Systems for Deployment Today
CHARLESTON, SC, Jan. 18 /
Christian Newswire/ -- The first five water treatment systems from Water Missions International (WMI) arrived in Port-au-Prince yesterday. Today, an additional five systems are scheduled to arrive by early afternoon. Each system purifies water at a rate of 10 gallons per minute, which is enough to provide for the daily drinking needs of 5,000 people in a disaster situation.
Over the weekend, WMI prepared an additional 20 water systems for immediate deployment to Haiti. The first of those systems will leave WMI's production facility at 10:00am EST today. WMI staff and volunteers are currently working around the clock to assemble more water treatment systems to aid the earthquake victims in Haiti. Seventy water systems are currently planned for Haiti; however, WMI could deploy in excess of 100 units for this disaster relief effort.
Late afternoon on Saturday, January 16, Water Missions International's Charleston-based staff and volunteers arrived safely in Port-au-Prince. Together with our Haitian staff already on the ground, they have begun assessing the situation to determine the areas of greatest need. Installation of the water systems will begin immediately, and communities in the Port-au-Prince area will have safe, clean drinking water beginning today.
"It's a very scary situation. Everything is destroyed, and supplies are running out. Our team is lucky to be alive," explains Julio Paula, WMI's Country Director in Haiti, who was in Haiti at the time of the quake. "Now that the systems have arrived, we will work tirelessly to get them installed so people will have safe water to drink. We have a long road ahead. Please keep us in your prayers."
Although the relief efforts are already underway, donations are needed to support WMI's emergency work in Haiti. The need is great. Those who wish to help may do so online at
www.watermissions.org or by calling (843) 769-7395 / toll free (866) 280-7107. Also, text WMI to 85944 to make a $10 donation (donor must reply YES to confirm and complete the donation).
About WMI:
Water Missions International (WMI) is a nonprofit, Christian engineering organization based in Charleston, SC whose mission is to provide sustainable access to safe water and an opportunity to hear the Living Water message in developing countries and disaster areas. Assistance is provided regardless of age, sex, race, or faith. WMI's safe water solutions bring immediate and lasting benefits in health, dignity, education, productivity, and income generation to some of the world's most marginalized and forgotten people. WMI has provided safe water to more than 1.5 million people in 40 countries around the world. Visit us at www.watermissions.org.
