Montreal’s Haitian community looks to help after devastating earthquake

MONTREAL (CityNews) – Montreal’s Haitian community is mobilizing in the face of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti over the weekend.

Many are springing into action to help, even as some say the event has re-traumatized the community after the 2010 earthquake that killed around 250,000 Haitians.

“As a member of the Haitian community, I’ve witnessed all the pain that community suffered a bit 10 years ago when the first earthquake hit Haiti and once again it is the kind of nightmare a lot of members are living in the community,” said Frantz Benjamin, Quebec MNA for Viau District.

“It’s a disaster. Talking about 230 villages that don’t exist anymore. Nothing is left,” said Marjorie Villefranche, the director general of Maison d’Haïti.

In the aftermath of the devastation, Haitian Montrealers say the lives of family and friends back home have been turned upside down.

“They didn’t sleep all night. Every so often there’s aftershock of the earthquake. Every 10 to 15 minutes. And people don’t have anything to eat, explained Haitian Montrealer Paul Athis.

“Yesterday I sent money to five people. If there was a flight this morning for Haiti I would’ve gone. I’d leave my business here and go to Haiti. It hurts because the people don’t have money.”

But this earthquake is different from 2010, when many didn’t have cell phones and couldn’t connect with loved ones.

“People were trying to get news from their family, what was going and then we start saying ‘how can we help?’ this is the main question. How can we help its a bit difficult but we managed to put us together,” said Villefranche.

A crisis committee in Montreal was created, involving community leaders and local politicians, working on a plan to get Haitian the supplies and help they need.

“We are asking [for] emergency help from Red Cross Canada, asking the Canadian government to be collaborative to help all the material to go to Haiti to help to save lives,” added Benjamin.

And community leaders are trying to ensure all the money donated makes it to the communities in Haiti.

“We are trying our best and this time it will really get to the population. Maybe if we work with the local organizations on the ground.