The Direction for Civil Protection (DCP) estimates that 222,517 people died in Haiti following the Jan. 12 earthquake, an increase of 5,000 people since the organization’s report a week ago.

Currently, the most pressing needs continue to be shelter and sanitation. There is still rubble to be removed and suitable land has to be found for the construction of transitional shelter.

The Dominican Republic Baptist Convention (CBD) is partnering with four Haitian Baptist churches in Port-au-Prince and extending assistance to 16 other Haitian Baptist churches with emergency aid to help in their respective communities. There will be six distributions (one distribution every two weeks) of food, hygiene products and tarpaulins.

Volunteers from the United States are needed to help in packaging and delivering the goods. They are also needed to work in selected churches with clean up. Pray that communities will be receptive to a touch of God’s love through this disaster response. Pray for distributions to be fair and safe to those that have not yet received assistance.

Southern Baptist volunteer teams heading to new sites in Haiti include a medical team from Nebraska, a student team from Georgia and a medical team with professionals from various states. Baptist Global Response has identified projects that meet short-term needs with a big-picture perspective. Pray for BGR and partners who are trying to implement these projects. Ask God to give them wisdom and guidance as they work in Haiti.