Leogane

(Top: ARC staff member Leah talks with community leaders at a settlement in Leogane. Middle and bottom: Families living in settlements at Leogane.)

I'm on the way up into the mountains to check on some remote communities who need help. I just wanted to let you all know what I've seen so far.

Yesterday, we headed to Leogane. It's a city of about 140,000 people just west of Port-au-Prince.

Leogane was the closest major population center to the epicenter of the earthquake. They estimate that between 60-80% of the homes were completely destroyed or are unlivable. The people there are in need of good shelter, as well as other types of aid and assistance.

Because Leogane is outside of Port-au-Prince, it has taken longer for aid to reach these people.

There are a number of camps or settlements there - over 70 in total. But only three of these settlements has any organization helping to manage and coordinate aid for the people who live there.

As you know, ARC manages camps and settlements in other parts of Haiti. We visited Leogane to see how we might be able to help. Stay tuned for more.