Plan USA and URI Send Relief Supplies to Haiti
Photos courtesy of Plan staff.
The University of Rhode Island research vessel Endeavor left for Haiti on February 17 on a two-fold mission – to study geologic evidence of the recent earthquake, and to deliver humanitarian supplies procured by Plan USA.
The URI Graduate School of Oceanography operates a ship called the Endeavor, which is used for scientific research and exploration around the globe. After learning that the ship was bound for Haiti to conduct research on the fault line, team members from Plan USA acted quickly to explore the idea of getting a cargo container on board.
When URI and the crew of the Endeavor agreed, Plan USA quickly took the lead in collecting the supplies that would be of greatest use to the children of Haiti. As a result of Plan USA’s efforts, the ship will deliver 48 large shade tents to a port in Haiti where they will be offloaded for Plan's emergency relief efforts. The tents will serve as transitional classrooms and provide safe zones for children in camps in the affected areas.
Audrey Bracey Deegan, interim president and chief executive officer of Plan USA, thanked URI and the crew of the Endeavor for their critical support in helping transport the transitional shelters. 
"Since the earthquake, Haiti’s children have consistently expressed to us that education should be our top priority,” she said. “They say being back in school will create a much-needed sense of security and stability. And it also means that parents can focus on rebuilding their lives without fearing for their children's safety. We know from our experiences after the 2004 tsunami that immediately resuming schooling is a key component for any disaster-recovery process.”
The Endeavor is scheduled to arrive in Haiti on February 27; the ship will offload the tents before beginning its scientific investigation.
Donate today to support long-term recovery efforts in Haiti.
Click here to see more pictures.
In addition to the supplies sent on the Endeavor, Plan USA’s Heidi Reed has also traveled to Haiti to support Plan’s communication needs during the next few weeks.
Follow Heidi as she blogs from Haiti.
