A petrol tanker which crashed, overturned and exploded – unleashing a fireball killing 90 – is the latest in a series of tragedies for Haiti, after which Christian agency MAF has helped bring disaster relief.
The Mission Aviation Fellowship has been at the forefront of assisting in the wake of this most recent traumatic event – only a short while after starting to wind up its humanitarian response to an earthquake which had claimed 2,200 lives a few months earlier. When the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti’s western peninsula on 14 August 2021, causing major damage and destroying tens of thousands of homes, MAF personnel responded immediately.
The Christian aviation organisation carried out medical emergency flights, brought doctors, nurses and supplies into Les Cayes and Jeremie, co-ordinated transport and provided logistical support for partner organisations Samaritan’s Purse, Agape Flights and Missionary Flights International.
Working together, the four charities carried out 216 flights between 14 August and 24 September 2021 – transporting 1,033 passengers and delivering about 24,480kg of essential cargo.
Haiti, which is still recovering from last year’s earthquake, is now grappling with severe fuel shortages and skyrocketing gas prices that are crippling hospitals, schools and businesses. This challenging financial situation has caused a spike in gang-related kidnappings, including the abduction of 17 missionaries in October 2021.
Haiti hit world headlines again when a petrol tanker crashed in Cap-Haitien on 14 December 2021 after trying to avoid hitting a motorcycle. The overturned vehicle exploded – unleashing a fireball that swept through nearby houses and businesses.
Some 90 Haitians died in the explosion which devastated Haiti’s second-largest city. Local firefighters spent hours trying to contain the flames, having loaded burned bodies onto a truck while desperate locals looked on in disbelief from the roofs of their houses.
Following the accident, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services, MAF, the Haitian Air Ambulance and HERO were mobilised so that medical personnel, supplies and injured patients could be transported to safety.
MAF Pilot Dan Wanvig, who carried out two medical evacuation flights using a Samaritan’s Purse aircraft, enabled 17 victims with severe burns to reach hospitals in Port-au-Prince and Hinche after the crash. The next day, 13 more patients were flown to hospitals in Hinche and Mirebalais.
As MAF’s team of 14 full-time national staff and five expatriate families continues to pray for those who are still grieving, MAF – which has served Haiti for more than 35 years – hopes to continue providing flights, medevacs and educational services to churches, missions and NGOs, despite the challenges facing the country.
