After months of civil unrest, violence, and the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, suffering continued in Haiti as families sorted through the rubble left behind by a massive 7.2‑magnitude earthquake. The quake struck on Saturday, August 14, 2021, at 8:29 a.m. local time, impacting communities already stretched by years of crisis.

Ysmela Saint‑Val, 72, was working on her farm when the ground began to shake. When she made it home, she found her house had collapsed. Now Ysmela and her family are living outdoors, exposed and uncertain about what comes next. In her words:

“I would like to have a place to rest my head, and be able to feed my family.”

The earthquake’s epicentre was in Haiti’s Nippes department, near the city of Les Cayes, approximately 150 kilometres southwest of Port‑au‑Prince. For many Haitians, the devastation echoed painful memories of the 2010 earthquake, another disaster that left lasting scars across the country.

The Scale of the Crisis

In the days following the quake, Haiti’s civil protection office reported widespread loss of life and damage across several regions:

• At least 1,297 people were killed
• More than 5,700 people were injured, with many others still missing
• In the South department (including Les Cayes), approximately 1,500 homes were destroyed and 3,000 damaged
• In the Nippes department, 899 homes were destroyed and 723 damaged
• In Grande’Anse, 469 homes were destroyed and 1,687 damaged

Thousands of people were left homeless, many sleeping in the open without shelter or protection. The numbers were expected to rise as rescue teams reached isolated areas.

In Les Cayes, where the damage was most severe, responders worked urgently to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings. A state of emergency was declared, and international assistance was requested. Local hospitals were quickly overwhelmed, and access to affected communities was complicated by insecurity along major roadways. Humanitarian organizations explored alternative routes, including air travel, to reach those in need.

Relief efforts were further complicated as Tropical Depression Grace moved through the same regions, bringing heavy rain and increasing risks for families already without shelter.

Ysmela’s Story

Ysmela Saint‑Val is a widow and mother of eight. Three of her children live together in Port‑au‑Prince, while four live with her in Lescave, where she has spent most of her life farming beans and yams to support her family.

When the earthquake struck, Ysmela’s first thought was for her children at home. By the time she returned from her fields, her house lay in ruins. She was relieved to find her children unharmed, but every home in the neighbourhood had been damaged or destroyed.

Now displaced and vulnerable, Ysmela’s needs—like those of so many others—are immediate and ongoing: shelter, food, and the support required to begin rebuilding life after loss.

Responding with Care and Commitment

In the aftermath of the quake, communication with affected communities was difficult due to outages and damaged infrastructure. Despite these challenges, World Renew’s Haiti team connected with local partners and coordinated response efforts alongside international humanitarian networks.

Early response focused on urgent needs such as temporary shelter, household and personal care items, and ongoing assessments to better understand medium‑ and longer‑term recovery priorities. Recovery in Haiti is not a moment—it is a long journey requiring patience, trust, and sustained partnership.

How You Can Stay Engaged

Disasters like the Haiti earthquake highlight the importance of prepared, community‑centred humanitarian response—before, during, and long after the headlines fade.

• Learn more about how World Renew supports communities affected by disasters around the world
• Support disaster preparedness and response efforts that prioritize dignity, resilience, and local leadership
• Join us in prayer for families rebuilding after loss and for those serving on the front lines of humanitarian response

When crisis strikes, standing with communities in their most vulnerable moments can help lay the groundwork for hope, recovery, and renewal.