Here are excerpts from the most recent report from Grace Children’s Hospital:

-The Wednesday morning aftershock did not cause any injuries.

-More than 50% of ICC Haiti staff have now been accounted for and are safe.

-Haiti’s National Tuberculosis program office has been destroyed. Grace Children’s Hospital has now been chosen to temporarily house the national TB program, and will be ensuring a steady flow of TB drugs and supplies to 8 of 10 departments in the country. “Our role remains critical, our fear is that there may be many patients who, for logistical reasons have their treatment interrupted. We must do everything possible to avoid this in order to avoid multi drug resistance, a deadly and costly result of interruption in treatment.”

-ICC is forming partnerships with other nonprofit organizations in the region, and the eye clinic and other buildings across the street from Grace will soon be housing a medical relief team from Germany. They hope to offer surgery orthopedic emergencies as well as other hospital care. Supplies will be arriving Friday.

-We will continue to operate our other health programs, even in the face of this disaster, as keeping the spread of disease, especially drug-resistant disease, is critical. Programming will continue as ICC Haiti regroups and rebuilds. Thanks to all ICC supporters in the face of the ongoing needs in Haiti.

he latest update from Grace Children’s Hospital is encouraging but still cautious. Dr. John Yates, who has been involved with ICC for several decades, is currently in Haiti assessing the damage at Grace. The picture above shows some of this damage. Dr. Yates says there is much to be thankful for, as well as much work to be done! He has been meeting with the senior staff members at the hospital and formulating a disaster response. They hope to see the hospital’s clinic open by Monday, January 25. They will provide urgent/crisis response medical care, including a component of psychological/post traumatic stress management care to as many as possible.

Many of the original structures are unstable and will likely require major rebuilding efforts. According to reports, the eye clinic and ICC buildings across the street from the main hospital facility are intact and usable, as is the hospital administrative building. As our assessment continues, we will be planning for long-term reconstruction at the hospital.  If you would like to give to ICC to support these efforts, click here.

Many ICC staff members are still unaccounted for, but many may have temporarily left the city for more secure rural areas. The homes of many employees have been destroyed, and according to Dr. Yates, the grief and suffering of those who remain in Port-au-Prince is great.

UPDATE SATURDAY: As information trickles into the ICC offices from Haiti, it is becoming clear that the damage to Grace Children’s Hospital is extreme. While the hospital still stands, there has been much damage to the structure. We’ve received word that the “building is significantly weakened,” that sections of the wall have fallen, and there are many cracks throughout the building and a stairway was destroyed. The children have been evacuated from the building and are being cared for in the courtyard.

We will need your help more than ever during these difficult days. If you haven’t already given to ICC, please click here to donate. Your generosity will help ICC serve the people of Haiti in their time of need, as well as to continue the long legacy of Grace Children’s Hospital.

Visit www.us.internationalchildcare.org/earthquake for more information about the effects of the earthquake.

UPDATE Friday afternoon:

Secondary reports are coming in from Grace Children's Hospital now that the communication lines are starting to open up. We are sad to report that a child at the hospital has died due to injuries sustained during the earthquake. We have also received confirmation that the hospital administrator and the medical director are safe.

We continue to assess the structural damage that the hospital suffered, and in the next few days will be opening the hospital grounds to serve as a triage and treatment center in conjunction with other aid groups. We will keep you updated as much as possible over the weekend.

Remember, churches and individuals who wish to help can give directly to ICC at this link. United Methodist churches can give through the Advance to Grace Children's Hospital at number 418520.

Texas media coverage here.

UPDATE Thursday night: We received information from Haiti on Thursday evening that Grace Children's Hospital is still standing!

Grace Children's Hospital is standing!!!! Dr. Magloire, the ICC/Haiti National Director, was able to get there and found the children playing on the playground! There is some structural damage, but the hospital survived the earthquake!

Thank you for all your prayers and support, and for your continued support of ICC as we work to relieve suffering in Haiti!

Update: Thursday afternoon. We still have not received news from Grace Children's Hospital, or if Dr. Magloire was able to reach the hospital. We have heard that Dr. Margareth Jasmin is uninjured as well, although not able to reach other staff due to non-existent phone service.

ICC in the news: ICC was mentioned in the Kalamazoo Gazette here. Albion College in Michigan has been involved with ICC for several years and is mentioned here.

UPDATE: Thursday morning. As of Thursday morning, there is still no word on the condition of Grace Children's Hospital. We have received information that Dr. Rudolph Magloire has survived the earthquake and is uninjured. He will be trying to make his way to the hospital today, but many reports have suggested that there is a lot of damage to the Delmas 31 area where the hospital is located. We will have more updates later in the day as reports continue to come in.

If you attend a United Methodist Church, you can give to ICC through the Advance. Grace Children's Hospital's Advance number is: 418520. Gifts made directly to ICC are tax-deductible and will reach the field as quickly as we are able to discern where they will be most effective.

International Child Care has a long history of service in Haiti; Grace Children's Hospital has been in continuous operation since 1967, even during times of turmoil. And as we face uncertain days ahead, we remain committed to the people of Haiti, and our goal of health and wholeness for the children we serve.  Read more about our work here. Click here to give to ICC.

UPDATE: The MEET team from Trinity United Methodist Church in Hackettstown, NJ is SAFE and accounted for. There are no injuries reported. This is all the information we have available at this time.

An earthquake of around 7.0 magnitude struck Haiti just before 5 PM Eastern time on Tuesday, January 12. ICC USA staff eagerly awaits word on the condition of ICC Haiti staff, patients at Grace Children's Hospital and the condition of the ICC MEET trip visiting Haiti this week.

According to news reports, damage is wide-spread throughout the Port-au-Prince area, and there are many reports of injuries and damage to buildings. ICC will continue to follow this story and give updates on the condition of our friends in Haiti, as well as the recovery efforts and how you can help. 

If you would like to give to ICC, you can do so at this link, or by clicking "Give" on the right side of the page. If you write "Emergency Fund" in the comments section, we will be sure to designate your funds to recovery efforts in Haiti.