YWAM Argentina’s first relief team to Haiti left on February 6, travelling with the Argentinean humanitarian aid and peace-keeping agency "White Helmets".

YWAM accompanied the White Helmets on a one-week rescue trip and were able to take with them medical supplies they gathered following the earthquake.



The White Helmets, presided over by Gabriel Marcelo Fuks and reporting to the National Government, worked with YWAM in 1994 when the two teams traveled to Rwanda during what later became known as the Rwandan Genocide. Ninety YWAM volunteers traveled with the White Helmets and made camp inside the conflict zone for three months, providing help of incalculable value.

Given this track record and the severity of the need in Haiti, the government organization accepted YWAM’s request to accompany the White Helmets and asked for their help in distributing the supplies they were bringing to Haiti.
 


The four person team was made up of Daniel Etchart, Pedro Ramírez, Alejandro Cruz and Ariel Reyes. They deployed to assist with the distribution of food and medical donations and anything else that might be required, including getting to know the terrain, seeking out new opportunities to continue sending rescue teams from Argentina and defining strategies for follow-up in order to create task forces that could be with YWAM Haiti for several months. The team had the opportunity to work with YWAM’s emergency medical team in Port-au-Prince, serving 700 people daily. They also participated in delivery of food and maintenance.


The team returned home full of stories and miracles on February 13. YWAM Argentina plans to send a second team to Haiti and to coordinate additional trips in the future. Inspired by the work that other organizations do every day, the team continues to assist the efforts of YWAM Dominican Republic who are at the scene of the earthquake serving the Haitian people tirelessly.