2018 Humanitarian Aid Report

Humanitarian interventions save lives, alleviate suffering, protect human rights and maintain human dignity of those in need. During 2018, Outreach Aid to the Americas (OAA) was able to benefit the lives of approximately 41,790 vulnerable people by providing $2,247,862 of humanitarian aid relief efforts to six different countries: Cuba, Haiti, Antigua and Barbuda, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

In order to provide this critical aid to the above-mentioned countries, OAA managed to the leverage in-kind donations of several US private and government partners including: Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), Feeding the Nations, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Jezreel International, Harvest International, Tyndale House, Cargo Express International, and others who contributed with food, goods, and services, including logistics and warehousing.

While providing humanitarian aid, OAA also found a great opportunity to build the capacity and support to 15 local partners in these countries, increasing their capability to identify and vet beneficiaries; properly receive, store, transport, and distribute humanitarian aid commodities; and monitor and report in a timely and accurate manner. OAA’s impact thanks to in-kind donations included:

II. Humanitarian Aid Details

Dehydrated Food

Thanks to OAA’s long-standing partnership with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), together we were able to ship dehydrated meals in food packs known as “Manna Packs Rice”. The dehydrated food are meals of fortified rice and soy protein that are vegetarian (no meat, eggs or dairy), appropriate for children and adults over the age of one year. This product has been culturally acceptable worldwide. OAA leveraged the donation of eight 40’ containers of pre-packed meals and 28 pallets of Manna Pack Rice boxes, all of them shipped to the target countries impacting vulnerable communities by providing a nutritious meal and improving the well-being of vulnerable groups and reducing impacts of malnutrition.

Additionally, OAA was awarded a USAID/Food for Peace Program with the purpose of transporting, distributing and feeding children, pregnant and lactating women and elderly in El Salvador, this year 2018, OAA was able to ship 3 containers of Harvest Lentil Soup from Breedlove Foods. The Harvest Lentil Pro soup mix is a dry/dehydrated blend comprised of lentils, soy, rice, carrots, potatoes, and vegetables and fortified with vitamins, minerals, and vegetable protein. The product has a shelf-life of up to 24 months.

Hygiene Kits

OAA’s Cuban partners (faith-based organizations/churches/ministries) made a special request to OAA for the provision of basic hygiene products, because of the scarcity and lack of accessibility among vulnerable groups, including individuals who are either persecuted (repressed and marginalized) or imprisoned because of their religious beliefs and practices, and their family members who are in extreme need. OAA managed to obtain the donation from Jezreel International and Harvest International of 1,800 hygiene kits including basic products such as: shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush, hand sanitizer, razors, deodorant, etc. Priority was given specially to prisoners who live in very poor sanitation conditions. The donated hygiene kits benefited a total of 935 people, including persecuted individuals, prisoners, and their family members (prioritizing children, disabled groups, women and elderly).

Shoes

OAA was able to secure through USAID/Limited Excess Property Program (LEPP) the donation of 9,200 pairs of orthopedics new shoes which were shipped to victims of Hurricane Irma in Antigua & Barbuda through OAA’s partner, The Red Cross of Antigua & Barbuda (A&B Red Cross). The Red Cross representatives acted as the main liaison and contact with the governments of Antigua & Barbuda, and was the organization responsible for coordinating the efforts on-the-ground, including customs clearance, warehousing, transportation, and coordination with the local stakeholders (government, local organizations, and communities); ensuring proper distribution and use of these items.

Bibles to Cuba

Bible poverty in Cuba exists because of the Government restrictions to import Christian Literature. Thus, the amount of Bibles and Scripture resources in Cuba lags far behind the growth of Christianity and Cubans cannot afford to purchase. But God has opened a door for Outreach Aid to the Americas to impact the lives of pastors, believers and new believers. Los Pinos Nuevos Evangelical Convention was granted permission to receive a shipment of 1,200 Bibles just in time for Christmas. OAA was able to run a campaign and purchase/ship the bibles at cost to Tyndale House, who donated $12,000 in-kind.