Miami-Dade County, the MSC Foundation, and Food for the Poor join forces to Provide Humanitarian Assistance to the People of Haiti

 The MSC Foundation and Food for the Poor have partnered with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami-Dade Commissioner Jean Monestime to coordinate humanitarian assistance and emergency aid to the people of Haiti. These humanitarian relief efforts are in response to the ongoing crisis in Haiti.

The MSC Foundation is donating 20 shipping containers to earthquake victims for immediate use as temporary shelter and the storage of provisions. In addition, MSC Group will be supporting MSC Foundation through its cargo business – MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) – to coordinate additional shipments of relief goods from PortMiami.

Since its launch in 2019, the MSC Foundation has contributed both to immediate and longer-term relief and recovery efforts across the world in collaboration with MSC Group of companies. Examples of previous projects include delivering healthcare services and education supplies in 5 remote communities in Haiti; providing hurricane disaster relief and supporting the recovery of damaged facilities in the Bahamas; facilitating access to personal protective equipment in the most COVID-19 affected countries; shipping essential goods to communities impacted by the violent volcanic eruption in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, etc. 

MSC Group, a leading shipping and logistics conglomerate has been closely tied to the region for decades. Through its import and export cargo operations, as well as other economy-supporting investments through MSC Cruises, the group has a strong presence in Florida, U.S. as well as serving as a key player in the development of the local economy in Haiti, the third-largest country in the Caribbean.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman and Chair of the MSC Foundation Executive Committee commented: “We are proud to work with partners that allow us to respond quickly to situations of need, deploying our capabilities of reach, scale and breadth of resources in concrete actions to alleviate suffering and improve health outcomes. This prompt initiative of the Miami-Dade County Mayor with Food For The Poor to coordinate humanitarian assistance and emergency aid for the people of Haiti shows how great challenges can be overcome by a combined response, working together with dynamism and passion like one big family.”

“The Haitian people are not only hurting from the aftermath of the earthquake earlier this year but also continues to suffer from the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are extremely grateful for MSC Foundation’s partnership and commitment to provide humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people during this difficult time. We in Miami-Dade County stand in solidarity with the members of the Haitian community and are always ready to join them in these efforts.”

“I am grateful for the thoughtful response of the MSC Foundation,” said Commissioner Jean Monestime.  “In partnering with Miami-Dade County to provide humanitarian assistance to Haiti in the aftermath of the August 14th devastating 7.2 earthquake, I know these efforts will create new avenues for the people of Haiti and the Haitian diaspora as they continue to make vigilant efforts toward recovery and reconstruction.”

“We are so grateful to Miami-Dade County and PortMiami for donating their time to sort and pack these lifesaving goods. We especially want to thank MSC Foundation for their generous gift of the container and getting these critically needed relief items to Haiti. This will be a blessing to countless lives,” said Food For The Poor President/CEO Ed Raine. “Haiti is suffering and it’s heartening to see the community come together to support our brothers and sisters who are in desperate need.”

Watch a video about the Miami-Dade and MSC Foundation packing event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q37c3_ukOw