Haitian Quebecers scramble to reach loved ones, plan aid after major earthquake

Montreal's Haitian community is holding its breath as Haiti grapples with a major earthquake that authorities in the country said killed hundreds of people and left hundreds more injured and missing.

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Saturday morning in southwestern Haiti, eightkilometres from the town of Petit-Trou-de-Nippes.

The townis located about 150 kilometres from Port-au-Prince, the country's capital, whichhas yet to recover from the devastating quake in 2010 that killed an estimated 250,000 people.

Marjorie Villefranche, a prominent member of Montreal's Haitian community, said it's been a scramble for many to try to reach loved ones back home.

"It's obvious that we're like, 'not again,'" said Villefranche, who runs La Maisond'Hati, a non-profit resource centre for the city's Haitian community.

WATCH | Montreal's Haitian community ralliesto help earthquake victims:

Montreals Haitian community rallies to help after devastating earthquake

3 years ago

Duration 3:17

After a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, leaving at least 1,297 dead, Montreals Haitian community rallied to get aid to survivors.

"For the community in Quebec, we're experiencing this with ahuge feeling of helplessness. We are far from our loved ones, we are far from the country, we're trying to understand what's going on."

Villefranche and other community leaders including Frantz Benjamin, a Liberal member ofQuebec's National Assembly who represents the Montreal riding of Viau formed a crisis unit on Saturday in an attempt to come up with a plan to help those in Haiti and the Haitian community inQuebec.

At a press briefing held at the Viau constituency office Saturday evening,Villefranche said the crisis unit is askingQuebecerslooking to help outto direct their financial aidtoward the CanadianRed CrossinQuebec, Doctors of the World and Doctors Without Borders.

"In our opinion, these are the three organizations that are the most capable of intervening in times of emergency," Villefranchesaid, adding that other directives will be communicated when it comes time tohelp with reconstruction.

An emergency phonelinewill also be implemented for Quebecerswho havequestions about how to help out or whoneed assistancefinding resources to get emotional and psychological support.

"Ihope there will be organized help that will come quickly to the people," Villefranche said. "We hope, too, that the aftershock will not be as terrible as it was for Port-au-Prince" in 2010.

Haiti is embroiled in humanitarian and political crisesa little more than a month after President Jovenel Mosewas assassinated in his own home.

Frantz Voltaire, a Montreal-based documentary filmmaker, knows the southwestern region of Haiti well. His family comes from there, although most family members havesince moved to other regions.

Voltaire said he is concerned that the regionis "a very isolated place," with limited ways to access it. He said that couldmakeit more difficult to get help to those in need.

"There is only one main road to access the main cities," he said.

"It's important for usand I'm talking about the Haitian diaspora, people of Haitian descentit's important for us to mobilize resources in our communities, but alsoI think Canada and Quebec have to help because this is a very difficult situation."

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante expressed her solidarity with the people of Haiti. "Montreal will participate financially in the international [aid] efforts," she posted on Twitter.

Quebec Premier Franois Legaultalso took to social media, expressinghis condolences to the earthquake's victims.

"My thoughts are with the Haitian people that has to once again experience such a tragedy," Legault tweeted. "All of Quebec is with you."

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