Through
its partnership with Mercy Corps, ITT Corp. has donated five portable water
treatment systems in Haiti, providing enough potable water each day for up to
200,000 victims of the Jan.12 earthquake. The units were donated by ITT and
deployed through Mercy Corps’ large-scale humanitarian aid response.
This
collaborative disaster response is part of a strategic partnership between
ITT’s corporate citizenship program, ITT Watermark, and Mercy Corps. The
partnership consists of an ongoing commitment to help provide safe water during
emergencies. Immediately following the earthquake, ITT authorized Mercy Corps
to tap up to $100,000 of ITT’s 2010 Emergency Fund, established to provide fast
funding to support an initial, on-the-ground assessment of short- and long-term
needs after a disaster. The initial assessment in Port-au-Prince identified an
acute need for access to water and sanitation, and set in motion the process of
delivering the life-saving equipment to Haiti.
“Lack
of clean water and sanitation presents a critical health risk to victims
following disaster, and as a global water leader, ITT is uniquely positioned to
help,” says Steve Loranger, chairman, president and chief executive officer,
ITT. “There is much to be done in Haiti, and we are proud to use our expertise
in fluid technology to support our partner, Mercy Corps, with the rebuilding
and recovery of water and sanitation infrastructure in Haiti for the long-term.”
In
the aftermath of disaster, lack of clean, potable water, combined with poor
living conditions, exacerbates the threat of water-borne disease. As a result,
providing safe water and access to adequate sanitation becomes even more
crucial.
“Providing access to clean
water and sanitation is an essential focus of both our short- and long-term
recovery efforts in Haiti,” says Nancy Lindborg, president of Mercy Corps.
“With ITT as a partner, we are able to deliver the resources necessary to
provide local communities with sustainable water solutions and help families in
need.”
ITT and Mercy Corps Collaborate to Provide Safe Water in Haiti
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