Pouring aid to Hispaniola.

• Author: Conaway, Janelle
• Position: OAS - Organization of American States

WHEN HEAVY RAINS fell over the island of Hispaniola in late May, causing massive flooding along the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the OAS and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) took immediate steps to help.

The two organizations disbursed a total of $70,000 in emergency assistance, and PADF--a nonprofit organization affiliated with the OAS--began to marshal corporate contributions. Within seventy-two hours of the disaster, PADF teams were working on both sides of the border to deliver food, potable water, and other emergency supplies.

Secretary General Cesar Gaviria expressed the condolences of the entire hemisphere over the natural disaster, which claimed more than a thousand lives and left thousands more homeless.

"Haiti and the Dominican Republic will need substantial international help to respond to this devastating tragedy, which is already being called one of the worst natural disasters to hit the Caribbean," Gaviria said. "The OAS will do everything possible to support the humanitarian-aid efforts already under way and to mobilize new resources."

Within a month, PADF had garnered commitments of some $500,000...