On January 12, 2010, the world's attention turned to Haiti when an earthquake of 7.0 on the Richter scale shook the Caribbean nation. Three hundred thousand were killed. One million were left homeless.

More than two years after the earthquake, hundreds of thousands are still living in tents. Government buildings lie in ruins-one third of Haiti's government officials were killed during the earthquake, a grim fact that has further slowed the recovery progress.

While Major Ron Busroe, The Salvation Army's Director of Development and Recovery in Haiti, is well aware of the continued need for support, he knows the situation has fallen from the
forefront of many people's thoughts.

"I've worked quite a few major disasters," Busroe explained. "When the disaster is no longer the lead story on the nightly news it's going to be out of people's minds, and unfortunately the money will stop rolling in to help those who have been affected."

The 40-year Salvation Army veteran speaks often of the organization's longstanding presence in Haiti. At the time of the earthquake, the Army ran 48 schools with a total enrollment of 12,000 children, a hospital, and a network of clinics for HIV/AIDs affected people.

Together with a committee of local business leaders and government officials, The Salvation Army has identified five key areas believed to be critical to rebuilding Haiti: permanent housing, livelihood support, vocational training, agriculture, and community health.

The recovery might not be a simple process, but it is one that The Salvation Army intends to see the Haitian people through. "The Salvation Army has been here for 62 years," Busroe said. "We are not an NGO that just came in after the earthquake and will leave when [recovery] is done."