RUNIN Haiti

The True Victims of Haiti's Instability

2011-02-23T08:53:00.000-08:00

Last March, I was blessed with the opportunity to visit Haiti to assess the damage and to document the plight of the Haitian people. I was totally unprepared for the suffering and destruction that lay ahead.

In Port-au-Prince, I saw thousands and thousands of families living in abject poverty on the streets with nothing over their heads except a piece of canvas and perhaps a filthy mattress to sleep on.

As we rode through the city, hundreds of children were calling, asking for bread, water, flip-flops, anything that we could possibly give them. It was excruciating painful to watch. Many of them appeared to be working, carrying buckets of dirty water. They looked jaunt and emaciated. And when we completely ran out of supplies, I wanted to cry.

Child Labor Booming

In the wake of the earthquake which sent an already battered economy to its knees, regrettably, the one business has picked up is child labor. Since much of Port-au-Prince was destroyed, there is a greater demand for cheap labor for reconstruction. Haiti also has a growing garment industry that is always on the lookout for cheap labor. UNICEF estimates that there are 380,000 orphans in Haiti, a number that has grown about 40% after the earthquake killed more than 100,000.

(Though it is reported that the garment industry hire child labor, this problem is not as pervasive due to the abundance of cheap adult labor to fill these jobs.)

Haiti’s Island Neighbor

Many of these orphans are smuggled across the border into the Dominican Republic which has a growing economy and is a big exporter of sugar, coffee and tobacco. But the DR has also a deeper dark side. UNICEF estimates that there are approximately 250,000 children involved in the sex trade in the Dominican Republic (63% girls, 37% boys). Over 1.5 million tourists visit the DR each year. In Germany, tour operators market DR as a singles destination and tout it as being the ‘new Thailand.’ Children continue to be smuggled into the DR as slaves or to serve in the sex trade.

Too Poor to Care for own Children

Even in Haiti, children are being mistreated and abused. Because of decades of economic stagnation and corruption, over 70% of the Haitian population are indigent. Many parents can no longer afford to care for their children. In hopes of giving their children a better life and better education, many families are lured into sending them to wealthier families. Tragically, what is hoped for and what transpires are normally two separate outcomes.

Children as Slaves

According to the Haitian government, there are approximately 120,000 children in bondage. In fact the institution of child slavery is derived from the word ‘Restavec’ which in Creole means to “stay with.” In many cases, indigent rural families bring their children into the cities to work as domestics in the homes of well-to-do families. These children are then forced to do tasks that hired adults would refuse to do – like walking for miles fetching for water with virtually no pay. They are often neglected, abused and beaten for even the smallest of infractions.

Class-based Society

In a class-based society, owning a Restavec elevates someone up the social ladder. Some families cannot afford to hire a domestic so owning a Restavec who will work with very little pay is a more attractive option. Over 70% of restavecs are girls and many of them are raped by members of the host family. Many restavecs are not even given a bed inside the house and are forced to sleep on a makeshift bed outside the house – thus they are easily identified out in the town by their unkempt condition and clothing. Worse, when the families no longer need their services, they are often thrown out of the house and resort to living the streets with little opportunity to find a good job, since they missed out on school.

Indigenous to Haitian Society

Child labor is actually legal in Haiti. But the slavery part and the way that they are stolen and traded is definitely not. But lately a new form Child slavery is so ingrained in the national psyche that many Haitians do not see anything wrong with it. In fact, nearly one out of five families hve a restavec. Now that the government is in turmoil, it is doubtful that anything will be done by the state. It is unconscionable how the Haitian people treat their children. It is hard to believe much of anything can be worse than living in abject poverty in the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere. But living as a child slave with no rights and no one looking out for you has to be the absolute worse.

What Must be Done?

Although the earthquake has created more restaveks (current estimate to be 300,000), human rights organizations can use this tragedy to bring more visibility to an issue that was previously overshadowed by other pressing issues.

Last February, 10 Baptist missionaries were imprisoned after they were caught trying to drive a busload of 33 kids into the Dominican Republic with no paperwork. Although they may had good intentions, their lack of documentation and compliance with laws did no favors for the true charities who are working hard to save the children from slavery. Their
apprehension was proper and I was glad that the Haitian government, even in times of turmoil, were able to
put their foot down and enforce child trafficking laws.

Thus the focus on increasing awareness and enforcement of these laws to eradicate child trafficking and slavery. Children can is the right approach, even in a fragile economy. More resources should be channeled towards orphanages who hare highly vested in Haiti. There, children can learn basic computer skills, which can be leveraged to earn pocket money and prhaps help support their families when they reunite or get adopted.

Crowdsourcing is a Potential
Samasource is a crowdsourcing organization who provide "computer-based work opportunities to people living in poverty around the world. This organization believes that poverty can be alleviated by tapping into the brainpower
of the poor and empowering them as producers of services. Samasource targets women, youth and refugees.
Adding children to Samasource's list (under the auspices of their parents) is an option that should be considered

which would go a long way in eradicating child labor and slavery.

Much of the work requires basic computer skills such as tagging photos, editing, transcribing, posting notes. These skills can be which can be quickly and easily taught, giving the youth an opportunity to explore further research online.

Laptops and Hotspots

Even with a fractured economy, It is feasible to provide high speed internet access to virtually all tent villages in Port-au-Prince. Here's what I'm thinking: tap off the existing broadband backbone by building dozens of antennas strategically located throughout the city and connected via line-of-sight. Provide laptops as part of a micro financing project to the women of Haiti. Provide training to the women and children in basic computer internet skills like posting pictures, searching online, tagging photos, etc. The Women will have a period of about two years to pay off the loan. Meanwhile they can use the laptop for their own family's education, to broaden their horizons and to even rent it out to other villagers to make a profit. As long as the women are making payments, we will continue to provide them with a WiFi signal.

Once built, the system is permanent and self-sustaining. Besides providing security, we would have to provide technical assistance to use and maintain the laptops. We will hire local Haitians and provide them an opportunity to be trained, intern and return their knowledge and skill-sets to the local population.

Instead of trying to eradicate child labor in Haiti, the focus should be on eradicating child trafficking and slavery. Children can learn basic computer skills, which can be leveraged to earn money for their families. And children can hone this invaluable skill which can serve as a way to enhance their schooling.

The garment industry, though depressed after the earthquake, is slowly coming back. Major brands such as Gap, Levis and New Balance, have standing orders with garment factories in Haiti. In addition, there is still half a billion dollars that Americans donated to charities that is still untapped. Some of this money could go to funding the Laptops and Hotspots initiative that I mentioned as well as other programs to improve education, vocational training, agriculture programs, etc.

Perhaps one day Haiti will be self-sufficient, a profitable industry and maybe even a strong economy. But this will not happen unless we take care of the children who hopefully will live long enough to see this happen. The UN, the United States along with the NGOs working in country must work with the government to stamp out child trafficking and perhaps illegalize child slavery (and restavec).

Crowdsourcing is a Potential

Samasource is a crowdsourcing organization who pay people in third world countries a small wage to do basic online work such as tagging photos, editing, transcribing, posting notes. These skills can be easily learned and will also give the children an opportunity to explore further online.

Video: Haiti "Let It Be"

2011-02-04T22:49:00.001-08:00

For all the people in Haiti, "There will be an answer, Let It Be."

This video was shot from the back of a Dodge pickup truck on March 12, 2010 with Pastor Luc driving.

Also along on the visit was Pastor Marvin and Mickey from OOAG Ministries.

Haiti's Future Concrete Cyclists Tour de France team

2011-01-25T09:10:00.000-08:00

CEMEX has two terminals in Haiti which supplies almost 70% of the local market. Today, CEMEX and CHF International are working together to train young Haitians to make better concrete blocks.

CEMEX, the third largest cement maker in the world, is based in Monterrey, Mexico. Founded in 1906 at its lone facility in Northern Mexico, CEMEX today maintains production facilities in more than 50 countries. Throughout the years, its focus on reducing costs, standardizing business processes, technology and organizational structure has transformed this company into a key player in the world cement business.

In the past, Haitians made concrete blocks that were of low quality. CEMEX is teaching these men how to make exact measurements of good quality water and sand in the cement mix.

CEMEX is also providing the proper technology to mix the cement: Bicycle powered mixers instead of mixing the cement on the ground.

Pretty soon, there will be many strong cyclists in Haiti to compete in the Tour de France.

Will CEMEX capitalize greatly on the future Haiti reconstruction? Since CEMEX is local and they have established a great rapport and training regimen with the local populace, it appears that CEMEX will surely be in the thick of things.

Recently the Haiti reconstruction fund approved US$65 million for rebuilding damages homes and homes in Port-au-Prince.

My Love for Haiti

2010-09-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

Petionville

I've fallen madly in love with Haiti with all its disparity, corruption and ugliness. The crushed streets, the downed buildings, the pungent smell of smoke and debris, the sewage mixed with drinking water, even the rigid bureaucracy are all to loath and despise. They spoke to me, whispered to my heart. But despite the ugliness and hopelessly it was the beauty and faith that sustained the people that made me believe and love the country.

The people who suffered so much and harness so much remorse. Yet, hope and love was clearly sparking in the eyes, so powerful I felt the tremor. All around Port-au-Prince, you see it clearly enduring in the street corners -- the women, the children, the working-class men -- all trying their best, never giving up, and living each day like it could be their last.

In this island nation, with much of the government infrastructure demolished, we can expect a significant GDP contraction accompanied by an increase in inflation as a result of severe shortage of particular goods.

I saw the grime of Cite Soleil, the crime, the gangsters, the thugs. I was ready to make a huge sacrifice for her, despite not knowing what lay ahead.

Then on my next to last day, I was taken up on a hill to Petionville and saw the charm and elegance of this natural sanctuary. The physical beauty in the mountains and the breathtaking views of the torn city below. I had seen Haiti with all her ugliness and fell in love with her. Now I had seen true uncovered beauty of this Caribbean country and loved her just as much.

It was an unexpected gift. Like all of a sudden given the miraculous gift of sight. And you turn around to meet face to face with your lover and all of a sudden you realize that she is ten times more beautiful that what you expected. She is fresh, new, delightful and you love her just as much.

How a Crisis Cleared the Skies for Cloud Computing

2010-08-14T20:41:00.000-07:00

Crisis Camp DC made history by being the first gathering of developers and coders volunteering their time and talent in response to a major crisis.** Similar to the search and rescue workers, their primary goal was first to save lives and once every single stone could be turned over in search of any vestige of life, the Camp would shift their mission to make life a little better for all Haitians (both those directly affected and those indirectly affected by the earthquake).

The keynote feature of Crisis Camps is the implementation and integration of Cloud computing. Cloud computing is critical not only because users can share resources, software, hardware, knowledge and information, but users from all over the world can collaborate on very difficult and complex tasks quickly and concisely when every second matters.

The main advantage of Cloud computing is that it is very cost effective, fast, and easy to implement. However, the economical advantages should not be the main focus. The new “gold standard” is that we are now migrating from a stovepipe database to a virtual web-based server existing in a clearly-accessible cloud.

Cloud computing makes its mark by leveling the walls and leveraging knowledge sharing. That means that any document a person has stored in his/her hard drive can be shared with others (with permission and necessary protection). Under normal circumstances the implementation of information security is extremely critical. However, not at the expense of saving lives in an emergency such as Haiti. While the search and rescue efforts from the earthquake have long been over, the rainy season is near bringing diseases such as Dysentery, Typhoid, Malaria, etc. It is the power of human kindness combined with the power of human knowledge that is visibly and markedly improving the health and welfare of the Haitian people, today.

The knowledge shared covers the whole spectrum from highly technical to broadly cultural. In Haiti, as well as just about everywhere, there are complex cultures, customs and traditions. What works in the West, may not work in an indigent, sometimes chaotic and political world that makes up Haiti’s socioeconomic environment.

One of the first pioneers in cloud computing was Amazon which in 2003 created a suite of cloud-based services which incorporated storage, computation and human intelligence called “Amazon Mechanical Turk”.2 The human intelligence was unique in that it providedprogrammers who needed to tap into the resources of people and their skillsets, an opportunity to leverage these assets resulting in a win-win solution for every player.

Today, Amazon continues to play a leading role in cloud computing with the creation of the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) which is a web service that provides resizable compute capacity in the cloud, making computing easier for developers and allowing companies to quickly scale capacity, as their computing requirements change.3

Because a user can rent computers to run applications, EC2 allows for scalable deployment where a user is charged for time and service allowing for downtime and compartmentalization.

Cloud Computing came to light in the broader sense during the latter half of this decade (2006, 2007) with the implementation of web-based applications such as Google Documents, the Google word processing program or Google spreadsheets. Utilizing these applications not only saves money and resources but encourages further mobility, flexibility and collaboration.

As you might expect, the pioneers of cloud computing technology are Amazon and Google. Both companies have been known to be innovative and early adopters in emerging technology. After all, these companies are dominant social media companies and robust Web 2.0 applications such as streaming media, video and news feeds have fueled the growth of cloud computing astronomically. Since Microsoft ‘s primary revenue comes from the sales of software applications – once the majority of people start shifting from software in the silo to applications in the cloud, Microsoft’s bottom line could come crashing down.

Thus Microsoft, Intel and other non-traditional social media companies have started adopting the principles and investing billions into the hardware and software so that they don’t get left out of the sky while Google, Amazon and Yahoo soar.

In the case of Microsoft, they have invested heavily in Windows Azure Services Platform. Similar to Amazon’s EC2, Windows Azure allows one to run processes on a Windows Server in the cloud. In addition, Microsoft has built a SQL Server in the cloud

For many, the biggest concern is security. When documents and private information are stored online, for easier access, it can also be easier for criminals to locate and infiltrate. The majority of the times, the one thin line that comes between a person’s top personal or work information and information that can be freely accessed (even with due diligence) is a password. A password can be hacked, stolen; and there have been times (Google in 2008) where the website has inadvertently made confidential information public.

These are sufficient reasons many companies are resisting making the big leap to the cloud. The world financial crisis that started in the summer of 2008 and continues today has had a positive impact to the cloud, since many companies are focused on saving money and the cloud model offers a cheaper alternative to conducting meetings, saving on airfare, phone calls, and other administrative and logistical costs.

But besides corporations, many other users who are not tied to the financial industries or IT were still hesitant to jumping on the bandwagon. In addition very few individual users had adopted cloud computing as a viable way of conducting business or even personal affairs.

In addition, other market forces are driving the transition to the cloud. According to the International Development Committee, emerging markets such as Brazil, India, and China as well as the “shortcomings of traditional approaches” have fueled the growth of ITC.[1]

Since a young boy I have heard that “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” Thus it took a natural disaster of epic proportion to create Crisis Cloud Camps that may be the trigger that will get Cloud computing the necessary credibility and worldwide visibility that gain winners.

Essentially, it’s been able to link relief workers with the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), local Haitians, Haitians abroad, the Haitian Government and other countries to address specific needs and to get them the requisite resources quickly and efficiently.

The paradox of this situation is that the most underdeveloped nation in the Western Hemisphere is the first test bed for the implementation of cloud computing of a grand scale of international reach and premiere caliber.

This is appropriate since Haiti is one country that needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. Since the earthquake is arguably the greatest natural disaster in modern times, the silver lining is that this will be the first time in recent history that a country can be completely rebuilt with the collaboration and supervision of the world’s nations.

Along with the rebuilding of infrastructure as well as their agriculture in rural parts of the country, is the rebuilding of their Information Communications Technology. Because of the demise of their telephony business, Haiti is the first nation in the world to go 100% mobile. Thus this will be great opportunity to utilize ICT and to show the world how cloud computing can be leveraged to
rebuild a nation.

** Crisis Camp DC was founded in March 2009 at the Government 2.0 Camp -- a group of innovators gathered to discuss creating a mashup of citizen volunteers, NGOs and government organizations to respond and utilize technology during a crisis.

2 Mohamed, Arif, Computer Weekly, “A History of Cloud Computing”, Mar 27, 2009

3 Amazon Web Services: Overview of Security Processes”, November 2009

[1] Montalbano, Elizabeth, “ Economic Crisis to Bolster Cloud Computing” Network World, Oct 20, 2008

Video: Crisis Response Triad

2010-04-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

This video depicts the compassionate, collaborative work that was the hallmark of the Haiti Response.
Unlike the government's response to Katrina, the Haiti response launched three faces that are collectively known as the
"Crisis Response Triad":

1) WiFi Network for relief workers
     2) Social Media access, which was the primary and most reliable means for Haitians to communicate with their loved ones overseas
     3) Cloud Computing

Perhaps one of the most innovative facets of Cloud Computingis the incorporation of new applications that are built
specifically for the immediate needs of the relief workers of Haiti. Hundreds of web developers have created new web-based applications (such as, the We Have, We Need project that has been hailed the Craigs List for the crisis in Haiti) that allow for more specific searching or execution of specific relief for
Haitians. Essentially, its been able to link relief workers with the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), local Haitians, Haitians abroad, the Haitian Government and other countries to address specific needs and to get them the requisite resources quickly and efficiently.

VIDEO: A Church Rebuilds

2010-03-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

On March 10--17, missions groups from Tenn, Alabama, and Miss helped out Pastor Luc St Felix's church by clearing rubble, cleaning, and medical and educational missions throughout the country.

VIDEO: Haiti -- The Streets, The People

2010-03-26T06:52:00.001-07:00

On March 10, 2010, we drove through the streets of Port-au-Prince.

Here's a view of the destruction but also a snapshot of the amazing strength and perseverance of the People.

VIDEO: Cite Soleil

2010-03-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

Visiting one of the most dangerous slum areas in the Western Hemisphere..

VIDEO: WiFi Hotspot in Tent City

2010-03-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

While walking through a mega tent city near Damas 19, I found a young man using a laptop and firing off an email.
Very interesting and exciting:

VIDEO: Mike Singh-Telkom Caribe

2010-03-22T02:31:00.001-07:00

Mike Singh, CEO of Telkom Caribe discusses how we can revive Haiti's telecom industry.

During the conference in Miami Beach on March 18, 2010, Mike Singh believes that Haiti will one day soon come back and will be able to leapfrog over her Caribbean neighbors.

VIDEO: Savannah, GA and St Marc, Haiti -- Sister Cities

2010-03-22T02:22:00.000-07:00

Sister port cities with long term ties. City Manager discusses the aid during the Haiti Sustainability Conference in Miami Beach on March 18, 2010

Laptops and Hotspots for every Haitian

2010-03-15T21:46:00.000-07:00

Patrice Richard from Paris knocked anxiously on the front door of Ms. Ederne Edouard, a 31-year old woman, unemployed and illiterate and hoping for a brighter day.

The French man who went by Patrice was surprisingly nervous and shockingly lost for words. In his hands he carried a picture of his adopted daughter, 15 years old, Sophia. From his lips, he mouthed the words from Sophia to his birth mother, "I love you Mama. I hope to see you one day, very soon."

Mommies Little Girl

What particularly chocked me about this story was the fact that Ederne had never seen a picture of her daughter -- never held her hand since she was abandoned at age two. Now, Sophia was living in Paris -- smart, athletic and witty. She loved to study and had many friends. Like most girls, her age, she had a cell phone and a facebook page.

An Illiterate State

And like most people in Haiti (over 53% are illiterate), Ederne did not have access to a phone or the internet, didn't even know how to boot up a computer, how to type together complete sentences or even write them down for that matter.

To me Ederne's story is sad, uplifting but doesn't have to be. It is a testimony of love and even a greater testament to the dire fact that Haitians need to have the tools such as laptops, the internet, and a portal to the rest of the world.

Hotspots and Laptops

My dream is to provide laptops and high speed internet access to everyone in Port-au-Prince. Yes, this dream seems extreme in a land where the biggest need is a tent to cover their heads and flip flops to protect their feet. But how are we going to get them these materials quickly, proficiently and completely if we don't know how to request them, ship them, deliver them so that passion and compassion can be displayed with the best of humanity.

Antennas All Over

Here's what I'm thinking: tap off the existing backbone by building dozens of antennas strategically located throughout the city and connected via line-of-sight. Provide laptops as part of a micro financing project to the women of Haiti. The Women will have a period of about two years to pay off the loan. Meanwhile they can use the laptop for their own family's education, to broaden their horizons and to even rent it out to other villagers to make a profit. As long as the women are making payments, we will continue to provide them with a WiFi signal.

Once built, the system is permanent and self sustaining. Besides providing security, we would have to provide technical assistance to use and maintain the laptops. We will hire local Haitians and provide them an opportunity to be trained, intern and return their knowledge and skillsets to the local population.

Relief Workers and NGOs

Providing laptops with high speed internet access is not just for the Haitians. First and foremost, this capability should be provided to relief workers and non profit organizations who are providing their time and capital to save lives and make life better in this country.

Often times, these organizations are comprised of very large groups where nearly 100 people per organization may need simultaneous access to high-speed internet. These relief workers depend on the power of internet communication to ensure that their equiptment and resources (tents, flip flops, medicine, clothing, Bibles, etc) as well as people get moved smartly, quickly, touching as many Haitians as we possibly can.

All Haitians

Once the backbone is built, there is no reason why the appendages cannot be extended to the Haitian people so that every individual can enjoy the power and speed of the internet.

Critics may say, that people are not familiar with the use. My response is that we can teach them, create skilled labor through internships and thus create more jobs.

Some may add that this country has a 56% illiteracy rate. If people can't read a book, how can they read what's on their computer screen -- my answer: Perhaps the computer more than the book with actually be the vehicle that introduces them to the power of language.

I have additional ideas how we can provide a large amount of laptops to the Haitians that can not only be a Win-Win, but a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN for the folks at home involved in this large-scale endeavor.

Second Life Haiti

I also have an idea how an application can be created in Creole that will be more icon intensive with fewer words and less complexity that I hope the Haitians will happily embrace.

I also don't want to bore you with these logistical and technical details. If you would like to discuss with me the specificity of my plan, please drop me a line.

I hope that this vision will soon come to fruition and we can provide free high-speed internet access to every Haitian in Port-au-Prince. Meanwhile, at home, I am hard pressed to find a WiFi signal even in the most busier parts of DC. Yes, I know that this vision can be a hard endeavor, but if you don't try, we will never know life's true possibilities.

The Rains are Coming

2010-03-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

It poured hard early on. The anticipated downpour at dawn rocked my frail tent like a bucket of hail or a barrage of barrel-sized buckshot crashing down on a hot tin roof on a dusty, summer day.

   I tossed then turned and rolled as much as my sleeping pad could take. Then I popped out, greeted by wetness that made me feel freshly renewed, the aroma of spring, soaked wood chips, like a tropical waterfall amidst a rich, thriving rain forest in the middle of some Caribbean isle, no where close to man.

   Back home, the weather is warming drastically, around the tidal basin the first buds of cherry blossoms are popping, their eyes gleaming -- a welcomed harbinger of spring. baseball and half smokes roasting. Here in Haiti, the woesome rains bring clean water for washing, for drinking, to cool off the sweatness after a long day of hectic heat and harsh, muddy humidity. But in conjuction with the rains come the deluge, the dreaded diseases, the dawn of a new season of harsh, bitter realities.

   From patty to patty, block to block, pityful tent city to supposed village, corner upon blunted corners, people are spread out in all shapes and directions wherever existence will allow it to thrive. They are utterly surviving on the streets not even a blanket to cover their souls from the torrential downpours, but perhaps a tattered piece of canvas strewn together by some duct tape or jagged pieces of wood or anything that closely resembles a possible solution or a cure. Here in Port-au-Prince, anything goes. A tarp tied together with rigid pieces of PVC molded in the shape of a shelter becomes suddenly a marvel of 21st century engineeering. Here in this country of dread and destruction, improvisation takes a new name, resources clawed out of dumpsters and trash from supposedly middle-class denizens, suddenly becomes something to sit on, something to put on, something to make life better to see yet another hopeful sunrise, another bitter sunfall.

   And the rains bring not only flooding, they don't just wash away the only pieces of shelter they hold dear to their name. The rains brings diseases, of all types ever imagined or wanting to forget. Dysentery, Typhoid, Malaria. Those who were fortunate to survive the earthquake, those who lived to bury their dead may be faced with another calamity of epic proportion later this spring. The torrid rainy season will bring days, nights, sleepless weeks of rain to the tippy point of desperation that even the beating sound of barrels of fist against a strained canvas tarp will be endearing sound compared to the brush of torrid downpour or horizontal rain at the edge of a Haitian horrid nightmare.

   Suddenly and dramatically, like a bases loaded walk at the bottom of the 9th innning, the skies stopped pouring overtaken by the freshness of a rich dew drop on a fresh spring petal, a hustle of honeybees; even the tatterred sun took an occassional peek through a musky cloud cover offering hope, new life, humanity. Around the campground, a bold rooster cranked its rich, deep horn, signaling to the rest of the world that the night had drawn and it was now time to start a new day and earn a day's wages, even in a city where work was almost non existent, even living was day by day.

Water for Haiti

2010-03-14T19:06:00.000-07:00

I sat for dinner in what I considered a 3-star restaurant in the nicer part of Haiti. Outside the stank from the debris that littered the streets filled the air with a bitter pungent aroma that despite my hunger wiped away any cravings for food.

The waitress brought over a pitcher of water. I was grateful to see it but I wondered where the water came from and whether it was safe for me to drink it.

Then the waitress returned with a pitcher of lemonade. This should be better. Actually worse, I said. At least the water, I can see he squirmies swimming around.

The pitcher of water brought back memories this summer in the Emergency Room of the Washington Hospital Center, after I ate a chicken salad sandwich at Fiesta DC. I knew food poisoning, but food poisoning didn't get along with me.

A severe water problem exists in one of the poorest countries in the world. Even before the earthquake, this nation was mired in a severe crisis -- lack of clean water for its people of 10 million.

Haitians had to make do with water. They were able to tap water from rivers, springs, wells and even water from the city's municipal water system. But the majority of the water was loaded with bacteria, parasites, chemicals, causing dysentery, hepatitis, and typhoid.

And even worse was the scare of cholera that is caused from human waste polluting the water supply. There was a great fear and I was glad I brought my portable drinking water purification system.

It didn't seem fair, that Haiti was losing over 1 million people a year to water-borne illness. At worst, they would succumb to these deadly diseases, at best, they may just get diarrhea. But in Haiti, even diarrhea, where one can get dehydrated, can be deadly.

The Walls Came Tumbling Down

2010-03-13T17:21:00.000-08:00

It took a moment for Veniel Jean to realize what had just transpired. It was Friday evening. Veniel had strolled down the road visiting the city's pitted exhaust-chocked main thoroughfare Delmas 33, shopping for items for the house at the One Stop Market when the ground started to move.

What was that? No way. This was a big one. Didn't know something this strong could happen this far south.

Veniel instinctively ran outside without thinking whether he was running to safety or danger. Was relieved to see one of the guests who had just arrived from Canada and a couple of her friends running for dear life. He looked up at the sky and back at the building and it seemed like the world around him was starting to come to a head spin.

There were people crying, then the screams laced with blood, immersed in pain. 10, 20, 30 seconds, the shaking got stronger, more consistent; earth felt like jello now, buildings began to pancake over until they just crumbled like sand castles on Wahoo Bay.

At this point every structure around had leveled to dirt so Veniel would now be able to see for miles from coastline to mountain front if it wasn't for the fact the sky was thick with dust swallowed by a pillar of smoke. Why this, why us? The silent voices struck back.

These voices had seen the test of time and were hoarse now with bitterness. Since the beginning of time, Haiti as a nation had experienced unfathomable tragedy upon abuse, most recently Hurricane Hanna that ravaged the city of Gonaives, its damage worsened by the rampant deforestation spurred by demand of charcoal from the west. After the damage had been assessed, it was determined that the destruction had further decimated the indigenous farming industry that had once been its crown jewel.

The list of mishaps had no end, and it began way back when the Haitians stood up to Napoleon and the entire nation of France and demanded the end of colonial rule and withstood a battle that spanned 13 years during the turn of the 18th century.

it became painfully clear, that Haiti had just experienced a natural catastrophe unique in its long history of social economic tragedy. Many called for medical help that was virtually non-existent. There was no evidence of police or EMT anywhere.

Betsy Wall

So Veniel did what any caring person would do. He ran around the ruins, honing in to screams and started picking up rubble to get as many people out as he could. The other guests stuck around giving Veniel a hand.

But Veniel and company had other pressing concerns...

Down the road at Delmas 19, Betsy Wall and her daughter Alexis had just arrived from Canada two hours earlier with a bunch of aid workers, all excited about working in Haiti and all determined to make a difference during their two-week stay. Betsy, 57, the Executive Director for the Foundation for International Development Assistance, was just in Haiti three weeks ago and had been coming back and forth to Haiti for nearly 40 years. The humanitarian work started with Betsy's parents, Jack and Anne Wall from Ontario, Canada who sold most of their possessions and moved to Port-au-Prince in 1984 to help the poor It was indeed a bold sacrifice for the Walls who were both in their sixties at that time. Today, Betsy continues the family service dedicating her life by introducing technology and resources so that communities all over Haiti can overcome adversity and create self-sufficiency.

And today, the country would need Betsy's services in a more urgent way.

It was 4:30 PM. Being awake for over 12 hours, Betsy and Alexis were simply beat. Air Canada 950 had been delayed on the tarmac about 15 minutes due to an electrical light glitch. Upon retrieving their bags from Toussaint Louverture International, Betsy and her large entourage of aid workers worked their way through the cacophony of cars and bikes on Delmas to the inviting sanctuary and secure gates at Walls. The hotel was only 10 minutes from the airport and $35 a night also provided two meals, unlimited Culligan water, WiFi, a hot shower and close camaraderie amongst missionaries and aid workers from the US, Canada and Europe. This was a great deal in comparison to the higher prices of the Montana Hotel up the mountain towards Petionville.

After making her usual round of greetings with the hotel staff, Betsy decided to steal a quick nap before dinner. The team had a lot on the plates the next day. Little did they know they would not sleep again for 48 hours.

Meanwhile, other members of the team decided to take a dip in the pool and cool down with some cold refreshments. The succulent aroma lime chicken with rice and beans drifted up with the seaward breeze. A couple of Canadians enjoyed the pungent tang of the sea while relaxing on the rooftop balcony overlooking the pool.

In the kitchen, both Simerite and Marie Franse were cutting fresh papaya to serve to the guests.

Martine Garneau, a volunteer with Mission Corail Haiti who also flew in on the Air Canada flight that afternoon was in the pool relaxing with her fellow volunteers.

Camil Perron

A fly was flying around and wouldn't leave Martine alone. Mysteriously, he just fell and landed on her beer. Camil Perron being the gentleman that has always been his trademark offered to go into the kitchen to fetch another cold one. It was at that precise moment that the earthquake rocked the city bringing down the entire guesthouse.

Betsy was sound asleep when the walls came tumbling down. She was fortunate to get up the moment she heard the walls shake. Her instant thought was that a large truck had slammed into the pool wall. But then when walls and ceilings began crashing down, she dashed out with Alexis by her side.

They had made it just in the nick of time. Another fraction of a second and the entire main guest house had completely collapsed. Meanwhile the earthquake struck with such force that it completely emptied all the water from the pool. And when the main guest house came down, it collapsed on top of the kitchen.

It was the instant Camil had gone in to fetch a cold glass of beer and Simerite and Marie Franse were preparing the meal for the evening.

Betsy gathered the team to ascertain who was alive and who was trapped. Shortly after, Veniel and the group who had gone into town arrived.

Betsy was thankful that Veniel was safe and wanted to know where she could evacuate her guests to.

"The whole city has been destroyed," Veniel added. "We could take them to the Montana, but I'm not sure she's still standing."

Meanwhile Veniel and staff continued to work endlessly, chipping away at the rubble to rescue and recover the five that were missing.

View Larger Map

I have never seen anything this painful. Not where I grew up onboard a 40-foot yacht sailing to remote parts of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia. Not two years ago, on the hot, dusty streets of Kabul. Not last summer on my marathon train ride from Turkey, Romania, Hungary and Poland.

Shortly after I arrived at Walls, I met two missionaries: Marvin and Mickey. Marvin was older, subdued, balanced. Mickey was more outspoken, stocky, 6' 3" a former Marine who still looked it, if it wasn't for his long locks that rolled down to his shoulders.

They were brought in by Pastor Luc who had met Marvin and Mickey at the airport. For someone who had just experienced such a catastrophic loss, Pastor Luc carried a magnetic aura of serenity that surprised even his greater doubters.

"Nice to meet you Pastor Luc. It's a tremendous honor." Pastor Luc St Felix is a gentle, kind-hearted minister whose complete destruction of his three-story church not only affected his intermediate family but his entire church family.

As we stand next to the mountain rubble that used to be the 3-story Port-au-Prince Pentecostal church, we are forever touched by the tremendous attitude and amazing fortitude of his congregation.

One feisty jackhammer cranks away, smashing full-sized walls into a clump of bricks and large, jagged balls of concrete and rebar. But the main tool of the undertaking is not machine or automation but one rusted out wheelbarrow and a dozen shovels loading pile after pile of dirt and debris only to be dumped just 20 feet away.

Here at the church, everyone helps out. There is one lady wearing a night gown, a wide-brimmed hat and flip flops that had seen its last days, sometime last year. Initially, there appeared that there was little for her to do. Yet, she methodically bent over and grabbed whatever pieces of rubble she could carry. Here in Haiti, people of all ages claw away with their own hands the debris -- anything they could do to make a small difference. In the back, several ladies helped out, concocting a nice pot of bean soup and stew. They were cooking on a large stainless pot over charcoal and wood. Although, the cooks labored hard, I wouldn't define it as tasty -- I personally don't think I would eat it. But if my stomach was growling like theirs, anything that nourished my body was fine cuisine for me.

I even heard about the infamous Haiti mud cakes that have become the staple diet for many in the villages: mud mixed with salt, vegetable oil and maybe butter -- to stave off hunger. This practice was rampant a couple of years ago when food prices soared (due to higher oil prices). Tragically, Sadly, many Haitians thrive on only $2 per day. Eating dirt cannot be good for you. Soil is contaminated with viruses and bacteria, not to mention toxins. At worst, you could get poisoned. At best, it could lead to gastrointestinal problems or diarrhea.

Already the church is on the second round of debris removal -- which was positive news, considering that the debris had already piled over rooftops, jagged pieces of rebar, so flexible that you could easily bend it 90 degrees with a quick flip of the wrist.

"Pastor Luc, what do you need the most? Would you like a team from the US to come down and assist with debris removal?"

"Yes, that would be great. I have a team of 20 plus coming from Alabama tomorrow. Some will be doing medical work."

"But I also need money to rebuild and my people need tent and flip flops. Pastor Luc had lost several of his congregation to the earthquake -- a few were still buried in buildings.

But he would not lose hope. He would keep his faith that his church will be able to clean up and rebuild.

"After all, "The church was too small anyways. We don't need to just rebuild. We need to grow!"

Tomorrow, Pastor Luc will be heading up the mountains with Pastor Marvin and Mickey to visit three different villages. Some very remote, they are a stone's throw from the Dominican Republic. In the villages, Pastor Luc conducts a feeding program that feeds 43 village churches, 13 village schools and three village feeding programs where 500 children are fed twice a week. Pastor Luc provides three different feeding programs, church and school --something that is never taken for granted in this desolate country.

I wanted to tag along, but I would miss my flight home. My particular calling during my disproportionately short trip to Haiti had yet to be determined, but I slept all right cuz I knew God had a calling for me.

No Bed in Haiti

2010-03-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

I sat tired and exhausted in the American Airlines Admirals' Club sitting silent, staring dreamily into my laptop screen. I was applying the final touches to my seemingly-endless midterm -- an online, take-home test for the MBA Entrepreneur Technology class at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. I had a week off from school. Truly I had things to do back home. But the announcement had already been made on the American Airlines' Intercom System that my flight from JFK was ready to board lo mas pronto. Once again, I was in a hurry to get somewhere in a jiffy and in this case, I was heading to earthquake-ravaged Port-au-Prince.

I had heard it several times over -- almost in a trance -- every excruciating syllable as I read and re-read the key paragraphs of my take-home mid term for my Technology Entrepreneur class at the George Washington University school of Business.

Sooner or later, I had to click the send button -- regretting the hours spent procrastinating when I was actually planning my big trip. The moment was here, I was off on my first Spring Break in nearly 20 years. Grad school is tough. But it is even tougher at 42.

To say that this trip was rushed and unprepared would be a gross understatement. Not only had I not properly prepared, I decided less than a week ago to make this journey. Before this tumultuous week of preparations and midterm, Haiti wasn't even in my lexicon. Yeah, I had seen the gripping scenes flash before my eyes on CNN, but like virtually everyone else around me, the Haiti disaster seemed so distant so surreal.

It was only when I was sitting home studying for my midterm, wondering what I would be doing for spring break that I heard her call me. I didn't have any plans and Haiti seemed like the right place to be.

One of the first things I did was post a question on Haiti Rewired:

"I'm planning on going to Haiti for five days. Will there be any food and water there that I can purchase?"

Within an hour came a reply from one of the site's administrators: Rick Davis:

"Yes, there's food and water that you can purchase. Why are you going?"

Then came my response:

"To cover the plight of the people and their struggle. To tell their side of the story."

"There's plenty of media that's already down there. The place is a mess and you could put yourself in danger. IMO, you shouldn't go."

I boarded the flight from Reagan with a layover in JFK. Just packing for this trip and bringing everything that I needed was a daunting challenge in and itself.

But what was even scarier was the fact that I didn't have a place to stay. Not knowing anyone there, I was literally taking a step of faith by embarking on this trip. I had a sleeping bag and a mosquito net, but those two things could not protect me from the danger that lurked around the corner at nightfall.

Upon arriving at JFK, I checked the monitor to see a direct flight leaving NYC for Port-au-Prince. Terminal 2, 1:30 PM it flashed. My flight to Santo Domingo would be leaving an hour after that. Good. My one and only chance to meet people and perhaps secure a room before I arrived.

Eunice speaking to members of COTY

Eunice Tasson is a sister from Massachusetts. A spry women who both showed compassion and leadership, she had been visiting Haiti since 1984. As the founding director of the Church Outreach to Youth Group (COTY) in North Adams, Massachusetts, Eunice leads a group of young people up to the mountains several times a year. Their destination is Desab, a beautiful village located six miles up a dirt path in the mountains, a village without electricity, without running water and even things like healthcare is not to be taken for granted.

I was so glad to meet Eunice and she was so surprised that I didn't have a place to stay. No problem. I'll make a phone call right now. Her first call was to Veniel Jean, the manager of Wall's International Guest House. Once a popular and comfortable place to stay, the guest house was almost completely destroyed while people were inside. Many got out. Five people (three guests and two staff) were killed.

By the time I headed over to the Admiral's Club to finish my midterm, I received this email:

Hello Chito ,

Thank for your interest to stay at Wall’s International Guest House. The people there did not sleep under room, they prefer to be outside under tents. If you would like to be under tent , we can reserve a place for you.

We charge $US 35/person include breakfast and dinner, If you would like we will come to pick you up at the airport please let us know your flight number the cost is $US 20.

If you have future question email us.

Veniel Jean
Manager
Wall's International Guest House
8,Rue Mackandal Delmas 19
Phone : (509) 34 17 04 15/25 17 48 50 / 37 03-47 88 Email : walls@haitianmail.com or veniel.siliene@gmail.com

Web site : www.wallsguesthouse.org

I was elated and thankful. Sister Eunice Tasson was my angel for my trip and Wall's Guest House would be my tent for protection.

The first stop on the flight was Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Santo is a busy, breezy metropolis where people are friendly and there are lots of surprises at every block.

Night on the Beach

I spent the night in Santo in my compact rental, first on the beach, then in the airport parking lot. I was way too tired to worry about danger. If someone came swinging at me, I would be too tired to defend myself anyway. Awake for nearly 48 hours, I would soon be facing another bout of sleepless nights, under a droopy, leaky tent, the sound of helter skelter hungriness lurking all around me.

I managed to pop into downtown, through the Zona Colonial and under the massive Asian gate with dragons, lions and other Chinese allegorical sculptures and plants that evoke the culture, tradition and philosophy of over 45,000 people. Of this number, over 30,000 are Chinese--Dominicans.

Bario Chino

I met several Chinese expats who have built and developed a Chinatown that stretches four blocks, boasting as the 8th largest Chinatown (not just in the Caribbean) but in the whole world. Along Avenida Duarte, there were several dozen Chinese-owned businesses: restaurants, laundries, supermarkets and video rentals. I spoke to a handful of them and looked and tasted their food -- it surpassed my expectations -- wasn't the deep fried chicken I expected, but authentic Chinese food with sweet and sour recipes, General Tso's Chicken and tofu balls dowsed in spinach soup. I was greatly satiated and I loaded down for my big trip the next day.

Enroute to Port-au-Prince

First thing next morning, I am sitting aboard an American Eagle shuttle, waiting on the tarmac because an announcement was made that the plane was over 600 pounds overweight, and we cannot take off unless we shed off some weight.

As the plane and ground crew worked out a solution (they simply removed a dozen bags off the plane), I kept my fingers crossed, hoping that my sleeping bag, inflatable pad, and mosquito net would make it to Port-au-Prince with me.

I managed a quick nap on the 50 min flight to PaP, which was ideal because in the day's ahead, I would be seriously deprived of sleep.

Arrival

When we arrived in country, the views were dismal, an emotional tear rolled down my cheek as I looked around to assess the damage, the destruction, the downtrodden denizens -- I was not emotionally ready for what lay ahead.

In fact, many times, I shut my eyes, my mind could not comprehend, I stared in disbelief, in grief -- for me personally, there was deep shame, deep blame. Where did we go wrong?

In many ways, I read the US was partly to blame for exporting poorly-thought out agricultural policy that only hurt the Haitian economy while protecting the U.S. rice farmers and hog farmers.

Haiti used to be self-sufficient in food. The staple food of Haiti, rice, has been cultivated there for over 200 years.
But then two things occurred that changed the path for Haiti's local economy: the environmental degradataion, and the trade liberalization policies.

By reducing import tariffs, Haitian rice farmers lost out to the US and the Iowa pigs sent to Haiti frequently got ill and couldn't flourish under tougher Haitian conditions.

In Port-au-Prince, I saw thousands and thousands of families living desolate on the street with nothing over their heads except a piece of canvas and perhaps a filthy mattress they carried from the dump.

They were calling out as we passed, asking for bread, water, flip flops, anything that we could possibly give them.

"Merci beaucoup," I said -- about the only French or Creole that I know.

Straight ahead, a handful of kids were drinking water, from the ground, splashing a handful of water from the sewer. A lack of clean water is causing a dystentery and typhoid problem in Haiti -- another problem -- lack of city wide trash pickup.

Luckily, cholera had not surfaced in Haiti, yet. Despite all its setbacks, cholera had not shown its ugly face in nearly a century. However, this deadly disease is exactly what health workers fear after a natural disaster when the infrastructure is destroyed and drinking water becomes contaminated with fecal matter.

I thought about the malaria problem. I knew I had not taken any doxycycline before my trip, but I at this time I wasn't too concerned.

In the distance, several men from the three-thousand bustling full tent city were burning trash. The raunchy smell of smoke and debris was so pungent, my eyes began to well up.

Trash was everywhere -- on the streets, on the sidewalks, human waste -- the smell of desolation, the smell of dirt mixed with misery.

Sadly, Haiti a nation of 10 million, doesn't have a trash treatment plant. The residents just dispose their trash and human waste on the streets, wherever they can. They build up in the camps causing a pressing health threat spreading diarrheal illnesses and the stench of decomposing bodies that just won't go away. They attract insects that can easily spread malaria with the coming of the rainy season. Sometimes, you see an unattended child standing in a pile of trash. No one turns an eye; no one is concerned. This is Haiti -- the poorest country in the western hemisphere (before the earthquake). Even "Haiti's pigs live better than this."

There were over 700,000 displaced people living in make-shift camps. Just emptying latrines was a big issue. Without a sewage treatment plant, trucks often take the waste to the Troutier trash dump near the slums of Cite Soleil on the city's ragged edge.

In these streets of the seaside slum, where gun law is the only law, there is no food, no water, no nothing -- just violence and a whole lota bullets. Cite Soleil was always dangerous even before the disaster.

"No way am I going there," Veniel Jean said. "I wouldn't go to Cite Soleil if you offered me a million dollars."

Now, the earthquake has created a huge security vacuum. More than 4,000 prisoners escaped from the city's penitentiary. They returned to the slums now loaded with guns.

When walking through the tent villages, I always kept an attentive eye on who was around me and who appeared to be suspiciously staring down at me. If you notice a young man lingering around, then another seemingly watching you. They are likely tapping away on their cell phones. They are likely armed and are considering whether you are worth their trouble and how much money they could get if kidnapped.

I couldn't cry. Somewhere along, I ran out of tears.

But neither does much of Haiti have running water.

Later today, I will be visiting Pastor Luc St. Felix's church to see first-hand the destruction and to hear from him what we can do to help the cause.

My First Mission

2010-03-11T23:15:00.000-08:00

I am so glad that Haitian President Rene Preval met with President Obama today at the White House.

Although there are many issues and contention, we must look forward.

In less than six hours, I will be boarding a flight from DCA to Haiti.

Besides my backpack, I will be carrying a piece of important equipment for the monastery - a laptop projector.
Phanuel,

Thank you so much for the detailed directions. I am looking forward to arriving in Haiti, to help, to learn and hopefully make a difference. Best to you. I am hoping Pere Firto Regis will also connect me with people so that I will have an opportunity to document and report on the story.
Sincerely,
Chito

On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 12:01 AM,<pssconstant@aol.com> wrote:

March 11, 2010

Mr. Peppler:

You will not find a tap-tap in front of the airport. You will have to walk about 5 to 10 minutes to get a tap-tap that is going to Route de Delmas.

At Route de Delmas you will catch a tap-tap going to Lalue (that is if everything is the same as before the earthquake).

From Lalue you can catch a cab to go to 2nd limit Turgeau where the monastery of the Holy Cross fathers ( Maison des Peres de Sainte Croix) is located.

Once you get to 2nd limit turgeau, ask anybody for the Maison des Peres de Sainte Croix where you will ask for Pere Firto Regis. However, please call first. You may be able to make a phone call for a dollar on the street because a lot of people do that type of business on the street. Again, Father Regis' phone number is (509) 3831-8661. Good luck to you.

Sincerely,

Phanuel Sekou Constant, M.S.
General Director
1893 N.E. 164^th St., Suite 132
Miami, FL 33162
Email: pssconstant@aol.com
Phone: 786-539-8239 (Office in Miami)

Rebooting Haiti's Infostructure

2010-03-10T16:14:00.000-08:00

Now that the hospital ship COMFORT has sailed from Haitian shores and many of the troops have withdrawn from the shattered capital of Port-au-Prince, the mission has shifted from initial emergency response to reconstruction and long term building.

Meanwhile, over a half-million people live in vast encampments and with US forces departing, security and welfare will be left to the U.N. peacekeepers and the local police.

As we rebuild the city and country, we want to focus more than just building physical infrastructure; we want to provide the ability for Haitians to communicate with each other today and in the years ahead.

Paradoxically, this is a perfect time to totally rebuild and reboot Haiti's Information Communication Technology (ICT). The best way to do is to lay a sturdy, comprehensive network and provide solid and steady bandwidth capacity.

One of the goals of IT experts and managers is to provide long distance WiFi links so that all relief stations scattered throughout the Port-au-Prince area can communicate and collaborate.

If we can ensure that funding can be tracked, needs and demands can be promptly publicized, relief workers can communicate with each other and with bases back home, we as a core team will be more efficient and effective in accomplishing our critical mission.

This requires the right hardware, the right design, the right implementation as well as the right methodology. When relief workers leave, the hope is for the country to take over the network so that we can continue to maintain and leverage ICT as the main foundational building block for the country to rebuild and transform.

Misc. Haiti Info

2010-03-09T22:07:00.000-08:00

We currently advise against all but essential travel to Haiti. An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale hit Haiti on 12 January 2010 causing major casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure, including buildings in the Port au Prince area.

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers

There is no British Embassy in Haiti. Routine enquiries should be directed to the British Embassy in the Dominican Republic . For emergency consular assistance please contact the Honorary Consul in Port-au-Prince. See the General (Representation in Haiti) section of this advice

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and our Travel Insurance page

Crime
There have been reports of a breakdown in law and order following the earthquake on 12 January. The Haitian authorities are in a state of disorganisation, and travellers should take extra care whilst travelling, particularly at night. There have been reports of attacks on travellers on the main road between Port-au-Prince and the border with the Domincan Republic. Following the earthquake, violent outbreaks are likely in areas where the immediate aid situation comes under extreme pressure. You are advised to avoid all large gatherings where possible, particularly where there is no security presence, and leave the area immediately should you get caught up in such a gathering.
There have been random shootings of civilians in incidents of street robbery. Foreign nationals have also occasionally been caught in the crossfire of gang violence.
In Port-au-Prince you are advised to exercise caution during the day, and you are advised not to travel at night. We advise against all travel to the district of Cite Soleil. You should not to leave property in vehicles and always to travel with doors locked and windows up. You are advised to park close to any venues that you visit and not to leave a venue alone and always check your surroundings.
Across Haiti, pickpockets and theft of valuables are common.
Security guards are recommended at the homes of long-term foreign residents.
Malaria, dengue fever, parasitic infections, hepatitis, and other intestinal problems including typhoid fever are not uncommon in Haiti. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Rabies has been prevalent in recent years, particularly around the Port-au-Prince region. If you are ill or bitten by an animal whilst in Haiti you should seek prompt medical advice

Petion Ville Courier Journal

2010-03-09T18:03:00.000-08:00

January 27, 2010
More aid – even a rescue – flows in with military

Distribution picks up as U.S. troops, including some from Ky., arrive
By Chris Kenning
ckenning@courier-journal.com
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — On a once exclusive hilltop country club, a U.S. Army truck backed up to a steep golf green as 82nd Airborne paratroopers tossed 110-pound rice bags, bucket-brigade style, to the front of a winding line of thousands of famished Haitians on Tuesday.
A sea of 60,000 homeless quake survivors have transformed the Club de Pétionville into a massive tent city, one of the largest of roughly 200 makeshift camps spread across the devastated capital city.
“We're giving out 300,000 bottles of water a day,” said Capt. Jeffrey Zabala, of the 82nd Airborne Division, watching the aid being given out. “At first it would get a little crazy, everyone rushing to food. But we just stop and wait until it calms down.”
Across Haiti, more than 3,600 U.S. troops — including many from Kentucky — are aiding Haiti's recovery, doing everything from guarding aid to serving as medics, engineers and pilots. A handful of U.S. ships, including an aircraft carrier, are anchored in the harbor.
Their humanitarian tasks run the gamut — from handing out rice and cooking oil to delving through the crushed concrete.
On Tuesday afternoon, their efforts resulted in the rescue of a 31-year-old Haitian man who had been buried in the rubble for 12 days — ever since the 7.0-magnitude quake shook the impoverished country.
Military officials say soldiers from the 82nd found him, suffering from a broken leg and severe dehydration, two blocks from the Port-au-Prince Cathedral on Rue de Miracle. They took him to a medical base for treatment.
Care from Kentucky
Kentucky's military contingent includes logistics officials from Fort Knox and the Kentucky National Guard, which sent air-traffic controllers and has constructed an airbase in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island with Haiti, to improve the flow of humanitarian aid. And, as Zabala pointed out, the 82nd Airborne unit, encamped at the elegant Petionville Club, was trained at Fort Knox.
Miles away at the airport, near his cot next to the tarmac, Lt. Jon Edwards, a Louisville native, worked to coordinate everything from water and food to latrines and transportation for U.S. forces — not an easy task in a nation that was barely functional even before the earthquake.
“We knew this would be a logistics nightmare, and it was,” he said, recalling initial shortages of diesel fuel, drinking water and other necessities.
The problems were complicated by Port-au-Prince's airport, designed for 13 flights a day but now clogged with humanitarian flights. The military is landing nearly 200 flights a day there.
Edwards, a member of the 407th Brigade Support Battalion of the 82nd Airborne, said living outdoors on the hot, windy airfield, wasn't easy, with helicopters pounding all day and big jet cargo planes landing all night. But it was nothing compared to the hardship in the city.
Crowds can be seen gathering outside the walls, hoping for work or aid. One night, Edwards recalled, a 14-year-old Haitian boy, who was injured and lost his family in the quake, sneaked into camp. The soldiers took the boy to a hospital and then to an orphanage.
“It's hard to see everything destroyed and crushed, and you just know so many people are buried under there,” said Edwards, who, even after seeing the ruin of war while serving in Iraq, was stunned by the devastation in Haiti.
Saviors on the sea
Across town on roads clogged by smoggy gridlock, teetering cargo cranes and a damaged wharf mark the battered port where a Navy speedboat sped into the bay to bring a sick child to the USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship anchored offshore where more than 400 injured Haitians are being treated by 1,200 doctors, nurses and crew.
The 804-foot vessel, larger than the Titanic, takes the most difficult cases, most brought by Navy helicopter, to get help from world-class doctors using top-grade medical equipment. Since it arrived last week, the ship has seen more trauma cases than it did in both Gulf Wars combined, said Capt. Jim Ware.
Dr. Shawn Safford, a surgeon and Navy officer who worked in one the ship's operating suites, said he's seen horrific cases of limb infection and damage, including gas gangrene that he'd only seen in textbooks. For doctors, it's emotionally trying, he said.
“There was one man whose leg needed to be amputated, but he begged me, saying ‘Please, I have eight children, if you amputate I can't work and we'll all die,'” he said. “We worked really hard to save that one, and it looks like we did. Another one, I couldn't.”
Patient Francia Williams, 14, whose leg was crushed by her falling home and was evacuated to the hospital to recover, is counted among the lucky.
Already, more than 150,000 have been confirmed dead, Haiti's Minister of Health, Alec Larsen, said.
‘It's up to God'
Back in Petionville, 82nd Airborne soldiers said they were among the first U.S. soldiers to arrive in Haiti after the quake, and immediately secured the embassy, airport and the Club de Pétionville, which was already turning into a tent city and was expected to be a major distribution point for aid.
At the clubhouse Tuesday, soldiers were camped on a tennis court while off-duty soldiers lounged in club chairs. A medical tent treated sick Haitians.
Nearby, Hollywood actor and film director Sean Penn was surveying the masses of people to help channel fundraising and aid efforts.
Down the hill, thousands of Haitians stood in a snaking line — a welcome change from the first days after the quake when desperate survivors rushed aid drops.
Now officials give out tokens to residents so they didn't worry that the aid will run out and push and shove, said Donal Reilly, a Catholic Relief Services worker from Ireland.
Malie Monasteur, 54, grabbed a bag and walked down the hill, dividing it with a relative to help carry it, winding through a warren of paths between the tents. Some have begun selling fried plantains while others were running mini-generators with power strips to charge cell phones.
Monasteur is staying in a tent made of tree limbs and sheets that has held 19 family members since the earthquake destroyed their home two weeks ago. She was grateful for the aid, and the presence of the soldiers, she said.
When she'll leave the golf course, she doesn't know.
“It's up to God,” she said.
Reporter Chris Kenning can be reached at (502) 582-4697.