Six months on from the devastating earthquake, life for older people in Haiti’s temporary camps is still tough.

HelpAge International in Haiti has been speaking to groups of older people in camps located in Carrefour, Cite Soleil, Delmas,  and Petion-Ville. 

We want to collect more information about their living conditions and their views on what it would take to get back on their feet again. 

Not surprisingly, their main desire is to leave the camps. They spoke of their discomfort, the conditions, attitudes towards them from younger residents and in some cases, the fact that they are excluded from distributions of humanitarian assistance.

(more…)

Although Les Cayes was not directly affected by the earthquake, the older people living there are feeling its consequences.

I met with around 30 older people in La Savanne, one of Les Cayes’ poorest neighbourhoods. 

Most of the older people I spoke to had five or more children who were unemployed. A lot of them had mobility problems or other disabilities, such as blindness. Many complained of muscle ache and pain.

(more…)

For older people in Petit-Goave food and shelter are of much help, but some needs go beyond the tangible.

Older women gather on Friday at the ruins of what used to be the Catholic Church of Petit-Goave.  They were there to take part in the Way of the Cross which is organised every Friday during Lent.

This year, this has taken on a lot more meaning for these older people. They are very attached to their faith and although the building is no longer there, destroyed by the earthquake, they hope God is listening to them.

(more…)

Latest on HelpAge’s relief effort out in Haiti:

Wednesday 10 February:

HelpAge distributed food and basic essential items.  It is the first open-air distribution made exclusively for older people. The distribution was planned with IPESI (Institute of Promotion of Studies and Integrated Care), a group run by Madame Njemba Jean Suze.

(more…)

I was able to also talk with the priest of Petit-Goâve who also runs a home for older people.  He needs food assistance for 65 older people. 

In Cotes-de-Fer, a town in the South East, the priest also reports damage to houses, but not many casualties.  He said the people have moved away from the coastal town.  He will need food for 500 families.  He also requests a mobile clinic to provide healthcare to these families.  For the older people, he said some of them need wheelchairs and emotional support, because they have not seen anything like this in their lifetime. 

(more…)

Relief is slowly reaching the victims of the quake, 4 days after the quake.  Rescue teams are searching for survivors under the rubbles. The people at the camps still looked patient.

Several women were already busy setting up their open air restaurant serving the campers.  Tire repairmen were also busy. The streets are filling up with cars. Gas stations are packed with motorcycles and vehicles trying desperately to get some gas. Grocery stores are opening their doors half way and allowing people to come in one by one to buy groceries. Relief workers are getting busy to assist people.

(more…)

There was one relatively strong aftershock yesterday Saturday - 4.5 magnitude but fortunately it did not cause any more damage.

I was in Petion-Ville today in central Port-au-Prince. People were starting to get some assistance although not a lot. I saw search and rescue activities still going on.

(more…)

HelpAge’s Emergencies Programme Officer in Haiti, Bertin Meance, reports from Port-au-Prince on the destruction caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake, which struck on Tuesday 12 January:

“The devastating earthquake that violently shook Haiti and destroyed much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is the biggest disaster that Haiti has faced in more than 200 years. The humanitarian community’s biggest fear has, in effect, materialised.

Hundreds of people trapped under rubble

The National Palace, Cathedral and UN mission headquarters have collapsed. Most of the houses in the slum areas were not able to withstand the strength of the quake. Several schools and orphanages are also reported destroyed.
(more…)