Latest Haiti update from HelpAge Caribbean regional representative Jeff James and Programme Officer Julian McKoy. The image shows the damage done to the HelpAge office in Port-au-Prince by the earthquake: 

Julian and I left Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Tuesday morning (January 19) at 6:30am in a bus hired from a transport company. We left with about GB£3,000 of supplies, including rice, sugar, cornmeal, corned beef, sardines, water, juices, snacks, tarpaulin, tents, cup soups, biscuits, cooking oil, adult diapers and other items.

The ride to the Dominican Republic/Haiti border was very smooth for the most part on nicely paved roads and breathtaking views of the countryside. There were many security check points on the way, and we suspect this was put in place to monitor Haitians trying to flee into the Dominican Republic.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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