I hope this is not “Haiti in the news” overkill.  Perhaps today is all about my trying to digest nearly four weeks on the ground in Haiti, sitting at my kitchen counter in DC. Unshowered, a little dazed, and near tears for 48 hours straight.  PTSD?  Or an appropriate reaction?  Hm.

This NYT editorial hits the nail on the head based on what I saw and heard on the ground. Here is an excerpt:

“There is a burning need to tap the energies of Haitians — not just the devastated national government. That means at the grass-roots, church, business and neighborhood groups that know the country, speak its languages, and are deeply committed to its rebirth.

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It ain’t pretty.  The Washington Post’s Bill Booth did a nice job capturing the not-so-nice reality on the ground for older Haitians.

“PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI — It was always hard to be old in Haiti, but after the earthquake, to be old and poor feels like a curse, say those who are both.”

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One HelpAge staff member in Haiti has the life experience and tenacity to make a real contribution.

“My seven-year-old said he will only go to school if I sit beside him,” said Jean “Neil” Moretta, a 40-year-old English-speaking Haitian (pictured) who HelpAge International hired in February to assist with its emergency relief effort and beyond.

Neil “Junior” and his mother, Kateline, were at her aunt’s house when the 12 January earthquake struck, so were unharmed when their apartment building collapsed.  But Neil “Junior” is still distraught about losing his home.

Luckily, the grown-up Neil had had a house built in Port-au-Prince and already was in the process of moving his family there.  So he’s optimistic things will settle down for his son very soon.

Neil’s generally very optimistic.  And landing a steady job with HelpAge International earlier this month has been a boon for him.  A slender man with fine features, a ready smile and smooth, café-au-lait skin, Neil’s very attentive and proactive in his work.

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“No food, no milk, if they are feeding the children, why don’t they give us some too? I haven’t eaten all morning and I am hungry.”

This was the passionate plea of Antoniné, one of seven hundred displaced people who have been living in a temporary camp following the 12 January earthquake in Haiti.

As well as coping with the aftermath of the earthquake, Antoniné also told us that two of her children have died over the last nine months.

“The clothes I’m wearing are all I have”

She lost everything during the earthquake: her house, clothes, food, furniture, everything. “The clothes I’m wearing are all I have,” she said.
 
Some of the main challenges in the camp include overcrowding and the outbreak of illness – flu, infection, intestinal worms and other viruses - due to a lack of water, sanitation and shelter. For many of the older people in the camp, these living conditions are particularly dehumanising and confusing; especially for those who cannot move around easily. 

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HelpAge’s Caribbean Regional Representative, Jeff James, spoke to 75 year old Kenold Moreau about his experience of the Haiti earthquake. The image shows Kenold in the rubble of his collapsed home:

“12 January was like any other day for Kenold Moreau, 75. He collected his nine year old daughter, Marie Michele from school and she settled down to do her homework at 4:00 pm while he listened to the news on local radio.

“Within seconds the building crumbled”

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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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An update we received in the last two days shows that those affected by the earthquake in Haiti are receiving emergency aid and medical assistance.

HelpAge’s Dominican partner, ALA Dominicana, with which we are coordinating our emergency response to the Haiti earthquake, is also a member of NGO network, Jaques Viau, which is distributing aid in Haiti.

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Mark Gorman, HelpAge’s Director of Strategic Development has written on the International Longevity Centre UK’s blog about responding to the needs of older people in the Haiti earthquake emergency:

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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. 

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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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