Haiti! Day 7

Today I arrived in Les Cayes. Our group was set up to visit one of the only remaining clinics since the earthquake. Before us, there had been a large number of states and nongovernmental organizations are on the ground providing assistance to the Haitian people, who are showing discipline and self-organization (2). There is an outdoor "clinic" being covered by WorldwideVillage with young doctors examining the patients, cleaning wounds, treating infections, and preparing them to surgery.  Six surgeons keep busy without a break.  But the people and their families are so appreciative that it is incredible to realize the impact of these medics.  Since the language is Creole and French, I always need a translator. It's still hard to believe that as of 2007, over 120,000 people were also living with HIV and/or AIDS (3). What a staggering fact that was incredibly heartbreaking.

 (Photo Courtesy of Addison Price)

The good news is that we are staying at one of the few buildings that are standing. It is an amazing building, engineered by students to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes (5).  No water til today, but now we have water for sinks, toilets and showers. I get a shower tonight! We also have filtered water today, which is great since our bottled water was almost gone.  We need so much water from the heat, since it is so incredibly hot (5).  

 I spent the morning out with the truck, going to villages asking for any known hurt people.  Guys would jump in the back of our pickup and ride with us to find a person down the road. There are no street addresses, so it's just looking for a hut in a general area.  Even if some buildings survived the earthquake and aren't seemingly damaged, the Haitians are afraid to sleep indoors anywhere (5). It seems like everyone is sleeping outdoors in tents or makeshift shacks!  Many people right aside of intact buildings, but they refuse to take the chance! 

 (Photo Courtesy of Addison Price)

The other big news is that there was a riot outside our compound, with the outside tent people wanting food.  They actually are asking that the Americans distribute the food, because there is so much bribing and discriminating among the Haitians (5).  They think that the Haitians that are running the facility that we are staying at, are distributing food to "friends" outside the compound.  Security were being called, and warnings being sent out to everyone about stealing. We had to close the clinic early. From what I've heard, there are alot of "orphanages" that take care of kids whose parents can't raise them, but still stay connected to them and visit them regularly (5).  There are also many children attending school, who do their schooling outside of their tents on benches.

My trip is almost to an end. What a fantastic learning experience! This has been riveting to see how much poverty the world is in and how much need there is from other societies!

(sidenote: I am actually considering taking a missions trip to Haiti in April of 2011. I hope everything works out. I am so excited!!!!)

(5) Price, Addison. Personal Interview. (November 2010)