Recovery in Haiti
A message from Plan Haiti’s field director
Areas affected by the Haiti earthquake
January 14, 2010 - Below is a message from Rezene Tesfamariam, Plan’s Director in Haiti. Because there has been no electricity or telecommunications, it is the first email we have received from him since the quake struck almost 48 hours ago. The only communication possible until now has been through satellite phone.
Dear friends:
I just got the possibility of communicating with you through the internet and I apologize for failing to attend the meeting of this morning.
The damage of the quake of Tuesday is beyond one’s imagination. Although it is very difficult to determine the exact figure I have seen bodies all along the main street of Port-Au-Prince. I have heard the voices of children trapped in the rubble of their schools.
A major part of the city Port-Au-Prince has been destroyed. Schools, churches, hospitals, market places are destroyed. Our offices in Jacmel, Croix-des-Bouquets and a part of the country office in Port-Au-Prince are seriously damaged. This is also true for the houses of some of our staff and the residence of our internationals. All communication systems including internet connections were down until today.
The quake has left thousands of families without homes and the city has turned into a collection of makeshift camps. In my professional life I have worked with refugees running for their lives, provided support to communities swept away by flood, but not like this. The situation requires quick and well-organized response.
- Minutes after the quake communication was established with Regional Office, international headquarters and Country Director of Dominican Republic, through satellite telephone, and informed them about the situation in general and the safety of the staff in particular.
- Subsequently, fundraising offices have been asked to prepare for fund raising campaign. Communications with those offices lasted throughout the night and the early morning of the following day, starting from the east (Japan), followed by Europe and North America.
- Yesterday morning we drove through some parts of Port-Au-Prince and Croix-des-Bouquets to assess the immediate need of those affected by the quake
We will immediately start providing water, food and hygienic material to those in the various makeshift camps here in Port-Au-Prince and Jacmel.
We have already formed teams and are addressing the emergency in an organized manner.
- The Program Support Manager and her team are working in the emergency activities.
- A team is working in coordination with the fundraising offices and is mobilizing resources for the emergency effort.
- I and one colleague are managing information and communication. I have already provided interviews to the media and will continue to do so. In fact, in the latter hours of today by the BBC team in Port-Au-Prince. The team will be the only organ responsible for distribution of information within Plan and to the media. We will access our messages every day and in the early hours of the day and we could also be reached through satellite phone any time during the day.
We are thankful that the regional office of the Americas and Plan international headquarters are sending us support. Those who are coming will join the team of their specialty.
Some staff have sustained injuries and psychological trauma, others have lost their property. With this exception all are doing well. Thank you very much indeed for your concern and support.
Please circulate this message to the committees you have formed on behalf of Plan.
Regards,
Rezene