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Update from Susan Finucane, Program Officer, Concern Worldwide US
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Brand new mother Lenor gave birth to a health baby yesterday in midst of chaos. |
[Susan Finucane is Program Officer for Concern Worldwide US, but only a few months ago, lived and worked in Haiti as Documentation Officer for Concern.
Click here to read more from Haiti in our Blogs from the Field.]
(Port-au-Prince, January 18, 2010) — As we drive through the streets, there is devastation at every turn. More bodies have been placed at the side of the road in the hope that they will be cared for and removed soon. The stench of the deceased lingers in the air. We arrive at the Salvation Army health center, where Concern has had ongoing health programs since August 2008: it is now a temporary, makeshift camp for hundreds of Haitians made homeless by the earthquake.
While we are there talking to people and assessing their most urgent survival needs, I meet Lenor, a young 26-year-old woman who gave birth to a baby girl only yesterday. Her new baby Celinda, was miraculously born healthy. Says Lenor: "I live in Saint Martin….or, I lived in Saint Martin. My house is gone, so I have been here (in the camp) since Tuesday night. I was so worried for my baby, but she is fine.'" Behind Lenor ,an elderly man is being treated for a leg wound - his hospital bed is a wheelbarrow , and a piece of wood props up his leg. A small boy with a gaping head wound cries beside him as people treat the wound with iodine.
I ask Lenor if I can take a picture of her new child, a miracle amidst all this heartache. As my camera appears, children flock around, asking me if I will take their picture. Their smiles are like rays of sunshine in this makeshift camp, and I am aware, once again, of how resilient the Haitian people are. Through the children I see a man approaching me: he, too, is a proud new parent. The father, Pierre, tells me , "My wife had a baby boy yesterday, and his name is Friendly. I am filled with so many emotions right now. The earthquake destroyed my home, and my sister was killed. My daughter was trapped in the rubble for four days, but she was pulled free yesterday. She is okay, and is resting in another camp."
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Susan Finucane and Concern Chief Executive Tom Arnold talking to earthquake survivors. Photo: Susan Finucane, Concern Worldwide US |
Miracles do happen. This morning, three more people were rescued from the rubble at the collapsed supermarket after being literally buried for almost 6 days. Sixty others were rescued yesterday, and the search continues.
The Concern team has already conducted rapid needs assessments of the worst-affected areas, including 10 health centers where we already had heaoth programs before the quake. We have carried out distributions of critical medical supplies, emergency therapeutic food for children, and water to the State University Hospital. We have also distributed pick axes (to clear rubble), surgical gloves, disinfectant, water purification tablets, water, and first aid supplies to community leaders in the poorest slum communities in Port-au-Prince. Concern has also dispatched two charter planes to Haiti loaded with critically needed supplies, including tents, jerry cans, plastic sheeting, water pumps, water containers, and plumpy' nut). Our Chief Executive Tom Arnold flew in last night.
Over the coming days and weeks, Concern will work tirelessly to deliver vital humanitarian aid to the people of Haiti . Our Emergency Engineering Manager and our water and sanitation experts are preparing a 10,000 liter "bladder" tank for emergency water distrubutions.
I will keep you updated on Concern's progress here in Port-au-Prince, and on behalf of the people of Haiti, I thank you for your support and help. Without you, there would be no Concern.