Haiti - update 2 (18 Jan '10)

Day three, Port –au-Prince

General: Security is a major concern which hinders the assessment efforts by expatriates as movement can be restricted. People still live in the streets occupying the streets, closing roads close to their destroyed houses and with the hope to attract assistance. The Haitian Government has started cleaning some roads. They have, however, a very modest capacity. People have not started to clear up rubble from the street for many reasons, including waiting for the government or other party to help them in cleaning up, still in shock from the earthquake, to show graves for the lost loved ones and maybe not in the mood to have a new start yet.

Most of the people are living in makeshift tents made of blankets, bed sheets and other materials; others are living in public parks. Some distribution of NFIs and food is ongoing but far less than needed. Some families (the better off) have fled the country to the Dominican Republic (next to Haiti).

IR team: we have established a small camp (2 small tents) within the UN camp, which was a base for the UN peace keepers. The camp is overcrowded and facilities are poor due to the overcrowding, as peacekeepers who used to live outside the camp in houses or flats have moved inside the camp after their houses were destroyed (and it's safer inside).

We are having regular meetings (on daily basis) to divide the tasks between us and have a follow up meeting in the evening everyday.

Priorities and plan:
1.Find a decent and safe place to stay in as a team (at least to secure our belongings as the current setting requires one person to be in the camp at all times to protect our belongings)
2.Recruiting additional local staff and hire additional vehicle to facilitate movement into two teams.
3.Implement a quick impact project
4.Identifying an implementing partner to implement our project

Note Birmingham University's IDD have published a little article on my mission.