Haiti - update 4

Port-au-Prince (PaP) is slowly coming back to life, this city which only a few days ago was reeling from the devastating effects of one of the worst earthquake this country has witnessed in centuries is making a remarkable recovery. Today in what used to be the market place I witnessed a lady with her husband selling homemade ice, while others sold freshly picked fruit and veg. Micro and small entrepreneurs were back in business today in many parts of the city. However, there is still a long way to go before complete normality can return to this city. There is still huge uncertainty mixed with a real sense of grief, while the real and dangerous potential for a violent flare up makes safety a concern for all (remember the country has been suffering from many challenges for many years before the earthquake).

On the humanitarian side, in response to the media pressure and criticism in addition to the news of the extra troops deployment in the city to keep law and order, it seems to me that the humanitarian actors and aid workers have moved into full action. The UN is also deploying its highest ranking officials to add to the momentum of the aid effort and ensure enough resources are being allocated.

There are slight improvements in services for aid workers, for example the canteen is now fully functioning, and there is talk of setting up a separate camp for aid agency workers.