Haiti - photos updated on Flickr

Added some photos to my Haiti Flickr set.

Let me know what you think.

Haiti - more info in the media

Just arrived back safely in the UK. It's been a hard, but satisfactory mission... being able to contribute to the humanitarian response is great. As need to catch up on some sleep, again just some links to Islamic Relief's work in Haiti where I was as the team leader:

Mention on IOM website
Mention in The Times
Mention in The Independent

Latest from Haiti - via The Guardian

No time for proper post, but I got quoted in an article in The Guardian, so adding that here: Haiti's homeless plead for tents after earthquake

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.

Photos from Haiti humanitarian response

For some photos from my humanitarian mission to Haiti, please check:

Haiti

Lots of work left to do!

Haiti - update 3 (19 Jan '10)

General:
I've seen looting is going on, people are out in the street, especially young people looking for food jobs, or anything to get back to their family with. There is a severe shortage of food in the city; the market is empty and not even one restaurant is available. The private sector is not active yet due to the lack of security. We expect the private sector will be activated and the market will be functioning as soon as the security improves.

Electricity: The city still sinking in the dark at night, the government seems reluctant to repair the power station and get the electric power back, in order to avoid any further damage as a result of any further earthquake or tremor/ aftershock.

Water: still severely under supplied due to the damages to the water sources. People get their water either from a hand pump or purchased water trucking. Some NGOs are distributing water via trucking.

Shelter: I haven’t seen any tents having been erected so far, probably due to bottle necks in distribution? People still live in the street in the middle of the road, in the public parks or close to their houses, in makeshift huts made of cloths. There is a huge need for tents and shelter materials. The Government is planning a huge settlement out of the city for 70,000 affected persons or perhaps even much more. They will be concentrated in camps in order for service providers to reach them, so one of the ideas that we are considering is to provide emergency tents to those settlements.

Security: this remain one of the biggest challenges in the city, groups of American army fully dressed in army armour are patrolling the streets now to keep law and order under control (this is exactly as we used to see in Baghdad on the TV). Yesterday some armed vehicles from the UN peacekeepers started patrolling as well. No one can move freely in the city after dark.

Fuel: a severe shortage of fuel is affecting life here to a certain extent. People are queuing long hours to get their cars filled.

Prices: prices of all commodities are rising to an alarming level, as most of the goods come from neighbouring countries, and the life supply line have been disrupted by the quake and the (lack of) security.

Programme: a quick rapid assessment has been conducted in two areas where a severe need for clean water has been identified. A daily trucking will be arranged starting today, where a large number of IDPs will benefit from.

Our Camp: we still live in a tent in the UN camp. We are looking forward to move out so that we can have better facilities, especially access to a shower and washing clothes and wash facility ....etc. It seems to me it is a bit early for this move at the moment to be feasible. We have been advised not to move out now due to the lack of security and poor services outside, so we are assessing the situation on a daily basis and will make a move as soon as we get better option.

Media and communication: we hade done several interviews yesterday, including BBC Arabic TV, Aljazeera English TV, Islamic Channel Radio UK.

All the best for the rest.

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.