Haiti, earthquake: In Haiti, a relationship built on adversity - latimes.com

Haiti, earthquake: In Haiti, a relationship built on adversity - latimes.com

Graffiti reflects hope in Haiti

Graffiti reflects hope in Haiti

Haiti's cholera death toll tops 2,700

Haiti's cholera death toll tops 2,700

Haiti Presidential Poll Results Put Off

Haiti Presidential Poll Results Put Off

Haiti earthquake victim faces eviction from tent camp - The Boston Globe

Haiti earthquake victim faces eviction from tent camp - The Boston Globe

Haiti protests escalate over source of cholera

Haiti protests escalate over source of cholera

Cholera in a time of Chaos

As of this morning, it was reported that cholera has reached 5 of Haiti's ten departments. The dead toll has reached over 800 people and thousands are infected with the disease. While it is true that sanitation, access to clean water and proper sewage is lacking in Haiti, prior to late October cholera was not present it Haiti. The outbreak that started in the Artibonite region in late October is a strain found in South Asia according to the Center for Disease Control. And it just so happens that newly arrived UN soldiers from Nepal when stationed in the Artibonite.

It has not been confirmed that the cholera came from any of the soldiers, in fact an investigate to my knowledge has yet to get underway. While Haitians for the most part have remained calm, their have been demonstrations and renewed calls for the UN soldiers to leave and for an investigation into how cholera came to be in Haiti.

Now that cholera has a foot hold in Haiti it will be difficult to get rid of and it is expected that cholera will continue to spread. Unfortunately more people will continue to die as a result. While the urgency of the situation requires various actors to educate the population about proper hygiene and work around the clock to save lives, it is imperative that an investigation be conducted to uncover the source of cholera. It is not fair to have an vulnerable population, struggling from one misery after another to be introduced to more misery from outside sources.

Haiti presidential election: justice on the line - CSMonitor.com

Haiti presidential election: justice on the line - CSMonitor.com

It's been a while

Dear friends,

Much has happened to me both personally and professionally since I last wrote. I left Boston and moved to Washington DC to pursue two loves: academics and work. I am a part time student at American University pursuing a Masters and working full time on Haiti for an international relief and development organization. I was absolutely thrilled that it worked out that I could pursue my graduate degree and work on behalf of the Haitian people to move and influence decision makers.

I am still getting the hang of things, feeling my way around Washington DC and trying to balance school and work. But at the end of the day I am still very much a doer and dreamer and like to think that I can do it all! Hopefully in the process, I can do some bit of good and continue to raise thought provoking questions!

Despite $1.8b in aid, Haitians’ life remains grim - The Boston Globe

Despite $1.8b in aid, Haitians’ life remains grim - The Boston Globe

Haitian Leader Reflects on Quake, Long Road to Recovery

Hotel Alexandra

Ever since I laid eyes on the Hotel Alexandra in Jacmel, it was love at first sight. Its not in operation and hasn't been for years. It sustained minor damage from the earthquake but still retains it 18th century charm.

Aba Preval

There is a deep mistrust of the government in Haiti and it seems also a heightened level of cynicism. Signs that read “Aba Preval”, Creole for Down with Preval were wide spread and fewer signs that read “Down with Occupation”, “Down with NGOs” and some that ever read “Welcome Jean Claude Duvalier” were evident in certain neighborhoods. I found people to be opinionated and engaged. Many listen to the radio with regularly and there is the feeling that the government is not doing enough and it is unclear to them when they will be moved from camps. The political opposition has seized on this feeling. They accuse the government of sitting on their hands and have made calls for demonstrations. It was announced today that elections will be held on November 28, 2010. Let's hope that a true leader ready to take on the serious and necessary work of building a better and more equitable Haiti emerges.

Impact on the people

The earthquake traumatized the entire nation. No person living has ever experienced one before. It is all people want to talk about; they openly share where they were and what they were doing where the quake struck. When I asked people in Port au Prince or Jacmel this is what they told me: “I was sleeping, I was at school, I was sifting flour in the kitchen, I was walking up the stairs, I was sitting at the table with a friend, I was coming home from a funeral, I was on my porch talking to my neighbor.” Everyone was going about their lives in their usual fashion. It is true that people are still afraid. Some people live on their property in a tent. I met a 15 year old named Jean Marc. He lost his brother, in the quake. He ran out the house and as a result broke his leg. The house didn’t sustain much damage. During one of the many aftershocks, he broke his other leg. He now refuses to entire his house and sleeps in a tent in the yard.

Inaction

A ruined city

The earthquake exposed to the world just how fragile the state truly was and is. It is true that Port-au-Prince resembles a ruined city; there is no doubt that the living conditions are tenuous and that the 1.2 million people living in tents are incredible vulnerable to flooding and hurricane conditions. Meteorologists expect this to be the most active hurricane season to date, with some 23 tropical storms expected. But remarkably, the city is moving; people have resumed their day to day activities despite the fact that the government and other actors have not adjusted or moved as quickly.

Things are moving albeit slowly

While I was surveying Port-au-Prince, I saw three bulldozers. Two were in use, while one was sitting on the grounds of the National Palace untouched. Rubble has been moved to neat piles on the side of the streets only partially blocking streets. There are stationary dumpster trucks throughout the city and garbage trucks that move throughout the city on regular occasion. I also saw the construction of some transitional housing on the outskirts of the city being produced by Samaritan’s Purse. In addition there is a very visible public service announcement campaign on billboards and radio focused on drinking clean water, sanitation and hygiene. I also saw people working the streets: road crews, street cleaners, trash collectors etc.

But things are not moving fast enough. International donors have been slow to contribute the billions pledged at the March 31 donors conference in NY. So far the government has only received 2% of the 5 billion promised. And the Haitian government is not acting with a sense of urgency as the rains lash down on the island. People need to be moved to safer housing but it doesn't seem like the government wants to fight private land owners; as a result of inaction, people who escaped death in January make well face it this hurricane season.

Champ de Mars

As you know, there are some 1300 tent cities and they vary significantly in levels of organization, order and construction. Some tents are made of sticks and clothe others actual tents and some resemble makeshift transitional housing made of tin and cardboard. Some camps have been located in strategic locations; across from the National Palace, by the airport, next to the UN, below President Preval’s private house and many of the names of these camps pay homage to national and international leaders. Camp Toussaint, Obama, Simon Bolivar and the like. I visited one camp, Champ de Mars, it is sprawling. Champ de Mars has beautiful monuments of Haiti’s founding fathers and used to be a series of well manicured lawns. It is akin to the States National Mall in Washington, DC. It was surreal for me to see it completely covered with tents. The entire public space, much like every other public space in the city was covered by tarps.

Champ de Mars was bustling with activity; mother’s washing their children on the sidewalks, clothes lines hanging, TVs and speakers blaring and merchants selling their wares and food. The mood was not somber; it very much screamed out “life goes on”.

There is no doubt that the living conditions are tenuous and that the 1.2 million people living in tents are incredibly vulnerable to flooding and hurricane conditions. Meteorologists expect this to be the most active hurricane season to date, with some 23 tropical storms expected. Simply put, people are in serious danger of losing their lives if the government does not act with a sense of urgency. No tent will withstand harsh winds and rains.

I find the strength and will of the people remarkable despite the hardships; people have resumed their day to day activities despite the fact that the government and other actors have not adjusted or moved as quickly.

Haiti Diary

Hi there,

I had hoped I would be able to keep the blog updated while I was in Haiti but not having a computer proved to be a greater challenge than I realized. I tried to use my blackberry to post to the blog but it broke up the blog into several messages which if you were following while I was away was likely frustrating as it was difficult to follow the line of thinking. I sincerely apologize!

I spent 10 days visiting with family and making friends in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel. I have taken two journal entries from the first few days of my trip to give you a favor of what it was like for me. The next post will be a fuller and more summarized debrief of my trip. Thanks for your interest!

June 3, 2010
Yesterday, I toured the city-- there are over 1200 camps-- tarps are everywhere. Some camps are better organized that others; some look so flimsy; just sticks and cloth. I am troubled by the fact that 1.2 million people are living like this. Haiti is not prepared for hurricane season.
I was shocked to see the extend of the damage to the National Palace even though I had seen pictures; it was different to see it with my own two eyes. It's a national symbol of sovereignty and to see it in ruins was devastating.
Traffic in Port-au-Prince is crazy. With the influx of people, aid and heavy machinery it takes almost twice as long to get anywhere. But I have to say, the city is moving in its typical choatic fashion.


June 6,2010
I left for Jacmel this morning. While in Port-au-Prince I was staying at Enfant Haitien Orphanage in Port-au-Prince. The kids kept me entertained and I tried to keep them busy with activities. I hate that they are growing up in an institution. A couple of them clung to me and called me their mom. I totally understand the instinct to want the American visitor to be your mom in hopes that she is taking you away but that is the heart breaking part-- I came with some toys, games, clothes and candy but I am leaving next Friday without them. Raphael, who is 4, has been here since he was a month old yesterday asked me to take him with me when I go home.

I didn't know how to respond. What was I suppose to say?

Luxury Tent City: Empty

As I have previously mentioned the Haitian government designated its first organized tent city in March. Aid organizations complained because they only had a week to get the camp ready for its new settlers but they cooperated and got the job done. This camp is adorned with latrines, water spigots and showers--- it is even outfitted with a handicap accessible latrines. The problem is that fewer than 10,000 families live in this camp. NPR's Jason Beaubien filed a report on Morning Edition titled Contrasting Relief Camps Showcase Haiti's Challenges it is a frustrating story to listen to, I kept rolling my eyes while eating my Cheerios.

This "pristine" camp could easily hold several thousand more families but it doesn't. A security guard tells Beaubien that people cannot just show up they have to have proper orders to be relocated. So it begs the question, why aren't more families being moved???

Moreover, there is a camp next door that is bursting with 49,000 residents. This adjacent camp called Ancien Aeroport Militaire is unstructured, overpopulated, and pungent from the smell of human waste and fried plantains. But even though the living conditions in Ancien Aeroport Militaire are deplorable (like all the other camps), individuals and families cannot just pick up their belongs and move to the shiny new camp. It makes no sense and frankly is quite maddening to me.

And when Beaubien tried to get answers he got the run around. The International Organization of Migration said this was a Haitian government led project and therefore only they could move people in and out of camps. When he approached the government with questions he was told to speak to the Interior Ministry and they then pointed him to the Shelter commission who were not available for comment. Sadly, it sounds like the responsible lies with no one.

The whole thing is remarkable and perplexing. Hurricane season officially starts on June 1st. I hope NPR does a follow up story and that someone comes forward to say the buck stops here.

Sorry State

Haiti has a government, its just cowering in a corner, so you forget that its even there. And citizens don't trust that this weakling called "government" has the capacity to help. Its a sorry state.

In the U.S, we don't have a sorry government, in fact some might argue that we have too much government. I am reminded of the heated debates that we had in the U.S about health care, Wall Street bail outs, and the battles across this country that are still playing out in towns, cities and states over deep budget cuts.

I for one, like government services. I am a big fan of public transportation; I like the fact that roads, highways and bridges are maintained and that if there is a pot hole on my street, I can call my city councilor or mayor to get it fixed and trust that it will happen. That doesn't happen in Haiti.

What good is a government if it cannot provide basic services for its people? What good is a government if phone lines are down after a hurricane and never get fixed, two years later? Or if one can only rely on having electricity 7 hours a day? If I grew up in a country when this was the norm, I would be hard pressed to have faith in the government too.

If I had the means, I too would send my children to private schools or the US or France to be educated. I would hire a driver and I too would purchase a generator to support my business and home activities.

And so it begins.

The relationship between the Haitian government and her citizens is broken. The Social Contract which is a binding and enduring agreement in many other parts of the world has deteriorated in Haiti to such a state that it's unrecognizable. The government is seen as more of a barrier than a helper. And those without money, power or both make do and grow wary of promises.

It is the responsibility of the Haitian government to repair the social contract. They have to show themselves worthy of trust and increase transparency and accountability.

Yele!

Photo credit: AP


Last week president Preval announced that he plans to extend his term in office by 3 months. His term was due to end in February 2011 but he planned to vacate office in May 2011. That was the plan until some 2000 protests and smaller protests in Jacmel, Cap Haitien, Miragoane, Nippes and Gonaives were organized by Lavalas; the former party of exiled president Aristide.

They marched to the collapsed palace, calling for Preval's resignation to put it mildly and Aristide's return from South Africa where he has been since his 2004 ouster. As the political peace in Haiti is precarious, it seems that the international community was listening. The UN announced today that they will work with international partners to provide “technical, logistical and material” support to Haiti so that presidential and parliamentary elections can be held on schedule. I am glad they have reacted swiftly to the people's concerns. Haitians need a creditable government that they trust to move forward.

Home Coming

I am flying to Haiti on June 1st, less than a month away. This will be my second attempt to go since my first trip was abruptly canceled by Delta Airlines in March.

I hope this time will be different. I have to admit that I have been secretly jealous of all my friends, colleagues and family members that have had the chance to go. I am not a doctor, nurse, translator or public health specialist; being none of these things had meant feeling incredibly useless. I am simply a granddaughter, cousin and niece; a girl that wants to hug and comfort her grandmother, joke and play cards with my cousins and have dinner and a stiff drink with my aunt. Maybe it sounds trivial. Its definitely not saving lives or devising a strategic plan. I simply want to comfort, witness and listen; I want to spend time with my family and briefly live in the midst of the rubble with them.

The truth is that Haiti doesn't need me-- I need Haiti.

Haitian Pie

Brazil, the DR, Canada, the US, France and others are salivating at the chance to build roads, schools, hospitals, government buildings and housing for Haiti. The earthquake that leveled the country on January 12th is a money making opportunity for the thousands of contractors, developers and the like, lined up to receive their share of the Haitian pie.
My guess is that the countries that ponied up the most money at the March 31st donor's conference hosted by the UN and US government will get access to the most lucrative contracts. But luckily for them there is plenty of work to go around.
The much needed and appreciated Cash for Work programs offered by the UN and development NGOs will soon disappear and in its place should be long term jobs that will help Haitians to house, feed and educate themselves and their children. Which is why I believe foreign contractors should be required by law to hire a predominantly Haitian workforce. Many of these projects will take 5-10 years if not longer. What are incredible opportunity to help people eager to work yet suffering under crushing poverty. Its a opportunity that should not be missed.

A Place to Lay One's Head

Back in February I posted that the Government of Haiti had secured 5 parcels of land from private land owners; well almost 3 months later only one parcel of land, Corail Cesselesse, which is about 18,000 acres. It has been outfitted and prepared for new residents, roughly 6,000 families. Aid groups complained that it was ill organized, they only had a week to build the temporary settlement and outfit it with water spigots and latrines. There have been calls for a more organized plan with the establishment of the 4 other sites.
But problems and questions remain. There are some 250,000 residents in need of shelter but the land secured can only accommodate about half of them. Aid groups are calling on the government to utilize eminent domain and quickly. The rainy season is HERE. Many people are living in flood prone zones and to make matters worst tensions are rising. The homeless are residing on private lands, some have been threatened with eviction and some are living on school grounds were administrators, teachers and students alike are eager to resume classes to get back to a "normal life." Its clear that an easy fix is not apparent to decision makers. It is hard to predict what will happen next,however my guess is people will languish in the flimsy camps in harms way for many more weeks to come. Let us hope I am wrong.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Haiti has a very large unemployed population. There simply are not enough jobs to employ the population, but the population is willing and motivated. If Haitians had jobs they would be able to provide for themselves and their families. Its not rocket science. The challenge or opportunity (depending on how you see it) is to create long term employment opportunities that can generate income for Haitians, across multiple sectors. There is growing interest in the textile and manufacturing sector. Haiti has duty free access to the US market through the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2006 and 2008 respectively HOPE and HOPE II.

The challenge has always been how do you drum up support for a country like Haiti? To the unfamiliar its a diseased, poor and corrupt country with a long history of political and social instability. Investors are looking for safe and secure and therefore have been reluctant to invest. But the country might be poised to make a come back at least in textiles. Companies like the Gap and a new company that sprang up on Facebook Choose Haiti wants to convince consumers and large retailers that Haiti is worthy of their dollars and a great place for business. Haiti will obviously need more than factories to lift itself out of poverty but if other major companies join the ranks, its potential impact of the island is huge!

Aid will not last forever and donor fatigue is bound to happen. If factories can resume production and more investors can be convinced that Haiti is good for business, we just might have a winner on our hands.

Cowboys and Haitians

Everyone and I do mean everyone, has a plan for Haiti. Too few organizations are concerned with collaboration instead seem more interested in increasing their brand and placing their logos prominently in tent cities, make shift hospitals or schools. It has me seriously questioning what the motives are here. If the UN can't serve as a coordinating body for the more than 10,000 NGOs in Haiti that what are they good for? Its been widely reported that the Haiti earthquake presented the greatest challenge to the international community; I do not doubt that. The environmental, social and political fabric of Haitian society was already outstretched and weak. With little capacity to begin with, Haiti needs the international community but it is time to have a REAL discussion about egos, motives and agendas. I don't want to be a cynic, I really don't but I wonder if any of the organizations that have been in Haiti for decades or those that recently started to prop up and set up shop hope to work themselves out of a job. Or is Haiti doomed to be a leaderless country dependent on foreign aid and intervention?
As you can see, I have many questions. I honestly didn't think deeply about humanitarian interventions before the quake. But naturally I am concerned with Haiti because I am her granddaughter. I don't know what is best for Haiti; I am not a development expert; nor do I have a Master's degree but my gut tells me that not everyone is in Haiti for the right reasons. And that is a troubling feeling. Some individuals and groups have their own agenda and see Haiti as an opportunity to get rich or advance their careers. And frankly that pisses me off.
Due to a confluence of environmental, social and political factors Haiti has remained mired in a delicate and precarious situation. The absence of an effective and trustworthy government has created the space for powerful international organizations and religious groups to organize themselves the way they see fit; build a school here, hospital there and return home to their donors highlighting all of the great work they are accomplishing. In practice this has meant a disjointed and incoherent national development strategy because everyone is doing their own thing.
This has to change. Its time to build the capacity of local actors (ordinary Haitians, civil society, business elites and the Haitian government). The international community can and should be a partner but no longer the driver.

A Trip Deferred

On Saturday, March 27th I was suppose to board a plane from BOS to JFK, JFK to PAP but Delta Airlines had other plans. I received a call from a Delta representation saying, "I regret to inform you that your upcoming trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti has been canceled due to the earthquake."
I am thinking this CAN'T be happening--- I have been preparing myself mentally and getting all of my necessary immunization shots to go. And in less than a week's notice I find out that I actually won't be seeing my aunts, uncle, grandma or cousins. Delta didn't offer to rebook me on another flight, they simply said they were sorry for the inconvenience and would refund me my money. Since I was going to travel with 3 others, we were all in the same boat and decided to postpone the trip to June. I called my grandma to let her know; she didn't seen too disappointed and reminded me that everything happens for a reason but it killed me to have to say I was no longer coming.

So now I look to June in eager anticipation.

Measuring Time

I have always enjoyed talking and learning from my elders. They have seen so much in their many years on earth and I figure if there is anyone I should listen to it should be my elders and especially my grandmothers. My grandma Ita is from a small village in the north called Grand Riviere while my grandma Yolande (pictured) is from Jacmel in the south. When the earthquake struck, my heart and mind immediately when to them; thankfully they and all members of my family survived.

A few weeks after the quake my grandma Ita came to Boston. Her best friend died, they had been friends for over forty years.We were very worried about her. When I asked her how she was doing she said fine. But Haitians never express themselves or talk about their feelings at least those born in my parents and grandparents generation.

My aunt Rose says my grandmother is lonely and wants to return. She doesn't have any friends here, although she has scores of grandchildren and 4 children that all live in Boston. She passes the time with her rosary beads, her thoughts and memories. She is due to return to Haiti in April.

My grandma Yolande in Jacmel lives with her brother Joubert; they look after each other in their old age. I am close to them both, we usually speak every Sunday. The anxiety since the quake hasn't left their voices; it makes me anxious. We try to cover pre-quake topics: work, family, friends, politics, the weather, cooking and cleaning but it doesn't feel the same; its not as light-hearted. Although, my grandma and great uncle are curious about my life and daily routine, I am curious about their mental health. I wonder how they are processing everything, how they are making sense of it all.

Both the Washington Post and New York Times covered the elderly in Haiti this week, they were poignant especially the New York Times article. Naturally my heart ached. To make it to old age in Haiti is a rarity; the elderly only make up 3.4% of the population. They have seen so much in their many years. I am beyond lucky to have two living grandmothers and a great uncle in my life.

My dad's side of the family had just celebrated my grandma Ita's 86th birthday party, she was surrounded by 150 loved ones and just days later returned to Port au Prince with her party photo album in hand, only to have her life turned upside down. I cannot imagine how my grandmothers Ita, Yolande and great uncle Joubert must feel.

I am going to Haiti in less than two week's time to volunteer and check on my family. As much as I want to go, I worry about what I will see and how I will make sense of it all. But I also worry about seeing my elders, how I can be strong for them in this trying time? It is a lot to take in, but I figure, being a witness is the very least I can do.

Let Them Eat U.S Rice

Agriculture in Haiti is dead; there are few farmers left-- too much heartache associated; little irrigation, access to seeds, fertilizer, but most importantly unfair competition from the U.S. which floods the Haitian market with cheap subsidized products.
Believe it or not, Haiti was once a bread basket! A self-sufficient producer that could feed its people. But in the 1980s domestic agriculture came under the threat of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as they discouraged investments in Haiti's agriculture. Then in 1995 former President Aristide as part of the conditions for him to be reinstated with the backing of the US government agreed to decrease tariff rates to the lowest level in all of the hemisphere to 3%. This was the final nail in the coffin for Haitian farmers. This further devastated and sent domestic agriculture into a tailspin. Instead of planting seeds, Haiti's poor were to fill factories in Port-au-Prince making T-shirts, baseballs and jeans for Western consumption. But the jobs were not enough. People toiled in the city, in the hopes that more work would come but with each coup or security breach fewer and fewer factories remained to provide much needed jobs.
This former bread basket is a net food importer, 75% of all food is imported according to the US Department of Agriculture. Haiti cannot feed itself and because the US corners the market they are susceptible to rising food prices.
President Rene Preval will meet with President Obama tomorrow. It is expected that over the course of their discussion he will bring up Haiti's long term goal to rebuild its agricultural sector to lessen its reliance on food aid and cheap imports. It will be interesting to see how these two leaders deal with this potentially contentious issue.

Some are Guilty; All are Responsible

Seems like in recent days there have been numerous news reports, leaked internal memos and water cooler conversation (in some places) about how Haiti got to be the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere as well as lots of pointing fingers; namely at NGOs, the Haitian government, the elite, international financial institutions, donor countries and the Diaspora (especially those that left and never came back).
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once said "some are guilty, but all are responsible." Ever since I heard that quote I haven't forgotten it. Its applicable to any situation, whether living in a community, working on a team or advocating for a cause. We can enumerate the many, many ills committed against Haiti in the name of selfish greed, foreign policy, bad governance or free market economics and the like. And I would be the first to provide the laundry list of grievances. All of this is very important, people need context and a frame of reference to understand the contributing factors; the visible and invisible actors and the role they each play. History is invaluable.
But when its all said and done, what is most important is that those of us that truly care about Haiti and want to ensure equity not only in the reconstruction process but in society as well find fellow supporters and allies that don't just want to line their pockets, that don't just want to impose their ideas, or start up yet another organization to compete with the more than 1o,000 NGOs on the ground but rather are committed to a sustainable Haiti and one where ordinary Haitians are driving the process. We are responsible, whether we realize it or like it. If you don't like the way things are organize yourself and work to change it.

White House on Line 1!

On Monday afternoon my friend sent a email stating that the White House was hosting a conference call on Tuesday for the Haitian Diaspora. The call would feature key representatives from the White House, USAID, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Homeland Security. I jumped at the opportunity!

I took an early lunch so that I could participate. This post is mostly not editorial just the notes of the talking points the US officials gave.

The call was moderated by Tina Tchen, of the White House office of Public Engagement (public@who.eop.gov)

Patrick Gaspard, White House Director of the Office of Political Affairs, spoke about his love for Haiti as a Haitian American and praised the Haitian Diaspora for our involvement in the relief effort. He then restated the administration's sustained commitment to Haiti and said they welcomed our feedback. He said the US government is encouraged by the progress made on the ground. But they recognize they are under intense pressure and a tight deadline with the rainy season approaching.

Then Cheryl Mills, State Department Counselor got on the phone and spoke at length about the current situation on the ground. She has been working on Haiti since she joined last year. She stated that the US government has a very good relationship with Preval's administration and noted that prior to the quake there was relative calm, political stability and a few years of economic growth. She herself had been to Haiti 5 times since the quake. She stated that the State Dept. is working to make sure the Haitian community in the US has access to up-to-date info and also wants to make sure we can partner together for the long term recovery of Haiti. In terms of specifics she said, access to water was increasing daily but sanitation is still a problem. She also mentioned that there is increased levels of coordination on the ground; and that contrary to what the media says, the Haitian government is leading this effort with support from the international community.

Ms. Mills then spoke of the work of USAID and the leadership of Rajiv Shah. He had search and rescue teams on the ground within 24 hours. The US government has donated 3 million to the UN World Food Programme and so far 3,000 people have been employed through the UN Cash for Work program. Some NGOs have Cash for Work but Ms. Mills didn't have their employment numbers.

There will be a UN donor's conference in NY on March 31st. The Haitian government is drafting their reconstruction plan to present to donor countries (should have final draft by the 15th of March). Haiti's needs are long-term, this will be the first of many donor conferences. It will focus on funds for foundational work and cover year 1.

At the end the lines were open for a short Q& A (there was only 10 minutes for this). I listed the questions below that there was time to answer.

1. What is available for people seeking Temporary Protection Status (TPS)?
Visit www.uscis.gov for questions on Temporary Protection Status (TPS) or general humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti (in Kreyol and English)
Or call 800-375-5283.
TPS: US has received 25,000 applications majority from FL and NY. 15,000 from FL alone. The government has waived the fee for people applying (fee is usually $400). They were hoping more people would apply-- like 100,000. Trying to get the work out.


2. Where can people that have newly arrived go for assistance?
For newly arrived Haitians looking for assistance they should inquire about the Cuban Haitian Entrance program-- the two orgs more familiar and capable to help are Church World Service and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

3. The rainy season will begin in earnest in April, what are you doing to prepare?
State and USAID working with UN Shelter cluster-- working to distribute safe building materials/structure. Want to conduct training about transitional housing ans setting new building structures.

I have to say, even though I was bummed that they didn't get to all our questions, it was great to be engaged as a community. It was a good call and the White House in particular seem like they want to engage. In fact, they encouraged people email them with follow up questions and comments. I say, take them on their offer. We have to increase access to information about reconstruction plans and make a big stink if ordinary Haitians do not have a formal way to feed into the plans. I highly encourage you to email the White House office of Public Engagement with your concerns/questions.

A Mind is a terrible thing to waste

Before the quake it was reported that only 50% of children in Haiti when to school. Now approximately 90% of the schools from Port-au-Prince to Jacmel have collapsed. School is suppose to resume in April. Half a million people fled Port-au-Prince for the countryside. Those schools will face overcrowding and relatives with meager resources may be forced to kill their livestock instead of selling it to feed the extras mouths.

In the meantime, I wonder how students pass time. What will happen to all of the university students studying to be engineers, nurses, doctors, teachers or lawyers? There was already a small number of students in college. Can we afford to let their futures hang in the balance? Haiti needs them to rebuild. Will they finish out their school year? I read in the New York Times that Dillard University, a historically Black university in New Orleans, LA has agreed to open its doors to Haitian students. I hope others step up to the plate as well.

Shock and Awe

Where to start.
It took an earthquake for Haiti to get the world's undivided attention. Some people knew what was going on but turned a blind eye or viewed the country with contempt. Others grew tried of Haiti and its many antics: boat people, corruption, AIDS, coups, food riots, dirt cookies and severe environmental degradation. The place seemed like a lost cause. Some believed Haiti would sink under the sea or burn up in flames, but alas none of that happened. Instead an earthquake leveled and shattered hopes, dreams, livelihoods, homes, schools and hospitals. All of Haiti's problems (many not of its own making) and deficits were in plain view for all the world to see.
People were forced to look; this was the ultimate shock and awe.

A Tale of two Earthquakes

Yesterday morning, I awoke to an email marked urgent, it was about the massive 8.8 earthquake that hit central Chile. My colleague and her family had recently visited Chile and on Friday as we left for the day, I told her to bring in pictures from her family vacation. That conversation seems light years away now.
The Chile earthquake was 500 times stronger than the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti 6 weeks ago and as news accounts came in, it became clear that Chile's causalities would not be anywhere near than of Haiti's. The dead toll stands at 700, compared to Haiti's 220,000. The stark differences can only be blamed on poverty. Poverty preys on the weak, vulnerable, sick and in a twisted way exacerbates tragedy. Below I have listed the 4 main differences between the two.

1. In Haiti there is no money for seismic risk evaluations, frankly earthquakes were not on any one's radar, this is an island that is used to hurricanes and floods. The last quake was 200 years ago, so there is no institutional memory of it.
2. Building and zoning codes are lax; there is no money to inspect construction projects, force people to use better material or pay government workers to enforce the law.
3. Location. It is also important to note the epicenter of the quakes. In Haiti it was right outside the capital, in Chile it was 200 miles NE of the capitol Santiago and 70 miles from the second largest city Concepcion. The greater population density contributed to Haiti's enormous lose.
4. Chile's quake was deeper in the ground 21.7 miles as opposed to Haiti's which was 8.1 miles.

All of this contributed to the staggering lose of life in Haiti.

Even though Pat Robertson blames the audacity of defiant slaves in search of freedom for Haiti's recent tragedy, I squarely point the finger at poverty. The people didn't die from the earthquake, they died from poverty.

I Heart Haiti

This past Wednesday I hopped on a bus for NYC with my cousin Gabe. We were headed for the United Nations Association Haiti Conference. We were both excited as this was our first visit to the UN; we even walked pass Ban Ki Moon, the Secretary General! I am not going to say we were star struck, but definitely WOWED!

I wanted to come to the conference to meet other members of the Diaspora to connect and jointly discuss ways to leverage our networks, resources, knowledge and expertise for Haiti. 700 people were in attendance and the crowd mostly Haitian. We were all there because of the fierce urgency of now and the desire to seize this opportunity to forge a new relationship with Haiti.
The conference opened with remarks from UN Haitian Ambassador Léo Mérorès, who quickly described the situation on the ground, shared his heartfelt thanks to the global community for all their contributions and explained why this was a unique opportunity for the Haitian government to collaborate with the Diaspora. By the end of his talk it became clear to me that as a community we needed to get organized fast so that we can have a seat at the table as plans are drawn.

The half day conference also brought experts to cover topics on Education, Health, Micro Finance and Art. The best part of the day besides hearing the remarks of the ambassador was the evening reception. It provided an opportunity for conference participants to network and learn more about each other. I enjoyed this time, as I was able to speak to very passionate individuals-- architects, musicians, photographers, lawyers, graphic designers, non profit leaders, pastors, urban planners, entrepreneurs and educators; all currently or ready to use their skills and talents for Haiti. It was awesome and made me feel like if we can continue to meet in an organized fashion, we can harness our combined resources for Haiti.

A spunky petite woman named Danit Aronson, was selling fashionable t-shirts in the back corner, at the reception for Partners in Health. Danit created "I Heart Haiti" as a personal effort to raise money to help her loved ones and countless others rebuild their country. About the shirts Danit says, "through striking visuals and powerful words, the t-shirts are an integral tool in keeping the need for aid in Haiti in the limelight, even after the media trend goes down."
100% of the proceeds from the shirts will go to Partners in Health. By the time she and I finished talking about the t-shirts, fashion and our love for Haiti, I was more than happy to buy one!

Danit like many others is using her love for Haiti to do good and proving that each of us can make a difference.

Like Thieves in the Night

If you have been following events in Haiti over the past few weeks then you might be familiar with the so-called Baptist "missionaries" that flew to Haiti in the wake of the earth quake to rescue Haiti's most vulnerable--the orphans.

10 God-fearing Americans hailing from Texas, Missouri and Idaho hopped on a plane to the stricken island nation; armed with only the love of God in their righteous hearts and a vague plan to identify needy orphans. According to their own website, the church members only planned to spend a few hours in Haiti.

When the story first broke, the members claimed they rescued the children from a destroyed orphanage. It was later revealed that the 33 children, ranging in age from 2 months to 12 years old came from Calebasse, a small community outside of Port-au-Prince. Moreover, they were not orphans but given away by their parents to the Americans. The parents came forward later saying they gave up their children in hopes the Americans could provide them a better life. So with 33 children in tow they loaded them on a bus and headed for a rented hotel with a swimming pool in the DR.

The ring leader Laura Silsby, knew they didn't have the necessary paper work, yet believed they could get away with not following the law. After all, this is Haiti-- the poorest country in the western hemisphere in case the media has allowed you to forget; they don't have laws. And the Americans had the best of intentions. The 10 missionaries came to Haiti thinking they were saviors. Carla Thompson one of the members is quoted as saying " God is the one who called us to come here and we just really believed this was His purpose."

Well here is what I say to that, hiding behind Christian values doesn't change the fact that they attempted to kidnap those children. They did not have proper authorization to transport the children to the DR. They attempted to illegally traffick the children and they should have never come up with this misadventure in the first place. They have done more harm that good in a country that is already leery of foreign interventions and international adoptions.

Art is our Legacy

Art is powerful, it speaks a universal language and one piece can be multifaceted and tell a multitude of stories. Art is rich and vibrate and can change lives. Although I am not an artist, I have an earnest appreciation for musicians, painters, sculptors, dancers and actors, I respect how they are able to convey pure emotion and share their inner most thoughts with the world.

In Haiti, I took pictures of sculptures and paintings, some were in private homes and others were from the Nadar gallery which reportedly lost 50 perfect of its art. Many of the famous Haitian artists were self taught-- they translated their landscapes and enviroments on to canvas, stone, song and dance.

Sadly there is no national art museum in Haiti, these lost treasures were kept in private galleries. There is no money for such things.

While I mourn the lose of life, I also mourn the lose of art for it was our legacy. It was to outlast us and serve as evidence that our lives meant something.



*The picture attached is my favorite sculpture. The sculpture is owned by my friend's grandmother, who is an avid collector. It is located in her garden. I absolutely love the woman's features, the shape of her eyes, her wide nose and full lips--so beautiful and made in the image and reflection of a Haitian woman.

Plans for Resettlement

The government over the weekend finally revealed it's plan for resettlement. Prime Minister Jean Max Bellerive said the government does not own adequate land to house the 1.2 million displaced so they will annex private land on flat non-flood plains. This is good news albeit it would have been nice to have a decision sooner.

A Government Worthy of its People

In all of the conversations I have with my family and friends of Haitian descent, I am hard pressed to find ONE that trust's the government. Everyone I talk to repeats the same refrain, "they steal, lie, protect the interest of the elite and cheat!" Needless to say, there is deep mistrust and sense that the government is just unreliable.
And now that the eyes of the entire world is on Haiti, the actions of the government are even more scrutinized; its shortcomings tallied and flaws obvious for all to see. I agree that the criticism is warranted, the government doesn't have a great track record. Basic services are not provided and corruption is rampant.

Since the quake, President Rene Preval appears deflated; a shell of a man; still in shock by the magnitude of the personal and national lose felt. He does not appear to have the wherewithal to muster the will and strength to lead.
I understand the deep seeded mistrust but in defense of the government, they have made modest improvements; the most notable being increasing security, attracting foreign investments and reforming the judiciary. Small steps, but steps nonetheless. The US government as a result downgraded travel warnings to the island last fall. The Preval administration does deserve some credit.

My point is this, the government has a very long way to go; if they continue to make improvements, put the needs of the Haitian people first, public trust can begin anew. If not, Haiti will sadly always rely on aid. The government will continue to be weak and the people will not have anyone to hold accountable. We cannot afford to continue to sidestep the government. A country cannot rely on Missionaries and NGOs alone. After all, they don't have to stay.

It upset me to drive around Cap Haitien (called O Kap by the locals) and see billboards proudly boasting that the road, school or water project was funded by the EU, USAID or one of the numerous NGOs on the ground. The billboard should have said "brought you to by the Haitian government."

My Memory of O Kap, Le Cap, 2009

The air is filled with debris. The tropical sun in early August is fierce and unrelenting. Unaccustomed to this heat, I spray on my SPF 30 sun block and lather on layers of insect repellent.
The moment I step outside, beads of sweat form along my brows-- the spray and lotion combo create this greasy film and melt under the pressure of the sun. I am defenseless and hot. I use my bandanna to wipe my face and neck. I am also thinking jeans were a bad choice for the day. I resign myself to deal and try not to appear too bothered and uncomfortable in the heat. After all, this is nothing compared to want millions of Haitians go through-- sweat and mosquito bites will not kill me.

Needless to say, it was one of the many American moments I had in Haiti.

Five Block Radius

I try to imagine it; I think about my neighborhood in Boston. My favorite coffee shop, my hair salon, when I go to buy groceries, the bike trail across from my apartment building, the pizza shop down the street or the post office and bank branch; the 5 block radius that I know like the back of my hand and makes up the majority of where I do my business; the places I go to clear my head or rest after a busy day at work; lying in ruin in 20 seconds. Members of my community or family, dead or trapped beneath the rubble. Any semblance of my life gone.

My cousin *Lisa came back from Jacmel this week. She was there with a medical aid group based in South Florida as a translator for two weeks. She shared that the fear that something worst could happen was palpable, it was evident in the silent gestures, the way people moved about or in the wrinkles on their foreheads. People are genuinely shaken and anxious, worried that another earth quake might come. There are people that refuse to return to their homes, even though they are still standing, preferring the open air over closed walls. But being outdoors has its share of problems too. Rains have started to fall and are proving to be a major test for the delivery of aid. For the 1.2 million displaced, rain is not a friend.

Even still, they make their best effort to move forward, despite the signs of their lost everywhere they turn. A school desk, a shoe, a dress, toys and broken dishes are all reminders that life was there. We may not know all their names or stories but they left us signs that they were here so we do not forget.

* Name changed

Moxie

Much has been said and written about the resiliency of the Haitian people. Moxie, doesn't even begin to describe the people. I wish I had more of it. Last July when my sister and I were in Port-au-Prince we when to an outdoor Mass, celebrating a saint's feast day. We took an umbrella as the sky was grey and the clouds appeared pregnant with rain. There appeared to be 1000 people if not more in this square. On either side of the square people were on top of their roofs sitting in neat rows or peering out their window with out stretched arms, clasping their bibles and rosaries.

Maybe 15 minutes into Mass it started to pour. We huddled under the umbrella, Mass formally stopped, but few people left. I was soaking wet and frankly ready to leave. The rain was an intermission of sorts; in the meantime people sang religious songs and used the time to pray. As the rain subsided, Mass quickly resumed.

At the present moment, the Haitian government has yet to reveal a plan to move people to more suitable lands and tens of thousands have inadequate shelter. There is growing evidence of severe lack of coordination on the part of humanitarian aid organizations on the ground. The latest report revealing high levels of frustration coming from the UN's top humanitarian relief coordinator John Holmes. Five weeks since the quake these tent cities are taking on signs of permanency; lotto stands, barbers, bakers, cooks and others return to the business of life. Scraps of metal and tin are used to reinforce flimsy structures.

People march on despite the harsh and squalid conditions. I know it will take more than moxie to get through this misery but maybe the can-do spirit of the Haitian people will be enough to encourage the rest of us to stick it out in the rain too.

When the Rain Comes

Haiti's rainy season begins in March, barely two weeks away. Hurricane season is from June to November. There are an estimated 1.2 million internally displaced people living in cramped quarters, held up by bed sheets, wood and string. The fancier encampments have plastic sheeting to keep out the rain. And when it rains it Haiti, it pours. Haiti is prone to flooding and has a history of mud slides.

In the short term, plastic sheeting is a must for all tent city dwellers; but come June, people will need more durable structures to protect them from the rain and fend off forceful winds. Without permanent housing or hurricane shelters it will not take much for the wind and rain to literally wash people away. The urgency can not be understated. A concerted and coordinated effort by the Haitian government, UN, NGO community and foreign governments needs to be made to protect this highly vulnerable population.

Time is short, the rain will come.

Kanaval in Jacmel

Today would have been the biggest party in Jacmel, a laid back seaside town located 25 miles South of Port- au- Prince. Jacmel is renowned for its bustling arts community and dazzling Kanaval. The costumes, masks, dances and music capture the spirit of the Haitian people. The three day long party is the lead up to the somber Lenten season in this predominantly Catholic country.

Kanaval was cancelled; there is no momentary suspension from reality this year; little reason to gather in the streets from dusk to dawn, sun kissed and sweaty to dance and sing; not with the fresh memory and smell of pungent corpses still rotting under the rubble.

I am reminded of my lovely grandmother and great uncle who would face the phone to the streets so I could get a taste of the sweet horns blaring; how I wish there was joyous music coming out of Haiti right now instead of wailing motherless children.

Self Determination

The reality for the vast majority of Haitians is a life filled with difficulties. Their lives hang in the balance and their future is not always theirs. It is shaped by what aid groups, missionaries, USAID, MINUSTAH, the Catholic Church, IMF and WB believe it is. Self-determination, having a say about the direction of one's life-- that is stripped away, like dignity.
I have been concerned about the lack of self-determination before the quake and now even more so. There are reportedly 10,000 aid groups in Haiti, celebrity visits and high level diplomats. I believe that most groups are doing the right thing but I am concerned about the reconstruction of Haiti; how it is conducted, who is involved and what the priorities are. This is an opportunity to build a stronger and better Haiti. Its a chance to include ordinary Haitians in the conversation. Its a chance to involve the Diaspora in the US, Canada and France. This is our shot to significantly reduce poverty, strengthen institutions and correct systems of inequality. It will be a missed opportunity if its business as usual.

To Haiti with Love

Today is Valentine's Day and Haiti is on my mind and in my heart. In the summer of 2009 I went to Haiti for 3 weeks and can remember the sites and sounds as if it were yesterday. Car horns in Port-au-Prince beep more than taxis in Midtown, Manhattan! Traditional and colorful Tap-Taps line the streets. The lack of formal employment is not a deterrent for most; as people set up shop on street corners, sidewalks or sell their goods and services via bike or wheel barrel.
Those without electricity use the sun and moon for light and to predict time. Mass is 4 times a day and usually filled with people thanking God for His many blessings but hoping and praying this same God will provide a reprieve from the misery of poverty.
But amidst this harsh and merciless environment is incredible strength and resiliency. Haiti IS a beautiful country; breathtaking mountains, white sandy beaches, amazing art, music, cuisine and warm people. The ingenuity of Haitians impresses me, Haitians have always made a way out of no way. I witnessed a man make copies for people on the street in Port au Prince. Another man, fixed cars on the side of the road in Cap Haitien and women selling their art work in Jacmel. Haitians have an entrepreneurial spirit and its a force to be reckon with!
Haitians know how to get by, they have been doing that since 1804.

January 12th, the Day the Earth Shook

Since January 12th 2010, I have not been the same. I have been trying to make sense of the world since the 7.0 magnitude earth quake shook Port-au-Prince, Haiti and surrounding communities to their core. It has impacted me personally; I don't know a single Haitian person that does not know someone that was killed or lost their home, business, school or church. The impact has been profound.
My love for Haiti has inspired me to create this blog. This blog, although insignificant, is dedicated to Haiti and her people.

As long as I breathe, I will always have hope for Haiti.