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?