This letter was sent to Bill directly from the president of the Haitian Health Foundation. To find out how you can help, visit HaitianHealthFoundation.org.
Dear Bill,
Last evening, I returned from Haiti. I flew directly to Jeremie via Santiago, D.R. on Thursday, February 4, 2010. We traveled to Haiti by private missionary plane.
I did not visit Port au Prince. The purpose of my visit with daughter, Marilyn and a volunteer photographer was to document the refugees fleeing Port au Prince to southwestern Haiti, the site of the Haitian Health Foundation's (HHF) outreach, and to plan short-term and long-term restoration of their lives, using HHF's in-country staff.
Early investigations indicate over 500 homes damaged or destroyed in and around Jeremie. Large cement buildings, including five schools, while not destroyed, are badly damaged, and unsafe to occupy. Many students will be unable to attend school.
HHF's St. Pierre School was well built and not damaged. Over 725 presently attend this school - they are very, very poor - HHF finances a daily meal for these children.
I arranged to have double sessions at this school: 8 am to 1 pm, and 1 pm to 6 pm. The afternoon session will be for young earthquake victims from Port au Prince. This will add some normalcy to their traumatized lives. They will also receive a daily meal, supplied by HHF.
To date, the local authorities (Mayor of Jeremie, Interior Minister) estimate about 125,000 refugees in the Grand'Anse area, with over 50,000 in Jeremie and HHF's umbrella.
During our short visit, trucks, busses, and a large ferry delivered another 4,000 refugees. More arrive daily. The sick, injured, pregnant, etc. are triaged to the local hospital, or to HHF facilities for treatment.
I know that you are aware of the news media focusing on the negatives in Haiti--looting, taking orphans, etc... You asked me for "new news."
The news in Jeremie is quite new and different - one of sharing and compassion.
I was stunned to find no tents or "tarp villages" or refugee camps. There was no way to tell who was a refugee in the streets. Every arriving refugee is housed with family in the area. Many are with relatives or friends, many with strangers. Some families have up to 20 people living in their very humble homes, sleeping on the floor and sharing food, water, and clothing.
I visited many homes and heard no complaints or grumbling: only compassion for those who had lost everything.
Families who are hungry themselves are meeting the ferry boats with hot food and water to share with passengers who have made the two day trip without food or water.
The world has much to learn about caring and compassion from the Haitian people. With over 100,000 displaced people, the fact that there are no refugee camps is a compliment to the hospitality and love in both city and villages.
HHF is trying to bring comfort and survival by providing food, medicine, and transportation.
About 10,000 received food during our short stay and this distribution continues--we are preparing 80-pound packages of food for those in the most need, those who have taken in the most refugees.
It is a monumental task to secure the food and then to package and deliver it safely, but HHF's existing network has made it possible. This will go on for some time.
Without this food, host families would be unable to feed themselves and their guests.
Our next phase is to begin providing refugees with the means to have small micro-businesses in the village markets. Self-support must begin, and HHF will supply materials: clothing, flour, rice, oil, plastic products, etc. to the refugees to begin selling.
Phase three will begin repairing and rebuilding damaged houses, and attempting to begin permanent placement for refugees.
This is a long-term project. People cannot return to Port au Prince for years. The city must be rebuilt to accept them.
The Haitian Health Foundation begins our 28th year of service to the poor of southern Haiti. HHF is in this for the long run. HHF needs the support of good people like you to provide the financial resources to continue this life-sustaining work.
We appreciate all that you have done for us, both before and after the earthquake.
Jeremiah J. Lowney, Jr., DDS, MS, MPH
President
Haitian Health Foundation
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