Haiti - Pulling Together in Community 1-14-10

Anderson, South Carolina

In lieu of an essay today, it seems appropriate to share some field reports about matters in Haiti and options for your participation.

As you may know, a number of us have been involved in the miracle of Cange, some have given decades to this model of empowerment and development in the mountains to the east of Port au Prince. When I last saw Cange and Port au Prince, both were quite intact. As you know, Port Au Prince (with 2 million residents) is now essentially a total loss, with death estimates as high as 100,000. The Episcopal Cathedral, the large school associated with it, the Roman Catholic Cathedral in the next block, and the National Palace just down the street were lost along with a very substantial number of lives. The airport in Port au Prince is operational for heavy jets and is open to relief operations. I think it goes with out saying that the usual daily AA service and others are off-line.

The town of Cange two hours east has survived and its magnificent hospitals appear to be structurally intact and are presently operational on generators, which are running low on fuel. The location of Cange to the east on the opposite side from the earthquake epicenter suggests the hospital will become a major recovery catchment facility and can handle perhaps two hundred victims from Port au Prince (known locally as PAP). Problematic to Cange and its ability to maintain services for the 8-10,000 people there will be access to medical supplies, food, water, and moneys to maintain what could easily become a completely overwhelmed health system and town infrastructure. Most of the highway from PAP to Cange has been recently repaved and the town is going to be an oasis of hope for millions in dire straits. Your contributions to the all-consuming needs will make a huge difference, right now. There are people on the ground and enroute who know Haiti, know how to work within the systems, such as they are, and can provide maximum assistance in this critical season before the onset of the inevitable disease epidemics. Partners in Health was started in Cange and has become one of the premier models of empowering aid and development in the world as being emulated across the world.

Please go to PIH.org and you will see a big button on your screen. Click on it and help us keep people alive.

Go to http://PIH.org to donate now


Phone services and many roads are non-functioning. Some wireless internet and cell phone service has allowed sketchy reports to get out of other regions. I received several reports yesterday that I will include here as sent to me. Your response to this vast need will make the difference for thousands who may not make it to Valentine’s Day or Easter this year.