Tracy Reines, Director of International Disaster Response, shows you a few examples of items we’re distributing to survivors in Haiti.
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American Red Cross volunteer Winnie Romeril returned from Haiti this past weekend after spending two weeks working on relief efforts there. Winnie has been instrumental in providing information about her experiences to us for sharing on this blog. On Monday, she spoke at a round table briefing at our National Headquarters. Here are some descriptions of the work she took part of, and her impressions upon leaving the country.
The Red Cross firmly believes that we must work with the community to figure out their needs. One example is how our water purification teams talk to community leaders to figure out what’s going on. Outside Port-au-Prince in smaller cities and villages, there are many wells unscathed by the earthquake– so we test them to let people know if the water is safe. In communities where it’s not safe, we have set up water distribution points.
There is an incredible resiliency in the Haitian people. Since everyone has been affected by the earthquake, this has created a powerful sense of unity. This resiliency is particularly prevalent among children, many of whom continue to laugh and play despite the widespread devastation. The market economy has also started coming back with some banks, gas stations and stores now open. Food and other materials are coming in from the unaffected countryside. Relatives who live abroad are sending in money.
How well would we like to build back Haiti? We could bring them back to the standards they were at before the earthquake, but is that good enough? It’s not. Haiti unfortunately will have more disasters. We need to help them prepare for future events with better construction that can withstand hurricanes and earthquakes. We know how to do this: we’ve done it in Pakistan, Peru, and China, and we can do it in Haiti. For every dollar we invest in disaster preparedness, we save $4-8 in disaster response. The Haitians are leading the way in rebuilding their lives.
We need to support Haitians to be stronger for the future.
You can follow our latest updates from the ground in Haiti by visiting our Disaster Online Newsroom
Read more about Winnie’s experiences and observations at redcross.org.
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Below are two video updates from American Red Cross Emergency Response Unit team members on the ground in Haiti. Watch to get a sense of how distribution at camp sites is assessed and carried out.
The Red Cross is focusing on three areas – food, clean drinking water and other relief items such as hygiene kits, blankets, tarps, sleeping mats, tents and water containers. The relief items are helping more than 10,000 families (50,000 people) to date – with plans to increase this number. About 79 percent of the funds spent or committed by the American Red Cross have been for food and water; 18 percent have been for shelter; and the rest have been for health and family services.
To read the latest updates on disaster relief in Haiti, please visit our Disaster Online Newsroom.
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When you are left without power for a long time, what’s one of the best ways to stay informed of local conditions?
Red Cross worker Winnie Romeril noticed recently that a lot of Haitians on the street were carrying our Red Cross eton emergency crank radios. These radios, which were being handed out by a local radio station, can by powered by cranking a handle that stores energy in a battery. Some of the models out there can even store solar power.
Currently, about 20 radio stations are back up and running post-earthquake in Haiti. These radio stations can communicate important information about relief to a massively displaced population.
When you are thinking about what to put in an emergency preparedness kit, consider including a radio – it could make a difference by keeping you and your family connected to immediate sources of information when your usual options are out.
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The post below was written by American Red Cross volunteer Winnie Romeril. For more information about the symbols associated with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, please visit the IFRC website.
Yesterday I met Uri Shacham, an Israeli paramedic from the Magen David Adom (MDA, Israel’s equivalent of the Red Cross) working in the Red Cross-administered University Hospital in Port au Prince. He was sporting a smart white baseball cap with a red crystal surrounding the red Shield of David.
“Hi I’m a volunteer from the American Red Cross,” I introduced myself. “Wanna swap hats?” I knew I’d be the envy of my Red Cross colleagues to score a hat like this, on the first major disaster relief operation where the new symbol is being used.
“Sure, what do you have?” Uri asked. I offered him my cap from the Tsunami operation. “Really, you sure?” We traded our treasures in mutual delight. As we are both paramedics, we quickly and excitedly began bantering about our work and became fast friends.
Today, joined by Judy Nicholson, a volunteer from the American Red Cross, I was back at the hospital. We came across another MDA paramedic and a psychosocial volunteer, both with a crystal on their red vest alongside a badge with the cross and crescent, representing our Movement’s response. I commented on the gathering of symbols.
“Oh, you should have been here earlier. People from the Red Cross and Red Crescent around the world keep approaching us.” said Keli Peretz, a paramedic and PSP.
They don’t notice each other’s symbols or national affiliation at first. They just start talking, like Red Cross workers do. Even when meeting colleagues from unlikely countries, where the governments do not get along, “They want to take our pictures together!” said the paramedic in amazement.
“We embraced, shared experiences, laughed and talked, oh, you cannot imagine,” said the relief worker with tears in her eyes. “It’s only because of the politicians. We don’t feel this way. They are our brothers and sisters. It is only here in the Red Cross that we can be together like that; that things are as they should be.”
They joked about putting some of the pictures they took on Facebook, but realized sadly that it could cause them trouble at home.
But here in this place, everyone works together regardless of anything.
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This is our second report from the ground in Haiti. This weekend, we spoke again with Winnie Romeril, who described the current situation in Port au Prince and shared with us her experience while visiting Red Cross volunteers aboard the USNS Comfort.
Please note that the Red Cross is not able to accept additional volunteers for the Haiti response operation.
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The below was written by American Red Cross volunteer Wilfrid from the Miami Chapter. He’s aboard the USNS Comfort providing assistance to Haiti.
Was crazy the trip from Miami to Guantanamo, then to airport p-au-p, then helicopter to the Navy ship. Full military operation. I have seen the hard work. So far about 48hrs without sleeping. We’ll talk another day…
Arrival to Guantanamo 3:35pm
Ready to fly from Guantanamo to Haiti Airport 2:15am.
Arrival in airport Haiti; 3:10 AM. Eat and drink then, lay down on the grass until morning. 7:50AM. we felt an aftershock (1sec). A lot of plans and moving…
Some of the team stayed at Guantanamo the whole night (w/ Dee). Took the helicopter to the USNS comfort by 3:15 pm and arrive at 3:30pm – while the team in Guantanamo went straight to the USNS by 12:00 PM.
The team is in the dining area with all the other Corps. An immense mass care operation. The ship can provide about 7000 hot meals. We had a meal and went to rest for tomorrow.
Sleeping area! We all got a chance to shower. Then, Saturday is in. 5:30 AM get ready for breakfast at 6:00 AM. I became a call center with my phone for many of the team. The rush started not too late after our lunch.
In the meeting after breakfast!
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From a British Red Cross delegate in Haiti:
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From American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern:
I can tell you that this is a devastating disaster with widespread extensive damage. Many buildings are pancaked flat, the streets are filled with rubble and people. The infrastructure of the country is in severely damaged – airports, ports and roads – making it very difficult to get aid in.
It was one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever seen in my life. We want aid to move faster, too.
But there are glimmers of progress. Despite all of these logjams and bottlenecks, things are getting through. But it’s slow. The pipeline of getting materials into Haiti was a straw only a few days ago, and now it’s a garden hose, but we need it to become a fire hose.
Even with the challenges, we are truly making a difference.
I saw American Red Cross staff, armed with first aid kits, going out to treat people. They have a truck and a door that they were using as a stretcher, and they were taking injured to a field hospital run by Red Cross. Every time a Red Cross truck would go through the streets, the people would clear the way to let it pass.
The American Red Cross is in Haiti as part of the broader and coordinated Red Cross and Red Crescent network. We all have our roles; we all have our expertise, and we’re all working together. That is a very powerful engine for relief.
But what struck me most were the people of Haiti. In the area we visited, several hundred families were living under makeshift tents of sheets, blankets, plastic – anything they could drape over something for a little shelter
They were patient, not pushing for water or food. But they need our help.
I feel like I left a piece of my heart in Haiti, and please know that the Red Cross is going to do whatever we can to help the people of Haiti, both in the short term but also as part of what we know will be a vast and long-term recovery for this nation and its people.
Details
In just the first week of the Haiti response effort, the American Red Cross already has spent or committed $34 million (approximately 25 percent of what has been pledged or received) as of Thursday, January 21.
We’ve committed and spent funds in three basic areas:
This is only the beginning of the American Red Cross relief and recovery effort for Haiti.
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