Podcast: Aftershock in Haiti
Posted on January 20th, 2010 by Mat Morgan
Moments after a magnitude 5.9 aftershock, volunteer Winnie Romeril speaks with us from Haiti about the humanitarian relief effort.
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I commend the Red Cross volunteers for being so courageous in the face of such turmoil and uncertainty. The Haitian people are in good hands.
The first day the Red Cross offered donations through texting I donated and did an email blast to get more to donate. Eight days later I am watching Anderson Cooper on CNN and seeing the most horrific situations of all the people who still don’t have food, medical supplies etc. it seems odd to me that millions have been donated, an abundance of supplies have been delivered and still people don’t have water. How can the media be reporting from these places yet we can get troops, aid workers, doctors to these areas. It seems that hundreds of millions have been donated yet we still can’t get them what we need. It is reported by CNN that 20,000 will die a day until manpower gets to them. Helicopters certainly could stop. They have to know where these hospitals and nursing homes are that desparately need help. People are having amputations without pain medicine…children etc. All on CNN. They are there reporting…it makes no sense if they can report that help can’t get there…how do you explain it since so much money has been raised.
Kurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Your picture was the first I saw. Please let me believe that you were a grocery store clerk. Your name,jersey number and example were quite the curiosity to me. To all that is being done in Haiti, and I am sure to see around the World, GODSPEED!(Sondi)!!
LoveD
PS: Thanks All!!! Go get ‘em Dale Jr.(no pressure).Peyton;)
To Winnie, Matt and all the brave Red Cross folks…I can only wish I was there…after talking to Winnie yesterday morning I know the risks and sacrifices you make, and I know you are inspired by the courage of the people you serve….my love to u all
David Schenck
The Red Cross used this song nearly 20 years ago after my brother, Stefan Youngblood, wrote it while stuck in the middle of Hurricane Marilyn in the U.S.V.I.
Now, the people of Haiti, the families and friends need this song. Please consider sharing it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFmEwXhzkrA
I have first aid. I can operate loader, cat, forklift, tractor. I’m available to help in haiti from Feb 4 on.
Susan –
We want aid to move faster, too. But it’s going to take government and relief agencies working together quickly to establish security and expand and repair, airports, roads and seaports to get the relief supplies moving. The infrastructure of Haiti is severely damaged-airports are clogged, roads are treacherous, and there is no large seaport available. This is causing bottlenecks and making it very difficult to get aid into the hands of survivors. Despite those problems, aid is starting to slowly make its way to those who need help.
Our President and CEO Gail McGovern was in Haiti on Tuesday and said this:
“It was one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever seen in my life. 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.”
That said, 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.
50 percent of what has been committed or spent is being used to bring food and water to earthquake survivors. The American Red Cross is providing more 3 million pre-packaged meals, more than 1 million water purification packets and thousands of jerry cans so people can collect and transport clean drinking water.
30 percent of what has been committed or spent so far is purchasing and distributing relief supplies. This includes items such as blanket, tarps, soap, hygiene supplies, kitchen sets and first aid supplies.
20 percent of what has been committed or spent is providing the logistical support and other items needed to keep the relief effort running. This includes the purchase of vehicles to deliver relief supplies, warehouse space, gasoline, transportation costs and the deployment of our relief specialists. This category also includes the costs associated with the training and deployment of nearly 70 Creole speaking volunteers to the USNS Comfort.
Thank you for your support.
Winnie, Everyone at the Greater Steuben Chapter is so proud of you and all of the work you are doing to help the people of Haiti! Please be safe and keep up the good work. You really are making a difference.
Dear Red Cross Relief Workers,
I thank God in prayer every day for the vocations of those like yourselves, and like Winnie who was in this podcast, who dedicate their lives to reducing the suffering of others, and to increasing peace, plenty, security and freedom from want, hunger and pain. I wish I could send this message of admiration and gratitude to every person (and I imagine this would include almost every Haitian) who is working in any way to relieve the terrible suffering of Haiti at this moment. What you must be enduring and what you have sacrificed as a volunteer and aid worker I can only imagine. Please accept and pass on my love, prayers and thanks to all your brother and sister workers from every country, from Haiti outward, against these cruel hardships. Every one of you awes me by your love of neighbor, your hard work, endurance, perseverance, compassion, courage, humility, willingness to learn from one another, faith in yourselves and one another, and toughness despite frightening odds. You are an inspiration to me and my family. May God uphold you in your vocation, energy, peace, health and courage. May God bless every hurting person in Haiti with comforting presence, material relief, reduction of pain and accompany them in their losses and bereavements. May God move the hearts of those in power to smooth the way for aid to flow, and of every person in the world to help in any small way possible.
Thank you for inspiring hope and help.
Blessings and peace to you all,
Andrea Miotto
It is because of the volunteers there that the disaster victims can survive and be helped. Can you imagine what it would be like if they were not there at all.
Donations are coming from all parts of the world to help these people of Haiti to help build their lives again.
God Bless them and protect them.
There just has to be some way that experienced Red Cross workers that are not International can be used in Haiti. It is so frustrating that our talents cannot be used when there is such a need! We can distribute supplies, drive truck, hold and feed babies not to mention help with first aid, be hospital help, just anything…. I am qualified in just about every phase of Red Cross work through advanced classes. My expertise is in Sheltering, ERV, Food Service. I am qualified to do other tasks, such as ware-house, damage assessment, and Client Services. I have been a licensed Day Care Center DIrector and Teacher for 24 years and an EMT for 15 years. My jobs have all been in management. I am First AId trained. I can drive a truck with a 16 foot trailer or more. I was first down, first workers at Long Beach, Ms and Biloxi after Katrina and was one of 3 people who ran the shelter when there was not much in the way of supplies except food and water for 2 1/2 weeks. I slept on a cement floor and I can do it again. We also ran a community shelter and distribution for the needs of the entire community because we had to. I am used to thinking “out of the box.” If there is any way you could use my services I would be more than willing to go. I do understand the language barrier, but I would be more than willing to do anything that needs to be done. Please consider me for a place to make a difference in these peoples lives. Cheryl Johnston Red Cross Disaster Relief Volunteer