Brief look at Port-au-Prince

So we were heading back today from Port-au-Prince where we had one of our country-wide meetings and the new team of expatriates could have the chance to meet each other, carry out some quick coordination, and establish a country-wide strategy. With almost all of the first phase emergency team on their way out, this would more or less be the new team for the next 6 months. It was quite the group I must say. Some coming from other ACTED countries: Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar, Iraq, Congo, Palestine, etc., etc. and others from other organizations, but with just the same level of qualifications. I felt quite privileged to be part of such a diverse, established, and impressive team, and to be honest...a bit out of my league. However, I take solace in the fact that I'm doing my job reasonably well given the obstacles we're facing. Also, knowing that for the time being, distribution of emergency needs is the predominant operation for the organization.

Despite all this, it was written on everyone's face: this emergency is kicking our ass. Too many consecutive nights of working til midnight are starting to wear on all of us. The hope is to be able to establish some planning, systems, etc. that can put us on the right track for the coming months and take us out of extreme emergency mode. Whether we'll get to that stage before people start burning out is a big question mark. I hope for the best, but its clear that this is not a group to take it easy when the pressure's on.

Right now the race is on to finish our emergency distributions to satisfy both donors and outstanding needs of affected populations. While a large amount of affected populations are finally starting to receive multi-faceted aid (water, sanitation, food, shelter, etc.) we are currently trying to fill in the gaps and forgotten communities which becomes more urgent by the day. Its so tough to move as fast as you'd like in this context, because you have to carry out the assessments, speak to committees, prioritize sites, wait for materials, and be sure to carry out the distribution safely and fairly. All of this takes time and people's impatience is understandable, but you feel like youre stuck in quicksand sometimes and unable to move. Anyways, its moving.

I had the chance to take a few videos on my drive back from Port-au-Prince, with the destruction of the presidential palace and Ministry of Finance topping the list for most jaw-dropping. Once you start taking picture of the devastation it quickly becomes a fruitless endeavor when every block there is a building that is even worse than the one before.

Sorry the videos aren't the best quality, but if you put it on full screen you should be able to make out the buildings better...








A bientot,

Chris