EARTHQUAKE UPDATE
Haiti Trip Report
January 30, 2010
Report from Dr. Gretchen Berggren
Flew in to Santo Domingo and made 8 hour trip with Save the Children van to Petionville. I am here at their request as consultant in nutrition.
There were hundreds, and I mean hundreds of trucks between here and Santo Domingo loaded with everything under the sun....med supplies, building supplies, food, vans of "mission" workers, etc… Outskirts of PAP: tent cities everywhere, and often the "tent" is made of flimsy bed sheets. What happens when the rains come?
The earthquake was capricious: Bidonville above Pertionville little touched! Meeting Haitian workers. All had tales of lost loved ones; some wanted to be held or have a friendly touch. At the UN "airport" waiting room a young girl caring for the rest room poured out her heart: both parents lost; now she is an orphan.
The sounds: market women everywhere already selling whatever they can find to sell, bargaining about dusty mangoes, avocados. Scratching and shoveling to remove rubble everywhere. Groups singing hymns. Occasional wailing when a body is found. Earnest prayers of the Seventh Day Adventists nearby. Skyhawk helicopters buzzing overhead. A bird that sounds like a thrush singing its heart out. Chickens clucking, roosters crowing, dogs barking. Somewhere in the distance I hear children at play.
I am going out to Leogane tomorrow and will look up Albert with gift from friends… The Episcopal Bishop will hold a service 9:00 a.m. in the ruins of the Cathedral tomorrow. They say the fresco of the Christ still stands above the rubble. Father Sadoni will be there and I will give him the clothing I brought for the disabled kids at St Vincent's School.
Thanks to Libby and others we made contact with Mercy and Sharing on behalf of St Vincent's. They will share some food received. We drove around Petionville. Save the Children headquarters and home of the US director Ed Nelson miraculously untouched. Headquarters besieged by young men looking for work. Ed is a wonderful host: he bought mattresses and the place is full of staff sleeping on the floor everywhere. I am staying there as well… We look up the hill to the ruins of the Montana Hotel; somehow it is softened by the light of the evening sunset. There is a soft breeze. It is very very quiet. I miss my family!
Goodnight and love to all who helped me get ready with supplies!
Gretchen