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Lieut. Colonel Lynette Rowe assists with the sorting and repacking of clothing destined for Haiti
Captain Jean Laurore Clenat, District Officer for South Haiti provides translations a doctor examines a patient at the clinic in Delmas, Port au Prince.
Volunteers off-load supplies arriving at the Army’s distribution center in Port au Prince.
Sorting area for the large supply of clothing and food arriving at THQ in Kingston, Jamaica
Salvation Army volunteers distribute rice and beans on The Salvation Army’s compound in Port au Prince.
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Haiti Earthquake relief, Report # 4
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 Haiti Earthquake Relief
Chief Secretary’s Report #4
Lieut-Colonel Lindsay Rowe
January 20, 2010
More than 700 Salvation Army workers permanently stationed in Haiti are being supported in their Earthquake disaster response efforts by an International Salvation Army team. Yesterday officers and volunteers served 10,000 meals. More meals of rice and beans arrived today but these had to be handed out in an un-orderly fashion because it came in large bags and needed to be rationed out.
Today the area was rocked by yet another earth quake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale. This aftershock is posing problems for relief workers and their attempts to distribute much needed food and water.
The Area
The area in which The Salvation Army is working is the 2nd most dangerous area in Delmas/St. Martin, Port-au-Prince. It is considered very dangerous and the press is being told to stay away from it. This accounts for the limited media coverage The Salvation Army’s operation is receiving.
Because of the danger in the area it is also quite difficult to receive deliveries for distribution.
While there are definite security issues we estimate that 10,000 - 15,000 people in the area are looking to The Salvation Army for assistance.
The Clinic
The clinic is on the same compound as the distribution and feeding center but it too is up and running in fine form. It is amazing how well things were organized in such a short time, in fact, immediately after the earth quake the clinic began functioning as a triage with victims showing up immediately for treatment. The medical team served 200+ patients on Monday and approximately 300 patients on Tuesday. Unfortunately the clinic is running short on supplies. They were able to set up 2 surgical rooms for major injuries. There are 8 doctors working at the clinic. Another baby was born in the clinic early this morning. These Doctors are but a few of the dozens of doctors, nurses and other medical specialists from the United States, Canada , the U.K and other countries serving hundreds of people each day in Port au Prince and elsewhere in Haiti.
Tents
The team has been able to set up tents on the Army’s compound with plans in place for the arrival of additional tents.
Supplies
The team is in urgent need of medical supplies, food, water, and personal hygiene items. The Salvation Army in Jamaica has prepared four large containers, over 2000 boxes to join a shipment from Food for the Poor. The containers will be shipped by boat from Kingston to arrive at either Cap Haitia or Port au Prince. Salvation Army Divisions throughout the Caribbean Territory are joining with other churches and NGOs to raise funds and supplies for shipment to our workers in Haiti.
Volunteers
The situation on the ground in Haiti remains very unstable with security posing a major challenge for all relief agencies and aftershocks rendering it unsafe to approach buildings that have been damaged by the first quake. It is for this reason that The Salvation Army is delaying the deployment of additional personnel other than those who are specifically invited to join the existing team because their skills are deemed essentially to the current operation. All territories are requested to urge potential volunteers to be patient and by no means to arrive in Haiti without the prior consent of the Caribbean Territory in consultation with the command team in Haiti. The Salvation Army is committed to long term support and redevelopment of the country of Haiti and wishes to assure qualified volunteers around the world that their services will be utilized as the situation improves.
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