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Haiti Earthquake Relief report # 2
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Haiti Earthquake
Chief Secretary’s Report #2
Lieut-Colonel Lindsay Rowe
January 15, 2010
Like all other relief agencies The Salvation Army is experiencing a great deal of difficulty and frustration in its efforts to get emergency response personnel and vital supplies of food, water and medical aid on the ground in Haiti. With the main seaport severely damaged and the airport stretched beyond its capacity making vital supplies available to waiting teams and desperate people is a logistical nightmare. Even when the supplies reach the airport many streets and roadways are impassable leaving victims stranded without access to aid. The level of tension is rising as people approach their third day without access to vital aid supplies and medical treatment.
Yesterday a plane carrying our experienced emergency response personnel from the USA was once again diverted as more than ten planes were left circling the lone runway when it was decided to close the airport and divert all non military aircraft. Our plane finally landed at Cape Hatia, some 6-8 hours drive from Port au Prince. Our team was able to acquire ground transport and begin the arduous trip to Port au Prince
They drove for three hours on treacherous roads in the dark tonight in two SUV's and are driving three more hours this morning starting at 5:00 am to get to Port au Prince by 8:00 am. They found safe shelter last night in a Catholic Parish. As they pulled into the parish, they got a flat tire on one of the SUV's.
Major Tom Louden said there were holes in the road the size of semi trucks that they had to go around on the edge of cliffs that had no guard rails. He reported that the vehicle shook constantly as they went down the road. The team could travel only 20 miles per hour. He said it looks like a bomb went off everywhere. Houses are destroyed everywhere. He's never seen anything like it in his life. And he has not yet arrived in Port au Prince where it is worse! He said people are walking around aimlessly everywhere and at times there were so many people in the street they had to wait for the street to clear to be able to pass through the crowds.
Today at 7:00am another team is going to Haiti from Ft. Lauderdale. Major Ron Busroe, Captain David Worthy, Mr. Craig Arnold, and Colonel's Castor, Major Polarek, a Doctor, and someone from the Washington post will be going. Pray that they will be able to land in Port au Prince. A plane full of cargo is going with them.
Here in Kingston we had a large container of water, food and medical supplies loaded into an Air Jamaica flight that was to depart for Haiti at 2 PM. Word was received that the airport was again closed and the flight was cancelled. We now have made arrangements for the supplies and several volunteer doctors to travel aboard two JDF planes headed for the ravished Island this morning. Other containers are fully loaded and ready to be shipped when the ports are open to receive them. Please pray for our teams arriving in Haiti and for strength and grace as they set up the command and distribution centers.
The International Salvation Army is responding in an amazing way. We now have commitments for over $500,000 US through the various territories and the International Emergency Services Department at IHQ. Many territories are engaged in aggressive fundraising in their areas and will forward additional funds through IHQ. I was able to speak to the Canadian public yesterday afternoon through a live interview on CTV news network and also engaged in a conference call with members of the PR and Disaster Services team at THQ in Canada to advise them on fundraising and how to get emergency supplies into Haiti as soon as possible. We are grateful for all that the Salvation Army Territories around the world are doing to assist us.
Here in Jamaica we are amazed at the response from the general public. We are grateful that Envoy John Williamson, our PR/Development Director and Stephen, our Projects Director have returned from vacation overseas to assist in the operation. Yesterday I received a check for $500,000 JA from Price Waterhouse Cooper which they have assured us in one of many that will be coming our way.
Scotia Bank and Azan Superstores continue to give invaluable assistance as collection centres and the Azan warehouses are packing and shipping all the collected items to Haiti to be received by our team on the ground.
The Department of Education has encouraged all schools to get involved and the nearest corps in the area will receive the collected items. We are arranging for them to be collected and brought to the Azan warehouses for shipment. We are grateful to the DC and his team in Western Jamaica who are working closely with us to facilitate collection of cash and gifts in kind. You will know that the DC and the DDWN have been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu virus and are working in quarantine to direct their staff. In the East, Tanya Wildish, chair of the Advisory Board is providing invaluable networking and consultation to our team at THQ. Through this network many wholesale and retail outlets are cooperating with The Salvation Army.
I attended a press conference on Wednesday at the Pegasus Hotel in which the Army’s role in cooperation with the Red Cross, United Way and the Adventist Relief Agency was clearly identified and clarified. In John’s absence I have addressed the local media at every opportunity.
Other Divisions in the Territory have expressed their desire to be of assistance. At this point the more effective way to do this is to make cash available to us here at THQ. The Finance Department will provide you with the most effective way to do this. Right now we are shipping donated items but this source will eventually slow down and even dissipate. At that time it will be essential that we are able to purchase further supplies, especially more specialized items that may not ordinarily come through gifts in kind. Your generous support will help us do this. I encourage you to urge your soldiers to support you in raising additional funds. As our team becomes operational on the ground I will attempt to provide you with ongoing reports to assist you in keeping your people well informed.
Many people are offering to go to Haiti as volunteers. Please inform them that this is premature at this time. The main focus must be on search and rescue for the next few days. During these days professionals with sophisticated equipment will be needed and given priority to enter the country. Our team already in Haiti will provide food and water as it becomes available to them. They will also prepare a command and distribution centre and identify facilities to accommodate teams that will eventually begin to arrive as the airport becomes more accessible. I am retaining a list of officer personnel who have made themselves available and am coordinating with other territories that also want to send teams. I encourage all Divisional/Regional Commanders to retain such a list but to be very selective in the people you refer to us.
Please feel free to contact me or John Williamson for additional information.
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