Tuesday evening, January 26, 2010
Port-au-Prince Report #5
Reported by John Hay, Jr., ICCM Director of Advancement

Free Methodist Haitian Earthquake Response Team #2 concluded its mission on Monday and returned to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Tuesday to brief Team #3. Team #3 makes the seven-hour drive to Port-au-Prince on Wednesday, January 27, with more relief supplies, a well-drilling team, logistics experts and International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) leaders.

The Tuesday evening briefing between the two teams yielded a sobering assessment of conditions in Port-au-Prince. “What you see on TV is not true; it is much worse,” one team member said. Another reflected: “It is so overwhelming, you cannot put words to it.” The team described people living in tent villages on every available open space, calling out for water and food, and afraid to go inside buildings and homes that are still standing.

They also described heroic efforts of rescue and people sharing with each other the food and water they are able to access. An informal economy is beginning to supply essential needs even as the formal economy of the city struggles to come back online. “The people of Port-au-Prince are still in shock,” one team member declared.

Structural engineer Ken LaBelle inspected ten ICCM schools, along with churches and homes, with the assistance of Haitian ICCM and church leaders. Many schools and FM church facilities will need to be rebuilt in the months and years ahead. The task ahead is immense, but the faith of many in the Haitian Free Methodist Church is strong.

Response Team #2 was also able to restore electricity to the ICCM office so it can serve as a center for helping schools across the country resume classes as soon as feasible.

Team #3 will begin its service on Wednesday, January 27. The team includes well-drillers Curt King and Kevin Kate. They will attempt to find water that will be a life-giving resource for many. Two team members will focus on logistics for relief and recovery teams going to Haiti over the next several months. ICCM Director Linda Adams and ICCM I will work with the Haitian ICCM staff, visiting schools, finding ICCM-sponsored children, and distributing supplies.

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Tonight members of the Haiti Earthquake Response Team A arrived Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The five persons team includes FMWM’s Director of Mobilization, Area Director for Latin American Ministries, FMCNA’s videographer, a structural engineer, and a long-time FOHO (Friends of Haiti Organization) leader. The “A” team will be on the ground in Port-au-Prince until the Tuesday (26 Jan 10).

Priority will be given to:

• evaluating the structural integrity of the standing schools because they can serve as temporary housing and relief centers.
• connecting with aid and government distribution points for water, medicine, food and temporary shelter.
• creating a plan for effective deployment of relief teams.

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This morning Bishop Roller and others from the relief team traveled to Port-au-Prince to deliver supplies and meet with church leaders. They met at International Child Care Ministries School 500 where hundred of survivors are huddled in a makeshift relief shelter. For them the trip, meant a lifeline of clean-safe water, food and fuel.

While in the city, a preliminary assessment of damage to International Child Care Ministries schools and churches was conducted while meeting with pastors in the area. Logistical questions were posed and some answered. What is needed? Where does it need to go? How do we get it to the people that need it the most? The questions were posed to those with the best understanding of the situation, those living there.

Below are pictures from the day. Check back later in the day. We will post a video of the days events.

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As of 2:00 pm, Andy is waiting at the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.  They are waiting for approval for all the vehicles.  We will give you more up-to-date news as we receive it.

New Info:

After speaking with Andy, he has informed us that he is at the border and that they have approval for all their vehicles.  They will be crossing the border early tomorrow morning.

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