Kate Akhtar is in Haiti to help with proposal writing as CARE tries to raise around $100 million for a five year response strategy.
From Dominican Republic we took an 8 seater plane to Port au Prince. The plane had a faded glory quality. Beige leather interior with drinks holders. The kind of thing I imagine Tom Jones enjoyed in the 70’s! And was piloted by a kind cowboy sort called Gordy who punctuated his sentences with a friendly wink!
On arrival at the Port au Prince airport things seemed pretty slick and extremely busy. Some huge US military cargo planes were being unloaded by equally efficient looking US soldiers. The immigration process was equally efficient. All in all a good airport experience.
The journey from the airport took around an hour. I was lucky to be travelling with Yves Laurent, a Haitian who’s been working with CARE since 1989 and is just returning to his country after having taken his children to Canada to continue their education as the school systems are unlikely to be fully functioning any time soon here. Yves Laurent explained the journey usually took around 30 minutes but because of the traffic it would take longer now.
Within 200 yards we saw the first tented settlement and people bathing in the open water pipe. The damage is clear to see and has been photographed in the worlds media so no need for me to explain it more except to say that it is phenomenal. Port au Prince is a really hilly city and its clear to see that as hillsides have collapsed buildings have gone with it.
The office itself is pretty big. There are tents in the gardens but most staff are now staying in the apartments across the road. I have the choice. I’ll probably go to the apartments.
I’ve met a lot of staff today. Quite a few of them seem to be sick. Either diarrhoea or a hacking cough so I must go now and try and find my multi vitamins!!
