Hello Everyone,
It's Monday a.m. Weak sun, light breeze, very humid. Solar amps incoming less than 2.
Saturday p.m. I travelled to the airport with Jackson as Lynx had found missing luggage.
No gas anywhere. We are unable to pump water for the house as our generator is gas driven. All gas stations were closed, empty.
A few enterprising folks were selling reserves of 'gas' in dirty plastic gallon jugs for $80 Haitian (11.50 US) a gallon. Apparently, they were boiling zaboka (avocado) in water to get the color of gas, mixing with a small quantity of gas, and fooling a lot of people. One man's misery is another's opportunity.
The entire day was overcast. Wisky arrived for work at 6 p.m. He is working security here on the weekends from 6 p.m.- 6 a.m. We scurried around putting away everything that might lift off in a wind and IKE blew in about 6:20.
It was very fast -- no warning -- just overcast skies and light breeze all day. Wind and rain all night. Neighbours had been busy replacing tol (corrugated metal) pieces which had blown off roofs when Hanna passed through. All night one heard the tol ripping off and flying around.
Sunday -- overcast, light rain, no solar amps. Today we are back with all staff. Still no word from our students in Sen Rafayal after the initial call post Hanna re gardens and animals swept away. (See earlier post).
There has been a steady stream of kids in this a.m. with fever, diarrhoea, congestion etc. Our canal at the side of the house is still 'bouche' (stopped up) and the mosquitoes are multiplying.
As school now officially will start 6 October (thank goodness - if new funds come in we will be able to send more without losing our inskripsyon money), we will hire a few of the students to help clean out the trench. The owner cemented up the flow hole for some reason so we have to deal with that first.
Several people have stopped and asked if we can charge phones for them as they have seen our solar panels. Although our batteries are straining to fill half way, we are charging phones for those we know in the neighbourhood.
The gas problem appears to have no resolution -- no way to truck it up from PAP [Port-au-Prince]. Cost of everything has risen dramatically. We found phone cards after 5 stores and paid 50% more for them.
NO electricity as EDH [power company] uses gas generators. We are walking everywhere and using our trusty wheel barrow. We did find ice this morning -- that was a celebration.
Auguste is calling - he is alone in the office as Rosenie and Erzilia are in town trying to find textbooks.
More later
Sharon
++++++++
Canadian Charity Working to Promote Social Justice & Education
Showing posts with label ike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ike. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
No Gas, Shops Closed, Post TS Hanna Cap-Haitien Haiti Update from Sharon
Morning
Very little juice in batteries. Will try to track down missing luggage again today. No luck yesterday.
Went to town with Jackson for food and ice. He rose at 3 a.m. to arrive at the gas station at 4 a.m. to wait for his 3 gallons of gas. He was very tired.
We passed 2 stations with lines which had no end as well as hundreds gathered around the pumps with containers. Police were out in full force trying to keep everything calm.
Two other stations had no gas. Soon the reserve will be gone then we walk, I guess. Many businesses still closed. Yesterday was like Sunday from that perspective.
Out of the 25 kids who showed up yesterday, five lost everything in the flooding including new uniforms for the school year.
We pay inskri to hold a place, then we repair text books and prepare and distribute backpacks. At the same time we distribute funds for uniforms.
The last thing we pay is the frais scolaire, first trimests and any other fees the school might request ie student identification badge, September entry fee, infomatique (computers), mayo (school Tshirt), activity card etc.
In addition to the 25 students, one mom came yesterday. Alex and Laura (see this post) will remember Mme Philippe as they videotaped the home visits. She was the one sitting on the floor with the baby.
She had been injured and unattended. Had a scar from outside left knee to hip, broken bones not set. She came here in a nightgown (clean) using a very stout piece of wood for a cane. She probably weighs about 60 lbs.
What little they had was washed away and she was very sick with a fever and congestion. We provided food, meds, money for kamyonet and said we would also take on her son.
Her daughter, Guilene is one of ours. She lost uniform, shoes etc. Mom had scrimped to pay for son to attend lycee but his books and uniform were swept away. We will replace them and pick him up as well.
Yesterday we decided to take the rent money and purchase rice, beans, oil to do a one time emergence distribution. We are unable to restart our full food distribution program.
The kids are coming today even though we are closed. School opening has been delayed providing some breathing space for staff.
Joceline offered to help make sandwiches as everyone was busy. She started to make them one at a time. Having grown up with a mother who made sandwiches in quantity for any and all occasions, I showed her how to do a loaf at a time.
As she was leaving, she shyly asked if she could help Carmene in the kitchen as she would like to learn how to cook. First she learns to read and write, next a chef. It was really endearing.
I 'm in tears for just about any reason or no reason. This is just so overwhelming at times. However, staff and kids provide perspective. I 'm just tired.
Without the white noise of electricity, every sound is magnified in the night and sleep is elusive. Have decided to add security on the weekends starting tonight until I leave as desperation and robberies are climbing.
We are so behind now we can only go forward.
Beni-w
Sharon
PS
Thanks to Mme Cindy in Penn. for the running shoes on my list.
====================
See also Hurricane Ike Map - will be passing north shore Haiti today and overnight.
See also previous post about TS Hanna Damage in Haiti
===================
Pray
----------------
Very little juice in batteries. Will try to track down missing luggage again today. No luck yesterday.
Went to town with Jackson for food and ice. He rose at 3 a.m. to arrive at the gas station at 4 a.m. to wait for his 3 gallons of gas. He was very tired.
We passed 2 stations with lines which had no end as well as hundreds gathered around the pumps with containers. Police were out in full force trying to keep everything calm.
Two other stations had no gas. Soon the reserve will be gone then we walk, I guess. Many businesses still closed. Yesterday was like Sunday from that perspective.
Out of the 25 kids who showed up yesterday, five lost everything in the flooding including new uniforms for the school year.
We pay inskri to hold a place, then we repair text books and prepare and distribute backpacks. At the same time we distribute funds for uniforms.
The last thing we pay is the frais scolaire, first trimests and any other fees the school might request ie student identification badge, September entry fee, infomatique (computers), mayo (school Tshirt), activity card etc.
In addition to the 25 students, one mom came yesterday. Alex and Laura (see this post) will remember Mme Philippe as they videotaped the home visits. She was the one sitting on the floor with the baby.
She had been injured and unattended. Had a scar from outside left knee to hip, broken bones not set. She came here in a nightgown (clean) using a very stout piece of wood for a cane. She probably weighs about 60 lbs.
What little they had was washed away and she was very sick with a fever and congestion. We provided food, meds, money for kamyonet and said we would also take on her son.
Her daughter, Guilene is one of ours. She lost uniform, shoes etc. Mom had scrimped to pay for son to attend lycee but his books and uniform were swept away. We will replace them and pick him up as well.
Yesterday we decided to take the rent money and purchase rice, beans, oil to do a one time emergence distribution. We are unable to restart our full food distribution program.
The kids are coming today even though we are closed. School opening has been delayed providing some breathing space for staff.
Joceline offered to help make sandwiches as everyone was busy. She started to make them one at a time. Having grown up with a mother who made sandwiches in quantity for any and all occasions, I showed her how to do a loaf at a time.
As she was leaving, she shyly asked if she could help Carmene in the kitchen as she would like to learn how to cook. First she learns to read and write, next a chef. It was really endearing.
I 'm in tears for just about any reason or no reason. This is just so overwhelming at times. However, staff and kids provide perspective. I 'm just tired.
Without the white noise of electricity, every sound is magnified in the night and sleep is elusive. Have decided to add security on the weekends starting tonight until I leave as desperation and robberies are climbing.
We are so behind now we can only go forward.
Beni-w
Sharon
PS
Thanks to Mme Cindy in Penn. for the running shoes on my list.
====================
See also Hurricane Ike Map - will be passing north shore Haiti today and overnight.
See also previous post about TS Hanna Damage in Haiti
===================
Pray
----------------
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