It’s a beautiful, sunny day here at l’Hopital St. Boniface, but we’re still coming through the effects of Hurricane Ike. We had two days of rain where it would clear for a time and then quickly resume torrential downpours as the dark clouds moved over the mountains. Though Ike passed many miles north of Haiti, we have been hit hard simply because we just can’t take any more.
The roads are impassable now. It has been 14 days since any of the large trucks have made it into Fond des Blancs, and we don’t know how long it will be until the roads are good enough for them to get here. We are cut off from the rest of the country and the world. What this means is our community has no way to get food, treated water or other necessary goods. Our Friday and Monday markets are still being held, but with obvious shortages and shrinking numbers of people selling goods. Prices have soared.
Conor and Dr. Cadet have been working hard contacting the larger aid organization to see if we can get emergency assistance. We have been promised some, but historically our area does not get a lot of help. It is difficult everywhere in the country as most regions have been cut-off from the larger cities, and it is now impossible to get from the northern part of the country to the Port-au-Prince and the south by road. This is hampering the delivery of aid even to the hardest-hit areas near Gonaives. The United States, Canada, the European Union and many other countries have already acted to help alleviate the suffering. The needs are staggering.
I’ve gone walking and visiting in different villages between the storms, and have seen the damage to the roads and some of the houses, but I also know I haven’t seen the really desperate situations as these families tend to be on little plots of land on the steep slopes tucked away from the main roads. There is a definite attitude of “life goes on” which you probably wouldn’t see as strongly in more developed parts of the world, but life in Haiti has always been difficult.
[7 comments]
Hi Ellen
Good to read your blog. Deb Mousely sends her regards. I’ll be back on November 6 with Dick Butler and 3 others from Newburyport....and he has others with him. Looking forward to seeing you. Good health and Blessings
Fr Paul
By Fr Paul Berube on September 27 2008, 2:13pm
Dear Ellen, I am Praying for you all in Fond de Blanc. Praying for the Lord to move in ways that are impossible to do right now
God bless all
By Karen Canniff on September 15 2008, 6:50pm
We are working here to create awareness of the situation
Dear Ellen,
Keep on doing the good work! I am sure that you know how much these people appreciate the help and so does God. Tears of happiness come from my eyes when I see or hear about the good work done by the organisation.
God bless you all.
By Nancy B Guirand on September 11 2008, 3:51pm
Hi Ellen,
Thank you so much for your wonderful help. Your work in Haiti or in the Fond-Des-Blancs communities is so important, and so appreciated. My heart is fill with joy everytime I think about the progress that has been made so far in Fond-des-Blancs. But mother nature seems to be going against the agenda; it is devastating to see and to hear about the distructions after the storms. I was in Fond-Des-Blancs with my family(first time for my kids)this past summer and we had such a wonderful time. And it is so sad for me to break the news to my kids about how things are not exactly the same down there, when he left only 3 month ago.
Please count on my donation in the mail. And again thank you so much for your hard work.
By Sophia Buissereth on September 11 2008, 11:27am
Dear Sister Ellen,
All of us at our Queen of Peace Catholic Community are praying for you. I have sent out emails via Sandy to everyone to help make a financial donation to St. Boniface.
Ron and I are in communication planning our trip in March but we know how desparately you need aid now. Please continue keeping us posted.
Janine Plavac
By Janine Plavac on September 11 2008, 5:26am
Dear Ellen; I am so glad to read your blog, and to hear from you that today the sun is out. You have been much in my thoughts, and this morning I got through to Durand by telephone for the first time. We are praying for Haiti and for Fond des Blancs. and I will be down in October.
Kembe la, Pat
By Patricia CHute on September 10 2008, 3:43pm
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