Rate This Blog
 0 rating(s)
Categories
• CARE
• Poverty • Empowerment • Women • Myanmar • Disaster • Relief • Food • Aid • CARE National Conference • Education • Maternal Health • HIV and AIDS • India • Trip to field • Children • Dr. Helene Gayle • Village Savings and Loan • Microfinance • Girls • Haiti • Africa • Climate Change • Gaza • Emergency • Pakistan • Asia • Refugee • IDP • War • Conflict • Disease • Health • Natural Disaster • Earthquake • Haiti Earthquake • Shelter • Floods • Drought • Niger • Haiti Hurricane • Haiti cholera • Japan • Dadaab • Kenya • Somalia • Water • Ethiopia • Violence • Humanitarian • Syria • Jordan • DRC • Lesotho
Archives
• Current Entries
• June 2013 • May 2013 • April 2013 • March 2013 • February 2013 • January 2013 • December 2012 • November 2012 • October 2012 • September 2012 • August 2012 • July 2012 • June 2012 • May 2012 • April 2012 • March 2012 • February 2012 • January 2012 • December 2011 • November 2011 • October 2011 • September 2011 • August 2011 • July 2011 • June 2011 • May 2011 • April 2011 • March 2011 • January 2011 • November 2010 • September 2010 • August 2010 • July 2010 • June 2010 • March 2010 • February 2010 • January 2010 • November 2009 • October 2009 • August 2009 • July 2009 • June 2009 • May 2009 • March 2009 • February 2009 • January 2009 • December 2008 • November 2008 • October 2008 • September 2008 • August 2008 • July 2008 • June 2008 • May 2008 • April 2008
Latest Entries
Loading...
|
Notes from the Field
Crossing the border
by Rick Perera, emergency media coordinator in Haiti Friday, January 15, 2010We're crossing the border at Jimeni, between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Things are moving fairly quickly, at least on the Dominican Republic side. We're seeing supplies crossing the border including search and explore teams with dogs, many large tanker trucks with water, backhoes and other construction equipment, mobile kitchens from the Dominican Republic, and many journalists.
We still have cell phone access on the Dominican Republic side, but once inside Haiti I'm told we may be able to send only text messages. We will try to get the satellite phone going. I've received endless messages from friends and family expressing deep concern for the Haitian people and wanting to help in any way, but with the communications being so bad, I guess those messages will stop soon. We stayed overnight in Barahona, a resort town on the coast in Dominican Republic. It was quite surreal staying in a resort hotel with a swimming pool and signs that say, "Remember to ask for your beach towel ticket." We're not seeing anyone coming out of Haiti, but the Dominican Republic guards are operating a gate, and the border is clearly secured. The road was fairly clear up until we hit the border crossing itself. There are about 20-25 trucks waiting. It took about 10 hours to get here to the border, which is a lot longer than we expected. We're told it's only 60 kilometers from here to Port-au-Prince. Our driver is just telling us now that it's not a long distance, but it may take a long time because of the damage heading into the city. Last night we spoke to a group of firefighters from the Dominican Republic who were going in with excavation equipment. They were young, dedicated, eager to help – an example of the kind of experts from around the world coming into Haiti to help. We're also hearing stories about what to expect when we cross over into Haiti. When I was last in Port-au-Prince five years ago, I stayed at the Hotel Villa Creole near the CARE office. From what I hear now it's overrun with desperate people, aid workers and countless journalists packed six to a room, with more people sleeping on the lawn. But the hotel is staying open, doing whatever they can to help the people affected by the disaster.
Send This | Categories: Aid, CARE, Children, Disaster, Earthquake, Emergency, Food, Girls, Haiti, Haiti Earthquake, Health, IDP, Maternal Health, Natural Disaster, Poverty, Relief, Women
|
