Internews - RADIO FOR AFFECTED COMMUNITIES #12 - Haiti Relief Briefing

Thought I'd post this Internews Briefing. Contains great updates and stats. (Internews is an organization in charge of relief information propagation on Haitian radio stations.)

HUMANITARIAN UPDATE - Facts & figures

The most urgent issue remains shelter for the hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Plastic sheeting is prioritized over tents -  7,000 latrines will be installed in the camps of all affected areas - 100,000 people have received food as of January 31 - Vaccination program starts on Tuesday February 2 in temporary camps -  more than 482,000 people have left Port-au-Prince for outlying departments after the earthquake, a vast majority is staying by host families  -  Schools have reopened in the non-affected areas. Between 2,500 and 4,600 schools have been affected by the earthquake.

SECURITY - 14 suspected assailants arrested

14 suspects were arrested by UN soldiers and the Haitian National Police, near Jeremie. They are suspected of putting up barricades to stop a food convoy that was coming out of the airport. A few days before, 20 people were arrested in Kafou Katon for having tried to stop a convoy, that was also bringing food from the same airport. 

FOOD - Distribution going on

Food distribution that started on January 31 is gaining momentum. In 14 distribution centers, women and men are standing in line to receive their bag of rice. This reportage produced in Canape Vert  explains how the distribution works.

FOOD - Involvement of municipalities in food distribution 

The municipalities and NGOs have met on sunday at the Mairie of Tabarre. Municipalities requested to be more involved in the food distribution process.  

WATER - Canadian forces are producing drinking water 

A canadian contingent has started producing drinking water in Jacmel. They can produce up to 48 liters per minute. 

ASSESSMENT - Light and latrines needed in the camps

Food, water, shelter, and health are the main issues that come up during the assessment conducted by humanitarian organizations to find out the needs of the populations in the camps. More than 90% of displaced people need adequate lighting and distinct latrines for men and women.

SHELTER - Assessment of public and some commercial buildings

The Haitian government has published a number where people can turn to (3 49 13 261) to ask for the evaluation of public buildings, such as schools and hospitals, by engineering experts, and some commercial buildings like hotels.

NUTRITION - Cases of acute malnutrition among children

Humanitarian organizations have identified children suffering from acute malnutrition. UNICEF is working with haitian NGOs in looking for ways to support pregrant women and breast-feeding women.  

HEALTH - Launch of vaccination campaign

A test campaign was conducted on Sunday January 31 at the Silvio Cator football stadium. A larger immunization campaign has started today in temporary camps of Port-au-Prince. The vaccine protect against rubella, and diphteria-tetanus-pertussis, for children under 7 years of age. The campaign targets 600,000 people. 

CAMP MANAGEMENT - New site in Kwa Debouquet

The site of Kwa Debouquet is about 10 ha large and is expected to host thousands of IDPs from the largest camps of the capital. The government said it will create smaller camps inside Port-au-Prince to free up the space inside the schools such as Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague. 

CONSTRUCTION - 3 sites to dump the rubbles

The commission on evaluation and construction has identified 3 sites where the rubbles will be dumped : Croix Desbouquet, Carrefour, and Tabarre.  The initial evaluation estimates that there are 16 millions tons of rubbles to evacuate. 

CUSTOMS - Control of non humanitarian goods

The Haitian and Dominican governments start again to check and tax goods that cross the border between the two countries. These controls do not affect humanitarian goods. 

GOVERNMENT - State of Emergency extended

The Haitian government has extended the state of emergency throughout the country for 15 more days. The state of emergency allows the governement to suspend individual liberties, and take exceptional measures including confiscating homes, cars, etc. 

For more information and to pass us messages for affected communities:

Jacobo Quintanilla, Humanitarian Coordinator (info-er-haiti@internews.org - +509 348 59387)

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Préval on his legacy (translation of Miami Herald Interview)

Haitian President René Préval gave this interview to Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald in Creole a couple of days ago. In the interview, Préval talks about the challenges of his two terms in office as well as the growth the country experienced under him.  I found it informative given that I myself have been a critic of his lack of visibility during the crisis and thought it was worth translating to English.



Here is the clip's translation:

"Four historic events happened during my presidency:

1. It was the first time we had organized armed groups in the country wreaking havoc. It took us two years to resolve that problem.
   
2. As soon as we resolved that problem, food and gasoline prices started increasing causing riots which overthrew the prime minister. It was the first time a Prime Minister received a vote of no-confidence from parliament. It took us six months to install another prime minister. 
3. As soon as we inaugurated the new Prime Minister, four hurricanes hit the country at once, for the first time in its history.
   
4. Now we have the earthquake.
   

So these are the four major events we had to tackle in four years. Obviously, that was an extremely challenging term.

Nevertheless here is our legacy:

• Prior to 2004, the GDP was decreasing/negative. Froom 2004 to 2006, the GDP became positive. 
• Despite all national and international problems, we experienced growth of 3.4% last year. I  believe that will be my legacy, especially since prior to 2006, we had had 5 years of GDP decrease.
• We have increased the production of food in the country by 25% despite the hurricane and all our other problems.
  
• Roads were built and we are continuing to do so. That will be an important part of my legacy as well. 
• And we hope to organize elections although not immediately so as to continue ensuring stability in the country."
  

Kiskeácity on VOA News, Haiti in Focus podcast & Haiti Rewired

I've shared the following links of various interventions I have made while in Haiti  on Twitter but I thought I'd consolidate them in one post:

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• Interview with Scott Hertzog of Haiti in Focus podcast

• Article based on @kiskeacity tweets and Twitpic Photos on Haiti Rewired

• Interview with Idrissa Fall of Voice of America News in French
  

Vidéo: L'artiste Siméon Evans sur Bill Drummond et l'après-séisme

J'ai déjà affiché cette vidéo en Créole sur Twitter et sur ma nouvelle page Youtube hier mais voici une version sous-titrée en Français via dotSUB:

(Il y a aussi une version Anglaise.)

L'ébéniste Siméon Evans parle de la fresque réalisée par l'artiste Britannique Bill Drummond au Ghetto Biennial 2010, une manifestation qui s'est déroulée à la Grand Rue à Port-au-Prince. J'ai demandé à M. Evans de nous parler des effets du séisme sur les artistes de la communauté. Il estime que la fresque de Bill Drummond préconisait le séisme du 12 Janvier. La fresque est annotée "Imagine si on jou ou leve epi pa gen mizik". ("Imagine de te réveiller un jour à un monde sans musique.")

Amy Wilentz, une journaliste américaine qui figure dans la vidéo, est venue de l'Oloffson avec Georgia Popplewell et moi pour rencontrer les artistes. 

Voici une photo de la fresque de Bill Drummond.

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Video: Artist Siméon Evans on Bill Drummond & life after Haiti earthquake

I posted this in Creole on Twitter and on my brand new YouTube page yesterday but here is a version subtitled in English through dotSUB:



(French is available on dotSUB as well.)

Furniture maker Siméon Evans talks about mural British artist Bill Drummond drew at 2010 Ghetto Biennial located on Grand Rue in Port-au-Prince. I asked Evans about the effects of the earthquake on artists in the community. Evans believes Bill Drummond's mural foresaw the earthquake. The mural contains the words "Imagine si demen pa gen mizik". ("Imagine there is no music tomorrow.)

The other journalist present is Amy Wilentz who took the ride with Georgia Popplewell and I from the Oloffson.

I did a small photo post showing Bill Drummond's mural and its translation here.

Bill Drummond mural at Ghetto Biennial in Port-Au-Prince

Ghetto Biennial, Grand Rue, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Mural says "imagine you wake up tomorrow and all music has ended."

Siméon Evans, an artist at the colony, thinks this mural foresaw the earthquake. Video soon.

Haiti disaster and Dom Rep economy- a significant proportion of the other Santo Domingo Hotel guests were in transit to or from Haiti. Haiti disaster is certainly and predictably stimulating the Dominican tourism industry while the Haitian airport is closed. Drivers, car rentals all getting a little extra business.

Preparing for trip to Haiti with Beethov!

Headed to P-A-P by road from Santo Domingo shortly.

Georgia (Popplewell from Global Voices) my tripmate and I spent the whole evening last night singing and listening to Beethova Obas songs and practicing her Creole. She loves the "si ti nèg lonje kwi deban biwo loni" line! Not to mention "ou se papa lanfè anba drapo lisifè".

Georgia also had a blast with a kreyòl manual called "Kote pa gen doktè" learning things like how to tell people to move one finger rather than two. I know, silly. But all the laughs helped learn some creole I'm sure. She knows more about medical emergency creole than I do now!

She plans on recording a podcast on the road. We'll be talking about what it's like for me to return to Haiti after 5 years in this unlikely circumstance...

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