Stichting Projecthulp Haïti
NIEUWS uit 2004
Eerste container met Grafkisten verzonden naar Europa
Donderdag 23 december 2004 zijn de eerste 28 grafkisten verscheept naar Europa.
Een historische gebeurtenis voor MAXIMA onze fabriek.
We hopen dat vele container mogen volgen, zodat we de werkgelegenheid in onze fabriek weer kunnen 'opvijzelen' en meer mensen aan een baan kunnen helpen.
Het is een spannende tijd. Vooral om dat het transport van halffabikanten/ onderdelen e.d. (naar Haïti)erg moeizaam is.
Zie voor foto's de pagina en dan onderaan bij foto's, u krijgt dan een korte diapresentatie.
Heeft u vragen of bent u geinteresseerd in grafkisten neem dan kontakt op
Uniformen
voor u gelezen :....
Een van de gekke dingen die we nu meemaken is dat er allerlei groeperingen rondlopen in uniformen, en je niet meer weet wie nu "echt" of op z'n minst "officieel" zijn en wie niet. Naast de officiele politie, de Swat teams, en de VNers van allerlei kleur en soort, zijn er nu ook gaandeweg steeds meer groepen oud-militairen die in pickups zwaar gewapend door de straten rijden. Officieel heeft Aristide destijds het leger opgeheven, maar de gerechtelijke procedure daarvan is nooit afgemaakt, en dus vinden de militairen nu dat ze eigenlijk nog steeds bestaansrecht hebben en eigenlijk dus ook recht op 10 jaar (!) achterstallig soldij.... Aanvankelijk zei de huidige overgangsregering dat zij hier niet voor aangesteld waren en ze de eerstvolgende verkozen regering deze materie zouden laten opknappen, maar toen een groep oud-miliatiren vorige week de woning van Aristide binnendrongen en dat tot hun hoofdkwartier verklaarden, werd het kennelijk toch te gortig en hebben de VNers na 3 dagen ingegrepen
Naar school in Haïti
Voor u gelezen :
......Het is vorige week sowieso weer politiek flink aan 't rommelen geweest, en elke ochtend kijken we dus eerst op de website van de school of er wel les gegeven wordt. Tot nu toe is de school gelukkig wel gewoon open geweest en merken we eigenlijk persoonlijk steeds niks van alle "toestanden", maar we merken dat we er gespannener onder zijn. De school heeft er nu een nieuw probleem bij: dat er steeds meer leerlingen met gewapende lijfwachten op school komen, en tot aan de klas gebracht worden. De school heeft nu dus dringend aan de ouders gevraagd om de veiligheid van de kinderen binnen de schoolhekken aan de school over te laten, en aub geen wapens meer mee naar binnen te nemen. .....
Nieuws COHAN
Operatie "Bagdad" begon op 30 september, maar volgens Justitia en Pax zijn er al eerder in september tweeënveertig personen door kogels gedood en later, in oktober, nog eens zeventig.
Sinds eind september is de haven het doelwit van aanvallen, waardoor het lossen van hulp-goederen voor Gonaïves ernstig belemmerd wordt. Daarna breekt er een staking uit onder de douanen. Een lading met 158 containers moet onverrichter zaken terugkeren naar de VS. De staking treft ook de economie. Meer dan 60 % van de staatsinkomsten is afhankelijk van de import... Lees hier verder...
Nieuw T-Shirts naar Haïti / wat nieuws
Projecthulp Haïti is in de gelegenheid gesteld om ruim 21 kg nieuwe Kinder T-shirts naar Haïti te zenden tbv het kindertehuis L'Esperance.
Christien Heidema zal haar familie in Haïti bezoeken tijdens de kerstdagen en zij is zo vriendelijk om meer dan 21 kg extra bagage mee te nemen, waarvoor hartelijk dank!
tot slot: de situatie in Haïti is nopg steeds verontrustend. Er zijn veel kidnappingen (voor losgeld). Er zijn roversbendes op pad. Recentelijk zijn nog in een fabriek zomaar 18 mensen doodgeschoten toen deze werd beroofd.
De lage dollarkoers is zeer slecht voor Haïti.
Nieuws COHAN
Binnen vijf dagen worden in het algemeen ziekenhuis zestien slachtoffers met kogelwonden opgenomen, waaronder drie agenten. In het weekend ontstaat er in Martissant een vuurge-vecht tussen de politie en gewapende burgers. In Bel-Air en Martissant wordt een dertigtal personen gearresteerd, maar wapens worden er niet gevonden... Lees hier verder...
Nieuws over het vitamineproject
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 10:51 AM
Subject: To the Least of These
Dear Friends,
Just a note to bring you up to date on the progress of the vitamin program that is being funded by friends of yours from Holland. Since September 1 we have distributed 40+ months of Baby vitamins, 125 months of children’s vitamins, and 300+ months of pre-natal vitamins.
I feel that the program is a great success so far. The added vitamins are a real encouragement to the parents. One unexpected positive side effect the pre-natal vitamin program has had was that the pregnant women are encouraged to begin their prenatal care earlier in their pregnancy then they would have otherwise.
I again thank you for the funds that permit us to carry out this program in To the Least of These clinic.
If possible it would be appreciated if you could send the next check for the continuation of the program. We still have $378.00 left from the first payment but after receiving a check and putting it in the local bank account it takes 45 additional day for us to have access to the funds. I figure that I will need to resupply vitamins shortly after Christmas in addition to purchasing bottles for the repackaging of the children’s vitamins.
Again, my sincere thanks for being part of our ministry.
Because of Christ,
John Ackerman
John, Jodie, and Jessica Ackerman
To the Least of These Ministry
Serving "the least" with medical care and education in Haiti in the spirit of Matthew 25:40
Phone: 509-403-1866
Mailing Address:
The Ackerman Family
7990 15th St. East
Sarasota, FL 34243
http://www.totheleastofthese.org
Nieuws COHAN
Naast de problemen in en rond Gonaïves zijn er nu grote problemen in Port-au-Prince... Lees hier verder...
REPORT OF PAX CHRISTI USA HAITI HUMAN RIGHTS MISSION
For questions about how to contact members of the delegation contact Bill Quigley, quigley@loyno.edu or 504-861-5590 or fax 504-861-5440 or mail 7214 St. Charles Avenue, Box 902, New Orleans, LA 70118. Last revised 10-12-04.
Delegation Members
This delegation visited Haiti on a human rights mission on behalf of Pax Christi USA, a section of Pax Christi International, the Catholic peace ovement. The members of the delegation were: Johanna Berrigan, House of Grace Catholic Worker, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , Kathleen Boylan, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Washington, DC ; Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit Michigan ; Bill Quigley, Loyola University New Orleans School of Law ; Bob Della Valle?-Rauth, Pax Christi USA Haiti Task Force, Virginia .
Summary
Human rights conditions are worse in Haiti now then they have been in years. We agree with the Haitian people that the forced exile of President Aristide by the U.S. was effectively a coup that eliminated the elected government of the people and replaced it with an illegally appointed government of the minority with economic and military power, supported by the U.S., France and Canada. Many of the democratically elected government leaders and their supporters are in prison and thousands have been made into refugees in their own country while former military, gangs and rebels affiliated with those in power are often allowed to do as they please. We are very concerned about the widespread re-emergence of the previously dissolved military, which has historically been a challenge to and oppressive to an independent civil society. The military has also often served as an avenue through which the U.S. has exerted power over Haiti.
The delegation strongly believes that the rule of law is being disregarded in the exile, arrest, beatings, executions, and detention of the people who were democratically chosen by the people of Haiti to govern. People affiliated with the elected government and those concerned about human rights have been beaten and arrested and homes burned and run off to live in hiding. The Haitian constitution and international law are being openly violated. We agree with the people that the rule of law must be reinstated.
The international community must start by restoring the elected representatives of the people. This means explicitly the return of President Aristide and the release of all political prisoners. It must also begin disarming the rebels, terrorists, former military, and anyone else threatening life. The U.S. should also stop selling M-16s to the Dominican Republic and to Haiti.
Human rights in Haiti needs immediate international attention. Current people in power have said publicly that local human rights organizations are stirring up troubles - a threatening warning to stop human rights investigations. International human rights groups must step up monitoring human rights.
We challenge the role of the international community, particularly the US in Haiti. The primary concern of recent US policy in Haiti has not been for democracy, human rights, or fairness to the poor and powerless. It must be. All Americans must insist that our policy help protect democracy, the rule of law, the Constitution of Haiti, human rights and the protection of the poor.
We call for journalists and media to stop the misinformation about what has happened and what is happening in Haiti. Help stop the fear and protect the people, especially the poor and powerless who always suffer the most.
The situation of the poor in Haiti is worsening. The poor are being victimized by economic forces and again by human rights abuses. The basics of life cost two to three times more than before the coup. There are increasing numbers of people who are internal refugees from political violence in their own country. People have lost family members and all their possessions. They have been uprooted from their communities. The plight of workers is deteriorating. Inflation is rising and the minimum wage is declining. The exile of President Aristide has resulted in increased power for business and decreased the bargaining power of individual workers and independent labor unions. Education is at a standstill. The people of the countryside (the majority of the population of Haiti) are under control of the rebels and former military who have created a reign of terror - house burnings, random arrests, brutal killings, and confiscation of property. The military are reorganizing in Petit Goave, Jacmel, Hinche and planning to do so in all de partments.
We call for action. Action to restore the elected government of President Aristide. Legislative action to assist the people and institutions of Haiti. Direct action to assist those seeking justice in these very challenging times. Some groups whose support for President Aristide decreased in recent years are now calling for his return. Many poor people told us "We want Aristide back. He is our President. We need him more than ever. We have no one now."
We call for prayers for the people of Haiti. They are our sisters and brothers and they are in crisis. We must remember them in our churches and in our prayers.
We call for increased solidarity with the people of Haiti. We applaud the good works being done by the many religious, educational and human rights groups in Haiti. But much more needs to be done. We especially encourage schools, churches and human rights groups to visit Haiti and meet the people directly and study and see the social and political conditions of the country for themselves. When they do, we are confident they will be moved to join them in solidarity in their quest for just and basic human dignity.
We believe that if all the people of the world saw what we saw, they would insist that justice be done for Haiti. We ask the world to look at the people of Haiti as our sisters and brothers. Recognizing that our sisters and brothers are in serious trouble, we must all work together to bring about disarmament and elimination of foreign (mostly US) weapons in their country and help them bring justice to their country.
People and Places Visited:
CTH (Conference of Haitian Workers): women and men union officials Haiti National Penitentiary: prisoners and officials Independent radio and print journalists Institute of Justice and Democracy in Haiti: human rights workers and victims of political violence Pax Christi Haiti: volunteer leaders Port au Prince Police Station: male prisoners SOPUDEP Cooperative Community School, Petion-Ville: teachers, administrators, and students St. Clare's Church: children, staff, pastor Visitation House: visitors from US Church Twinning Programs, staff Women's Prison, Petion-Ville: local pastor and prisoners
Criteria Used
In evaluating what we observed, we use the principles of Catholic social thought and teachings: respect for life and the absolute dignity of every human person; the demand to honor the human rights of all; a preferential option for the poor which insists we look at each situation from the perspective of the poor and most vulnerable; the dignity of work and the rights of workers to decent working conditions and fair pay; a profound commitment to solidarity with our sisters and brothers as members of our shared human family; and the right and duty of all persons to participate in society in seeking the common good.
Observations
Haiti is in a political, economic, and human rights crisis of immense proportions. The central political crisis is that the government of President Jean Bertrand Aristide which was overwhelming elected by the people of Haiti has been forcibly removed and illegally replaced by unelected powers. People who supported or participated in the elected government are being persecuted by armed gangs, arrested by police without charges, prosecuted by officials of the appointed government, and kept in jail without seeing a judge for long periods of time, some as long as five months. As the poorest country in this hemisphere, the economic crisis of Haiti is well documented. The human rights crisis is made worse by both the economic and political difficulties.
The delegation visited the National Penitentiary in Port au Prince. There were 868 people in the prison, 847 were awaiting trial, only 21 have been convicted. Prison officials advise that most have never seen a judge and do not know when they will see a judge.
The delegation met with several political prisoners in the National Penitentiary including the high officials of the government of President Aristide: Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, Minister of the Interior Jocelerme Privert, and the former Mayor of Port au Prince. The rule of law is being blatantly disregarded in their cases. For example, Minister Privert has been held in the prison for six months and has yet to see a judge for formal charges, which by law should happen within 48 hours of arrest. Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, who was arrested days after giving an interview critical of the government, has been accused by those now in power of prompting police killings in fights with rebel groups, and has been in prison since June 2004. He says the accusations are totally political and he has no confidence in the current government, but remains strong and passionate about trying with every fiber of his being to reclaim the democracy of Haiti. An elected delegate of Parliament, Jacques Mathlier, was reportedly arrested for arson bu t after going before a judge he was ordered to be released on July 12. Instead the Ministry of Justice ordered him transferred to the National Penitentiary where he has remained in prison ever since. The former mayor of Port au Prince was arrested by Haitian police but was transferred, along with three other members of the Aristide government, into custody of the US military. They were then taken out to sea in a Haitian boat and detained in handcuffs for 20 days, while armed military boats of the US patrolled around the boat were they were imprisoned. For the first three days they were denied water, food and the use of a bathroom.
After 20 days, they were transferred to the national penitentiary where Severe now remains. There have been no reported prosecutions of any invading rebels and opposition gangs who used force and violence to topple the elected government. The delegation also visited the women's prison in Petionville where 51 women are kept in a poorly lit concrete structure where we met with Annette Auguste, a 69 year old folk singer also called "So Anne" who supported President Aristide and is an activist who has been in prison since May 10, 2004. Ms. Auguste and all of her family of fifteen, including children as young as 12, 10 and 5 years old, were arrested in her home by US Marines. The Marines used grenades to break into the house in the middle of the night, forced black hoods onto the heads of all inside and bound their arms behind their backs with plastic handcuffs. While she was arrested and questioned by the US, she is now being held by the Haitian government and has never confronted her accusers. She told us "The Americans put me here, I am waiting for the Americans to set me free."
Contrast this with the treatment of supporters of the current occupiers of the government. At the time of the coup, the entire prison population was released. Among the released were many human rights abusers, many of whom were, along with other released prisoners, were recruited by the rebels. There was a criminal trial in Haiti in August of Louis Jodel-Chamblain, a very high-profile supporter of the current powers in Haiti, who was found innocent of participation in a political assassination of Antwon Izmery that occurred in the prior coup of 1994. This trial was an abbreviated overnight event which was called a sham by Amnesty International and other human rights organizations. During the coup of 1991-1994, this man was second in command of FRAPH, the organization responsible for the deaths of thousands of supporters of President Aristide.
The delegation also met with many poor people in Port au Prince including some who were forced out of communities outside of Port au Prince (communities like Petite Goave and from the Central Plateau) as a result of the coup in Haiti because they were perceived as supporters of the Aristide government, the Fanmi Lavalas party, or protectors of human rights. Opponents of the elected government came to town and killed the chief of police, burned down the police station and the prison. They then sought out supporters of the elected government, ransacked and burned their houses, placed black bags on their heads, executed them and dumped them in the river. Many from that town have fled to Port au Prince, others to the Dominican Republic. Another young man was beaten and threatened with execution for starting a school - he fled to Port au Prince where he now stays in one room with 15 others. A woman and her family were attacked and had to flee because they were thought to have spoken to human rights visitors and foreign journalist s and voiced criticism of the government - they have been sleeping on the roof of a friend's house. Others were beaten and run out of town - walking for a week with children - only because they were neighbors of people thought to be reporting human rights violations. They showed us pictures of their burned homes which were ransacked and destroyed by former militaries and opposition gangs. One person who went back just the week before to take photos of the damaged homes was murdered for doing that. People have lost businesses and property - they are now homeless and living in fear and hiding with anyone who will shelter them. They are refugees in their own country. They stressed to us that there are hundreds more from their small community in the same situation (eg 500 from St. Marc) and thousands more from other small outlying communities.
Women's rights groups in Port au Prince have had their businesses ransacked and destroyed. They are dismayed at the suspensions of the prosecutions of the people responsible for human rights violations, including rape, in previous coups in Haiti. They report that the perpetrators of violence are now in charge and the people are losing hope. There are widespread reports of the re-emergence of the military which was disbanded several years ago by President Aristide. Ex-military forces are forcibly taking over police stations and other public buildings in many parts of the country. UN troops were spotted only one time except at the airport where they are headquartered. There were reports that UN troops are cooperating with former military in illegal arrests of Lavalas party members. Haitians cannot understand the UN role in view of the brutal human rights abuses taking place every day throughout the country. We also heard reports of very recent killings by police in Cite Soleil. There was a report of a police massacre there on September 9, with 17 killed, many more arrested, many disappeared. documentation of this event is ongoing but so far there is credible documentation of 11 people killed or disappeared. Indiscriminate killings and mass arrests are also taking place in other poor neighborhoods. This violence is being done "to break the back of the Lavalas movement before the election of 2005," according to Prime Minister Neptune. Within days of our visit, a human rights group, the Group to Defend Political Prisoners had their office attacked by armed men in camouflage who destroyed documents and stole equipment. We visited with independent print and radio journalists who told us of threats of violence and economic pressure being placed on journalists by those in power who are intimidating all voices of dissent, especially outside of the city of Port au Prince. The journalists also report widespread misinformation has been and continues to be distributed by those in power and the media that support them. Other information is suppressed. Human rights violations and military and police abuses are not reported. Demonstrations by the poor are not covered. The delegation also visited a local police station in Port au Prince where 36 males were being kept in one concrete cell, 12 foot by 12 foot. None of those in the cell had formal charges, none had a lawyer, none had seen a judge, one had been in the cell since September 4. There is no medical care, and no food is provided. What food there is must be brought by families and then shared with those without family. Mixed in the cell were people with mental problems and epilepsy. Children were in jail with grown men, including a 13 year old boy and two 15 year olds. Some showed open sores on their legs, others showed injuries from physical brutality. Some say no one in their family even knows they are in jail. They sleep standing up and leaning against the wall as there is not enough space for everyone to even sit down together much less lay down. The criminal law system has never worked well and is now being used for massive arrests in the poorest neighborhoods.
Poverty in Haiti is devastating. The delegation constantly observed the search of people for water. People were pulling water up in buckets by lowering ropes into wells. Others were pumping water. Some were dipping water from broken pipes in the street. Everywhere people, including the smallest children, were transporting water. Unemployment is widespread and everywhere sidewalk vendors, who the government is threatening to remove, were trying to sell fruits, chickens, toothpaste, medicine, clothing, or whatever could help feed their families. Much housing is primitive and severely overcrowded. Electricity is severely limited - around three hours a day. Roads in the city are difficult and much worse in the countryside. Reports of the devastation from the flood in Gonaives came from everywhere with estimates of the dead as high as 3000 and hundreds of thousands homeless. Pax Christi Haiti is one of the groups helping the flood victims.
The minimum wage for those who can find work is declining. In 1984 it was $3 a day but is now at $1.75 a day and even that is often violated. Independent labor unions like CTH, which represent a range of workers across the country, are weaker after the exile of the elected government by business interests. National elected independent union leaders reported that the situation of workers has always been difficult with the bosses as adversaries, but now the government is aligned with the bosses and is also an adversary. Workers in businesses affiliated with the new powers in government are intimidated and forced to appear to be supportive of the new government in order to keep their jobs. The situation for workers is much, much worse since the exile of President Aristide.
Within days of our visit, police with black masks attacked the office of a large labor organization, CTH, and arrested 9 people who are being held without charges. Some of those arrested are affiliated with the parish St. John Bosco, the former parish of President Aristide.
We visited a cooperative community school in Petionville, named SOPUDEP, which educates about 700 mostly poor children. Because the school was started by the community during the time of President Aristide, those now in power are threatening to revoke its lease. In early September of 2004, the newly appointed mayor of the town showed up at the school with armed guards. After a demonstration by community people and pressure by US Senator Norm Coleman, the pressure against the school has been reduced for now.
The delegation visited the parish of St. Clare's where church members were feeding over 600 children. The program provides a meal twice a week. When we were there, after prayers, more than 20 children sat at each of 14 tables under a tin roof while the church gave each a tin plate with rice, some beans and a small piece of meat. The children devoured the food in minutes, totally cleaning their plates. They left and older children were let in for their meal. The pastor of St. Clare's, Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste, a supporter of Aristide, spoke plainly of the threats he has received personally. He spoke of the threats of violence and destruction directed against the radio station where he had a 2 hour radio show, threats that forced the station to cancel his show. Another radio station was officially closed by the new government. He told us that President Aristide rejected the use of violence to combat the violence of the rebels who seized control of Gonaives. He said there has been a big migration of people from the countryside into Port au Prince since the coup, as people have fled the violence of the rebels and the ex-militaries. He was certain that the grassroots and the poor still support President Aristide. He said violence has wracked the country - it is time to kneel down, ask forgiveness, and start over.
Over and over we were told by the people of Haiti that there is little or no international human rights presence here. There is no rule of law, the strong do what they want because no one will help the victims bring about fairness or justice.
Most people are very critical of the US, saying that it was responsible, along with France and Canada, for the end of democracy and the exile of the elected government of President Aristide in Haiti. People are also very critical of the US decision to withhold humanitarian aid for the people of Haiti from the government of President Aristide and the apparent funding and training of opposition and rebel groups who deposed Haiti's elected government. Yet the people made a clear distinction between the actions of the government of the US and the people of the US. The people appreciate the work and generosity of church groups in the US. The people repeatedly thanked us for visiting. They asked that we tell their stories. They asked that we counter the lies and misinformation about Haiti and tell the truth. Because they still have hope that the international community and the people in the US will help them recover their democracy, recover their President Aristide, and help them rebuild their country in a just way.
Conclusions and Suggestions for Action
We repeat that human rights conditions are worse in Haiti now then they have been in years. It is clear that the forced exile of President Aristide was a coup that eliminated the elected government of the people and replaced it with an illegally appointed government of the minority who have economic and military power. The democratically elected government leaders and their supporters are in prison or have been made into refugees in their own country while former militaries and gangs affiliated with those in power are allowed to do as they please. There is a clear re-emergence of the previously dissolved military, which has historically been a challenge to independent civil society and oppressive to the poor. The rule of law is being disregarded in the exile, arrest, beatings, executions, and detention of the people who were democratically chosen by the people of Haiti to govern. People affiliated with the elected government and those concerned about human rights have been beaten and arrested and homes burned and run off to live in hiding. The Haitian constitution and international law are being openly violated. The rule of law must be reinstated. The international community must help restore the elected representatives of the people. This means explicitly the return of President Aristide and the release of all political prisoners. Human rights in Haiti needs immediate international attention. Current people in power have said publicly that local human rights organizations are stirring up troubles - a threatening warning to stop human rights investigations. International human rights groups must step up monitoring human rights and protect those on the ground who are trying to do so.
We challenge the role of the international community, particularly the US in Haiti. The primary concern of US policy in Haiti has been not democracy, human rights, or fairness to the poor and powerless. It should be and all Americans should insist that our policy help protect democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of the poor.
We call for journalists and media to stop the lies about what has happened and what is happening in Haiti. Help stop the fear and protect the people, especially the poor and powerless. It is the millions of the poor who always suffer the most. The situation of the poor in Haiti is worsening. The poor are being victimized by economic and political forces and again by human rights abuses of the illegal government, the rebels and the ex-military. The basics of life two to three times more than before the coup. There are increasing numbers of people who are internal refugees from political violence in their own country. People have lost family members and all their possessions. They have been uprooted from their communities. The plight of workers is deteriorating. Inflation is rising and the minimum wage is declining. The forced exile of President Aristide has resulted in increased power for business and decreased the bargaining power of individual workers and independent labor unions. W suggest people in the US and the international community learn more about Haiti, its current situation and its history of how it got to the point where it is today. We call for action. Action to restore the elected government of President Aristide. Legislative action to assist the people and institutions of Haiti. Direct action is needed to assist those seeking justice in these very challenging times.
We call for prayers for the people of Haiti. They are our sisters and brothers and they are in crisis. We must remember them in our churches and in our prayers. We call for increased solidarity with the people of Haiti. We salute the good works being done by the many religious, educational and human rights groups in Haiti. But much more needs to be done. We especially encourage schools, churches and human rights groups to visit Haiti and meet the people directly and see the conditions of the country for themselves. When they do, we are confident they will be moved to join them in solidarity in their quest for just and basic human dignity.
We believe that if all the people of the world saw what we saw, they would insist that justice be done for Haiti. We ask the world to look at the people of Haiti as our sisters and brothers. Recognizing that our sisters and brothers are in serious trouble, we must all work together to help them bring justice to their country. Haiti is a short distance from the US shoreline. Let us become a human bridge that connects us to Haiti.
Sources for Additional Information
We suggest people read anything they can about Haiti by
Paul Farmer. He has written a great history of Haiti called THE USES OF
HAITI (Common Courage Press, 2003). Paul has also written more recently
on the problems of Haiti. E.g. see his April 15, 2004 essay in the
London Review of Books, www.lrb.co.uk/v26/n08/farm01_.html
Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, a non-profit human rights
organization with board members like physician Paul Farmer and human
rights advocate Brian Concannon. www.ijdh.org
HIDDEN FROM THE HEADLINES, by Haiti Action. Available online at: www.haitiaction.net/News/Hidden.html Haiti Action is an independent source of news about Haiti. http://www.haitiaction.net/index.html
The Human Rights Report on Haiti compiled by the National Lawyers Guild from their visits to Haiti in April 2004. Available on the website of www.nlg.org
The Haiti Reborn program of the Quixote Center: www.quixote.org/hr/
October 15, 2004, at 12:11 PM
Photos of the Gonaives trip and Update on Haiti
Voor wie zich in wil leven in de situatie in Gonaives, hier een fotoserie van de Amerikaanse zendelingen wier nieuwsbrief we vorige week doorstuurden.
Er zijn géén enge beelden van dode mensen op, wel indringende beelden van ingestorte huizen en modder o-v-e-r-a-l.
Het makkelijkst is om de eerste foto aan te klikken (die dan vergroot wordt) en daarna met de pijltjes op het scherm steeds naar de volgende te gaan. Daardoor kunt u ook per foto het commentaar lezen over wat het voorstelt.
De politieke situatie in Haiti verslechtert, en in snel tempo. Hier in Port-au-Prince hebben Aristide-aanhangers flink huisgehouden, 9 politiemensen vermoord, en zijn er flink wat doden gevallen door onlusten. In Gonaives heeft een woeste menigte een Rode Kruis auto in brand gestoken, en schijnt er ook op het Rode Kruis geschoten te zijn, waarna deze organisatie de hulp voorlopig heeft gestaakt.
Door de onlusten in P-au-P werkt al 2 weken de douane niet, en zitten dus ook diverse containers met noodhulp (voedsel, medicijnen, waterfiltering systemen) vast.
In dit alles is er een groeiende ontevredenheid van de "omstanders" en slachtoffers over de aanwezigheid van de VN-troepen, die kennelijk niet in staat zijn dit geweld in te dammen en de burgers te beschermen.
Gisteren was er een dag van "afrekening" afgekondigd door de Aristide-aanhangers, met de dreiging op alles te gaan schieten wat bewoog, waarop een aantal bedrijven en organisaties een dag van bezinning en staking afkondigden "als protest tegen het terrorisme
het Nederlands consulaat heeft nog niets bijzonders laten horen. De Amerikaanse ambassade heeft inmiddels wel weer opgeroepen het land te verlaten, en daarmee gaan gelijk zowel hier in de stad als in het buitenland de paniekverhalen natuurlijk van start.
http://www.lchenphoto.com/haiti/laatste nieuws politieke situatie
Omdat we niet precies weten wat er in het Nederlandse Journaal over Haiti wordt gemeld, geven we hier alvast onze eigen weergave.
Sinds 1½ week gaat er een golf van geweld door de stad. Aanvankelijk leek het op een uit de hand gelopen demonstratie van oud-Aristide aanhangers die op 30 september de staatsgreep van 1991 herdachten, maar het geweld houdt aan en wordt grimmiger.
De Aristide-aanhangers hebben "Operation Bagdad" aangekondigd, die eruit schijnt te bestaan het openbare leven te ontwrichten en "afrekening te houden" met iedereen die een terugkeer naar het Aristide regime tegenstaat. Er zijn een tiental politiemannen vermoord, en zelfs een aantal onthoofd (ala Bagdad).
Eerlijk gezegd valt het ons behoorlijk koud op ons dak: we dachten, net als vele anderen, dat we volop in de wederopbouw van Haiti zaten, men a-politiek de handen uit de mouwen stak en probeerde de draad weer op te pakken. Maar helaas zijn we nu dus weer een stap terug.
Het geweld speelt zich zoals gewoonlijk weer voornamelijk downtown af, maar dat betekent wel dat de jongens van de fabriek er bijna allemaal mee te maken hebben: er rijden nauwelijks taptaps, de politie houdt hele vervelende controles op iedereen die over straat gaat, er wordt nogal eens onverwachts geschoten, en ze zijn dus allemaal bang en aangeslagen. Voor de fabriek betekent het dat onze container met MDF (waar we om zitten te springen) al dagenlang vast zit omdat de douane niet functioneert, we geen nieuwe bekledingstof kunnen kopen omdat de enige winkel die dat op dit moment heeft downtown zit
verslag van het brengen van hulpgoederen aan het rampgebied.
Hier een verslag van Amerikaanse vrienden van Kees en Evelien de Gier te weten Ray & Sandra VanderPol, die afgelopen week Gonaives hebben bezocht, en in een 2-daagse trip hulpgoederen hebben afgeleverd.
Dear friends and family,
Thank you to those who prayed for our trip to Gonaives and who wrote e-mails
of encouragement. We are praising Him that the trip was "successful!" We
had no major delays or unpleasant incidents. It was also successful in that
we accomplished our objective of getting supplies into the hands of those
who needed it or who would distribute it and, we hope, bringing personal
encouragement to some of those who have suffered so much loss.
It was a very arduous trip. We were on the road a total of 17 hours over
the two days (actual mileage was about 230 miles) and when we arrived back
home at 8:30pm on Wednesday night we were exhausted. The next morning we
went to the airport to pick up the four member Northwest Medical Disaster
Response team, which included our friends from Washington State, Joe and
Linda Markee and Jerry Rusher. They were with us until this morning,
Saturday, so this is the first chance we've had to write.
Ray in particular was tired and sore. Driving a big truck on bad roads
takes a lot of skill and stamina. It was not easy for him but he was
determined to help out in this way, and we are going to make more trips as
needed. We probably will go again this next week. We are so grateful to
have the use of that big new truck that so many of you donated to a few
years back. It is being well-used for the Lord's work and to relieve the
suffering of the Haitian people.
We don't have a digital camera but I did take many photos. If we can figure
out how to scan some of them and send them out by e-mail (on someone else's
server) we will do that.
FOR THOSE INTERESTED, A NARRATIVE OF THE TRIP:
We left Port-au-Prince about 8:30am on Tuesday morning, driving in a 3
vehicle caravan with Free Methodists JR and Becky Crouse, Fred Laberge, two
doctors from S. Haiti (an American and Haitian, who stayed at our house the
night before) and two Haitian FM mission staff. We drove first to
Dessalines, where Ray and I have often been with medical teams and where Ray
has spent many months doing hospital construction and maintenance during our
earlier Haiti years. We were storing some supplies there which would be
picked up at a later date by pastors that would drive in from Gonaives.
This will allow relief distribution in a low key way so as to avoid
attracting unwanted attention from those intent to rob or harm. We also
loaded up our truck with supplies to be used by the Northwest Medical Team
soon to arrive. This 90 mile leg of the trip took approx. 5 hours! At
least an hour of that we were only going 8 miles an hour as the road was so
bad. We are talking about the main highway that goes through Haiti, mind
you!
The next morning we left at 6:30am. We left the other two vehicles and all
of us and the supplies were now in our STEM truck, which is secure with it's
large enclosed metal mesh "box" on the back with padlocked doors. We
arrived at "the lake," a new body of water covering the main highway into
Gonaives. This approximately 1-mile stretch presents a formidable
challenge to anyone without a large truck or 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Thankfully, in the last three weeks since the flooding, the UN placed
markers along each side of where the road is supposed to be, guiding the
vehicles so they don't end up getting stuck in a ditch or hole. Also there
are enterprising locals who go with your vehicle, hanging on to the outside,
telling you where to go (for a price, of course). In our case, our guide
really earned his money as we encountered a bus and a big truck that were
stalled side by side, leaving no place for anyone to get around them.
Vehicles were lining up on both sides. We waited about 30 minutes and
finally after much discussion between the various drivers and guides, a
large truck pushed the bus out of the way, leaving one lane for vehicles to
get around the still stalled truck. There were places where the wa
Nieuws COHAN
De cycloon Ivan heeft in Haïti nauwelijks schade aangericht. Alleen in het zuidwesten werden enkele huizen en een brug vernield. Een deel van de stad Aquin kwam onder water te staan.... Lees hier verder...
Nieuws van ons contact in Haïti
Twee weken geleden schreven we nog dat Haiti er redelijk goed af kwam met alle orkanen. Nog geen 3 dagen later werd de stad Gonaives getroffen door een uitloper van orkaan Jeanne, waardoor de hele stad onder water kwam te staan en een onbeschrijfelijke chaos en ellende onstond waarvan we de omvang nog steeds maar nauwelijks kunnen bevatten.
Nog steeds staan grote delen van de stad onder water, komen de hulpverleners eindelijk aan in wijken waar ze nog niet eerder waren geweest, en stijgt het dodental gestaag.
De hulpverlening verloopt uiterst moeizaam, allereerst omdat er nauwelijks wegen waren om de stad te bereiken, maar daarna omdat voedseltransporten werden overvallen door woeste mensenmassa's die boos waren dat bepaalde wijken constant van hulp voorzien werden, terwijl anderen na een flink aantal dagen nog steeds geen drinkwater en voedsel hadden gekregen. Maar algauw werden de die "overvallen" van radeloze mensen vervangen door regelrechte piraterij van jeugdbendes die de transporten opwachtten en daarna een wijk verderop de spullen verkochten.... Het is daarbij voor menigeen heel moeilijk te begrijpen hoe dit allemaal kan gebeuren met alle Argentijnse VN-soldaten die op de been zijn om de voedseltransporten te beveiligen.
Wijzelf hebben er hier in Port-au-Prince aanvankelijk heel weinig van gemerkt. Op zondagochtend werd er in de kerk gebeden voor de slachtoffers van de overstromingen in Gonaives, maar dat drong niet echt tot ons door. Maandag begonnen ineens van alle kanten emailtjes binnen te stromen van bezorgde mensen met steeds weer dezelfde vraag: hoe maken jullie het in al die water-ellende? We kijken geen TV, de autoradio (de enige radio waar we ooit naar luisteren) is kapot, en de krant begon pas halverwege de week met wat berichtjes, dus was het internet onze enige informatiebron. En zo begon gaandeweg het slechte nieuws, en vooral de immense omvang ervan, tot ons door te dringen. En we hoorden van diverse mensen hier in de stad het zelfde verhaal. We hadden met z'n allen geen idee wat er gaande was!
Inmiddels worden er overal in Port-au-Prince inzamelingen gehouden ten bate van Gonaives. Dat is een nieuw fenomeen: meestal wacht men gewoon op hulp van het buitenland. Maar nu zijn er overal inzamelingen: op school bij de jongens, in onze eigen wijk, bij de autodealer, bij diverse winkels. En veelal gaan mensen dan met de ingezamelde goederen zelf op stap naar mensen die ze kennen in, of in de buurt van, Gonaives.
De hele stad is verslagen, en het beheerst nu bijna elke conversatie. Gonaives is dan ook niet zo maar een stad: het is de stad waar de Onafhankelijkheid bezegeld werd, de stad waar in 1986 het verzet tegen Duvalier begon, en de stad waar de rebellen van Guy Philippe dit jaar hun verzet tegen Aristide begonnen. Gonaives is de stad waar heel Haiti tegenop kijkt, en zeker waar de hoofdstad Port-au-Prince tegenop kijkt. Een trotse stad, en nu helemaal onder de modder.
De interim regering heeft een dubbele taak op zich genomen: enerzijds de stad weer schoon en draaiend krijgen, en anderzijds te zorgen dat zoiets nooit meer gebeurt.
Er zijn nu plannen om de stad in gedeeltes te evacueren naar tentenkampen, schoon te scheppen en te desinfecteren, en dan weer terug te geven aan de bewoners. Maar met al die stelende bendes in de buurt zullen niet veel mensen vrijwillig hun laatste bezittingen achter te laten in handen van vreemden.
Om herhaling te voorkomen, krijgt de Minister van Milieu een extra royale portefeuille om te zorgen voor herbeplanting (omdat een deel van de watervloed is veroorzaakt door de boomkap ter wille van houtskool, zodat er geen bomen meer waren om het water op te zuigen), en het uitmesten van riolering en andere waterafvoer (hetgeen allemaal harstikke verstopt zat zodat het water ook niet meer weg kon).
Panic erupts in flood-ravaged Haiti
GONAIVES, Haiti (AP) -- Survivors who were left with almost nothing after Tropical Storm Jeanne devastated this tiny town buried unclaimed corpses in mud-clogged backyards and attacked aid trucks and even neighbors bringing them food.
"You don't want to make me use this!" one man screamed as he waved a wrench at people carrying cauldrons of food to distribute at a church. The volunteers had come from the port of St. Marc to Gonaives, where flooding from the storm killed at least 1,100 people.
Hungry and thirsty survivors -- some of whom have lost entire families and everything they own -- were losing patience at the slow pace of relief.
Knee-deep mud sucked up animal carcasses and sharp pieces of torn-off zinc roofs, as well as human excrement after the sanitation system was destroyed. Limes have become a hot item in the devastated city of 250,000 because people hold them to their noses to relieve the stench.
Still, some presented opposition when officials tried to continue with the mass burials that began when more than 100 bodies were dumped into a pit at sunset Wednesday
An Associated Press reporter watched people stop the burial of a truckload of bodies. Some, presumably cemetery workers, demanded money. Others objected that no religious rites accompanied the burials.
http://www.com.com
GONAIVES
GONAIVES, Haiti (AP) -- U.N. troops fired smoke grenades Friday as crowds of Haitian flood victims tried to break into a food distribution site, increasingly desperate over the slow pace of relief after Tropical Storm Jeanne devastated the city.
At least 1,160 people were killed in last weekend's storm and crews are continuing to find bodies in the mud and debris. Another 1,250 people remained missing.
About 500 people gathered at a Roman Catholic school where CARE International passed out food to women only in hopes of reducing the crowds. The crowd swelled, however, and men, women and children tried to push through an iron gate.
Argentine U.N. troops fired grenades, chasing people away. But the sunburned, unwashed flood victims returned in surges once the air cleared of smoke.
"We need everything -- bread, clothes, clean water, food," said Mosau Alveus, 25, who showed up at 6 a.m. and came away hours later with just a bag of grain.
Genevieve Montaguere, a nun from Guadeloupe, said the school distributed food for 1,000 families but ran out of drinking water.
Mud has formed a crust across this city of 250,000. Hungry and thirsty survivors -- some of whom lost entire families and everything they own in last week's floods -- were becoming increasingly desperate.
"This is crazy," said Arito Ferreira, a Portuguese police officer among the 650 U.N. peacekeepers in Gonaives. "They come in here without warning. They are trying to do good but people will get hurt."
An 18-wheeler carrying relief supplies from the Church of God was attacked by residents when it entered the city. People jumped on the moving truck, pried open the doors and threw out boxes of supplies. Troops shoved and pushed crowds off the truck.
"It's dangerous and difficult, but we have to come here," said Keteline Richards, 24, who lined up at the school for a second day looking for aid.
The food carriers battled their way to Gonaives from the port of St. Marc to the south, fording floodwaters and mudslides that remain a hazard on National Route 1. At least three truckloads of aid were mired in ditches along the flooded road Thursday.
Poorly maintained roads disintegrated and utilities failed, compounding problems for relief workers.
"Trucking in clean water to Gonaives is a logistical nightmare," said Abby Maxman, a local director for CARE.
Floodwaters finally receded Friday in the seaside slum of Raboteau, one of the hardest-hit areas. Mud caked over animal carcasses and storm debris, and people rushed to clean mounds from their homes -- those without shovels using branches from downed trees.
Many residents held limes to their noses to mask the smell of decaying bodies and overflowing sewage.
The General Hospital was out of commission because of knee-deep mud believed to still hold bodies, and medical supplies were running out. Health workers feared an outbreak of waterborne diseases.
"It's a critical situation in terms of epidemics," said Francoise Gruloos, Haiti director for the U.N. Children's Fund.
Some 1,013 bodies were counted and buried in the city by Thursday night, said Dieufort Deslorges, spokesman for the government's civil protection agency.
But an Associated Press photographer on the ground watched people stop the burial of a truckload of bodies Thursday. Cemetery workers demanded money for the extra work. Others objected that no religious rites accompanied the burials -- many Haitians believe a corpse interred without ceremony will wander and commit evil acts.
"We stopped the burial yesterday because it smelled so bad," gravedigger Jeudi Nestin said. "It's infecting our lungs and they're not paying us."
Other protesters wanted officials to recover bodies in waterlogged surrounding fields and to help search for the missing.
"They may be presumed dead," said Toussaint Kongo-Doudou, a spokesman for the U.N. stabilization mission in Haiti, which put the number of missing at 1,251.
De
Friday, September 24, 2004 Posted: 2239 GMT (0639 HKT)
http://www.cnn.comProjecthulp Haïti wil financiële steun geven
Het verschrikkelijke drama wat zich heeft voorgedaan in Gonaives is onbeschrijfelijk.
Projecthulp Haïti heeft Evelien de Gier gevraagd te onderzoeken naar wat mogelijkheden om bij te dragen het leed te verzachten.
Er is reeds 2000 usd toegezegd.
Uw bijdrage is van harte welkom
Stort uw bijdrage op rekening: 42.91.01.082 tnv Projecthulp Haïti Veendam met vermelden ramp Haïti.
vast bedankt
22-09-2004 'Dodental in Haïti kan oplopen tot duizend'
PORT-AU-PRINCE (ANP) - Het dodental als gevolg van de verwoestende tropische storm Jeanne op Haïti kan oplopen tot duizend. Dat meldde de Haïtiaanse zender Radio Métropole in de nacht van dinsdag op woensdag. Het Internationale Rode Kruis en de VN-missie in Haïti, Minustah, meldden dinsdag 709 doden.
In de stad Gonaives, die het zwaarst getroffen is, zijn volgens hulporganisaties meer dan vijfhonderd doden gevallen. Elders in het noordwesten van de Caribische staat zijn zeker 105 mensen om het leven gekomen. Er zijn bovendien meer dan duizend vermisten.
De interim-premier Gérard Latortue heeft voor de stad Gonaives de noodtoestand uitgeroepen. De interim-president, Boniface Alexandre vroeg tijdens de Algemene Vergadering van de Verenigde Naties in New York om internationale hulp. Bijna een kwart miljoen mensen hebben dringend voedsel en water nodig.
In de mortuaria op het eiland is nauwelijks plaats meer en de weinige ziekenhuizen die er zijn, zijn of verwoest of overvol. Hulporganisaties vrezen gezien het warme en vochtige klimaat voor epidemieën. Het transport van hulpgoederen is erg moeilijk omdat de wegen in Haïti door hoog water en modderlawines nauwelijks te berijden zijn. De VN zetten helikopters in.
Bron: Sitecast
Another tragedy in Haiti
Tuesday, September 21, 2004 9:04 PM
Lees de email van:
STEM Ministries Haiti
inzake de ramp in Haiti
Dear friends and family,
A number of you have emailed us about the latest hurricane to pass by Haiti and how we fared. Ray and I are fine. There was little notice of it in Port-au-Prince, the capital where we live. Saturday it was cloudy and a little rainy and we didn't' think Hurricane Jeanne was going to affect Haiti very much as the reports indicated it was going to pass by Haiti. It was a huge surprise when the reports of the devastation in Gonaives and other towns in the north were being received. The hurricane itself didn't hit Haiti but rainstorms from the fringes apparently did. Because of the severe deforestation problem in Haiti, massive flooding, death and destruction was the result. As of this writing the death toll is nearing 700.
We are sorry that we've been so slow to let you know about this. Our e-mail wasn't working good until Monday evening and so we ourselves
didn't even know much about this until Monday, yesterday. In fact, the first we knew of it was when our son and daughter-in-law called Monday morning on my cell phone and said "HOW ARE YOU??? They said they had heard that our town was underwater. I looked around at the blue sky and dry pavement where I was driving and wondered how in the world they could have gotten that news. Then when I got home later Ray had heard about the flooding and it was Gonaives and other towns.
We were stunned. This is very personal for us. When we first arrived in Haiti 15 years ago to work with the Haiti Medical Teams, we lived at the Free Methodist mission house near Gonaives. We also did many medical teams in the area and have many dear friends there, some who have lost many family members as well as their homes. The mission house has been damaged and the local Free Methodist church where we attended lost it's new school building and the roof of the church. We have been in Gonaives many times to work and visit our Haitian pastor friends, and are heartbroken about this tragedy.
The first news of it to the "outside world" was in the morning hours of Sunday when a few missionaries up there that still had communications contacted people in Port-au-Prince. We then received e-mails from them. Although other towns were hit by flooding and deaths, most of it was in Gonaives and so most of the news is from that city.
A missionary in PAP sent out this e-mail on Sunday morning:
Please Pray for the people at Gonaives as there is bad flooding and many have already died., Leny the Pilipino missionary called us at 4 AM this morning and said Juanito had called him on his cell phone to tell him they needed help. They are on the roof. Juanito's wife is expecting a baby in a week. We can't get thru on Fitzsimmon's phone to find out how they are but they live close to Juanito. I called the US Embassy Marine guard and told him the UN needed to take helicopters up there to help. He said he would call up the chain of command and get back to me. I've heard the Helicopters and hope they went to Gonaives.
Then later on Sunday this was forwarded from a pastor outside of Gonaives:
> I am writing this e-mail while I am in the midst of a great tragedy.
> Hurricane Jeanne has destroyed Gonaives last night. We do not know how many
> lives have been lost yet, since the radio and TV stations are also flooded and
> cannot operate, and all phone systems both Teleco and cellular, are down.
> Maybe we are the only organization able to use the internet in this city
> today, using the little gas we had left in our generator. At our farm, we
> have provided shelter for over a thousand people through the night, most of
> them went back this morning to look at the place where they had their homes.
> We're expecting them and even more back through the day. Besides people from
> the neighborhood of the farm, some came from the city last night, until the
> river La Quinte added to the flood and made it impossible for vehicles and
> pedestrians to go across. I have learned this morning that I lost one blood
> brother, I haven't been able to locate other family members and Christian
> brothers and sisters, and partners who were in communication with us until the
> phone lines gave up last night.
> We are seeing families crossing the river, escaping the city. Lots of naked,
> homeless, and hungry people. Most of the farm is under water, part of the
> Credit Union houses across the road are flooded as well. The rest of the farm
> that's not flooded is under threat, since the water is increasingly coming
> towards Dr Claire's yard. The hospital is flooded, and the hurricane is not
> over yet.
Then today we received some more e-mails that shed more light on this disaster.
This is from Steve Hull in Yakima, WA who received word from a Free Methodist pastor, who is also a friend of ours:
"Gonaives is destroyed." Those are the words of Pastor Delamy as he described to Merilee Buehler and to Linda Markee what he had witnessed. "The whole downtown area is gone, the business, the banks are gone." He was homeward bound from a wedding in Terre Blanche when he was stopped by the rising waters 6 kilometers from home. He spent 10 harrowing hours in his vehicles without food or water. He told Linda that water was "everywhere, everywhere, everywhere." He felt that he would die if he stayed longer so he walked the rest of the way home passing dead animals and destroyed homes along the way. He returned the next day to retrieve his pickup. "All the pastors are alive - barely," he said. "Many lost everything including their cars." Pastor Dedele had 200 people on his roof as the flood waters reached 9 feet in Gonaives. When Linda asked Delamy how his house was doing he answered, "We are OK." He is trying to help all those
coming to him for help and he expected to run out of food and water today. There is no place to get food. By next week he thought he could get to Port au Prince to get food. The banks in Gonaives are destroyed so he will have to get money for food in Port au Prince. Both Linda and Merilee say that Pastor Delamy sounded "desperate" and "agitated." He said that he did not at that time know what we should do (except pray) and he wanted to keep us informed. "All the crops are gone." "There is no way to know how many dead."
FYI, Gonaives is Haiti's third largest city and a historic city where Haiti's independence from France was declared in 1804. In recent times, it has been a city of much unrest and where the "rebels" began their coup against Aristide earlier this year.
Please pray that God will use this "for good," that the Christian churches in the areas would pull together, and that relief groups would be able to organize in such a way to quickly meet the urgent needs. But more than that, pray that people would realize only God can really meet their needs and they would stop looking for "political salvation." Also pray that Ray and I would be able to determine how best we can be of assistance.
20-09-2004 - Jeanne zaait dood en verderf in Haïti
PORT-AU-PRINCE (ANP) - De tropische storm Jeanne heeft dood en verderf gezaaid op Haïti. Ongeveer negentig personen zijn daar om het leven gekomen door overstromingen, aardverschuivingen en vloedgolven. Vele tientallen personen worden vermist. De autoriteiten vrezen dat het dodental nog zal stijgen.
Jeanne had op haar reis door het Caribisch gebied al eerder zeker dertien levens geëist in Puerto Rico en de aan Haïti grenzende Dominicaanse Republiek. Daarmee is het dodental als gevolg van Jeanne bijna net zo hoog als dat van haar voorganger, de orkaan Ivan.
Op Haïti viel zaterdag 33 centimeter regen, waardoor enorme modderlawines en overstromingen ontstonden. De kustplaats Gonaives (200.000 inwoners) in het noordwesten is door modder bedekt, meldde zondagavond een functionaris van de burgerbescherming. Een woordvoerder van de Verenigde Naties zei dat 80 procent van deze stad onder water staat. Hij zei niet uit te sluiten dat het dodental oploopt tot tweehonderd.
Soldaten van de VN-vredesmacht op het eiland zijn ingezet voor hulp aan overlevenden. In het noordwesten is op veel plaatsen de oogst vernield. De ramp kwam vier maanden nadat overstromingen meer dan 3000 mensen in het grensgebied tussen Haïti en de Dominicaanse Republiek het leven hadden gekost.
De verwachting is dat Jeanne verder geen slachtoffers meer maakt. Eerder koerste zij af op de Bahama's, maar zij verlegde haar koers naar het noordoosten en zal waarschijnlijk boven de Atlantische Oceaan uitrazen.
Bron: Sitecast
Haïti en de stormen van de laatste tijd.
Het heeft de laatste weken flink gestormd rondom Haiti.
Orkaan Alex kwam op geruime afstand onder Haiti door;
orkaan Bonnie bleef ten oosten, in de golf van Mexico;
orkaan Charley ging ons ook op afstand voorbij, en richtte een ravage aan in Florida;
orkaan Danielle bleef in de oceaan en bereikte gelukkig nooit land, en Earl bracht het niet verder dan een tropische storm, en vervloog vlak voor Haiti.
Frances ging ons ruimschoots voorbij, storm G en H zaten ver van ons af, maar toen leek orkaan Ivan ineens recht op ons af te stormen..... en boog gelukkig op het laatste moment af naar het zuiden zodat we er ook toen met een grijze lucht en een paar milimeter regen af kwamen.
We hebben dus al wekenlang flinke grijze luchten en veel rukwinden, maar nauwelijks regen. Zelf zouden we eigenlijk heel graag eens een flinke bui hebben, maar als we dan bedenken dat Fond Verrettes en Mapou hemelsbreed niet zo heel ver van ons af liggen en gedeeltelijk nog steeds onder water staan van de vorige overstromingen, kunnen we het alleen maar als een zegen beschouwen dat Haiti even geen regen krijgt.
Bron: Evelien de Gier
Haïti tegen Brazilië
Onlangs is het voetbalteam van Brazilië overgevlogen, vergezeld van de Braziliaanse president Lula himself, om een "Match de la Paix" te spelen tegen het Haïtiaanse nationale team. Iedereen was er vol van, en als geste hebben we die middag de fabriek gesloten zodat iedereen de wedstrijd kon gaan zien. De meeste wijken van Port-au-Prince hadden speciaal voor de gelegenheid stroom, dus kon iedereen Ronaldo en andere grootheden zien in "ons" stadion. Haiti verloor met 0-6, hetgeen best aardig was van die Brazilianen...
Nieuws COHAN
Opnieuw zijn er problemen in de vrijhandelszone. Werknemers hebben er injecties gekregen die hen zouden beschermen tegen tetanus, maar ze kregen geen vaccinatieboekje en aan het ministerie van gezondheid werd geen toestemming gevraagd. Na deze injecties kregen tientallen werknemers klachten vooral op seksueel gebied. Veel werkneemster denken dat de leiding hen wil verhinderen kinderen te krijgen om hen meer arbeidsproductief te maken... Lees hier verder...
GEITENPROJECT NIEUW !!!!!!
7 kinderen krijgen elk een geit, en de pasteur krijgt er 3 om te kruisen.
De kinderen krijgen geiten-hoeder les.
Elk kind is verplicht om van het eerste nest geitjes 1 geit terug te geven aan het project - en die kan dan weer voor een nieuw kind gebruikt worden.
Dus daarvandaan moet het een sneeuwbal effect worden.
Startop kosten zijn Usd 1,200 per project
Arnoux -- Goat Project -- $1200.00 - This project is easily duplicated
The program will begin with 7 children. Each will be given a goat. They will be taught animal husbandry as well as on-hand experience with vaccinations. They will also participate in a tree planting project.
Each child will be required to give one goat from the first litter in order to perpetuate the program. The pastor will also raise three goats, whose offspring will be integrated into the project. This will help to expand the project.
Dit project is erg geschikt voor (lagere) scholen, om hier geld voor bij een te brengen.
Start een actie bij U in de buurt.
Voor meer informatie of vragen , stuur een mail.
Ga eens vragen bij
Nieuws COHAN
De regering heeft haar witboek over de eerste honderd regeringsdagen gepubliceerd. De premier zegt hierin "het schip van de financiën weer op koers te hebben gebracht". Hij is ervan overtuigd dat zijn regering concrete resultaten heeft bereikt en een substantiële hulp te verwachten wanneer de internationale fondsen op 19 en 10 juli vergaderen... Lees hier verder...
Nieuws...
Tussen kerst en nieuwjaar 2003 heb ik Haïti mogen bezoeken en in juli 2004. (escortering WK).
Was er in december nog de dreiging van een komende staatsgreep en liepen tienduizende mensen in demonstraties dagelijks door de straten.
In Juli was hiervan niets meer te merken. Veel UN militairen reden met een soort van tanks door de straten en je zag ook patrouilles door de straten lopen. Maar het gaf geen 'gevaarlijk' gevoel.
Gewoon een praatje maken met mensen op de straat was geen probleem.
De onlusten in januari en februari hebben wel tot gevolg gehad dat de straathandel slecht is geworden, zeker als het 'toeristen handel' betreft zoals schilderijen, beeldjes ed. Ik sprak een schilder die in twee maanden nog niets had verkocht. Het is een harde tijd voor de mensen daar.
Men is in spannende afwachting wat de toekomst gaat brengen.
Bezoeken zijn gebracht aan het kindertehuis L'Esperance en het huisjesproject. (in juli) en in december is het project van de Murpheys bezocht.
Verder zijn er gesprekken gevoerd met Kees en Evelien de Gier, die voor projecthulp de ogen, oren en handen zijn.
Een bezoek aan Haïti in het kader van escortering is meestal erg kort, vaak is er maar één dag beschikbaar om projecten te bezoeken.
Op dit moment zijn we in bespreking om het leenproject weer op te zetten.
Zie de diverse Projecten voor verder nieuws.
Nieuws COHAN
De secretaris-generaal van de OAS noemt bij zijn afscheid "Haïti een te moeilijk geval voor de OAS". "Op het eind van al die jaren hebben wij een zeer onbevredigend gevoel". Tijdens de OAS-top waar hij deze uitspraak deed was Haïti een van de onderwerpen. Nog steeds weigert de CARICOM, de voorlopige regering van Haïti te erkennen. Zij eist een onderzoek naar het vertrek van Aristide, maar de VS weigeren dit... Lees hier verder...
Foto boeken Haïti
Weer beperkt beschikbaar!!!!!
Het bekende boek: Paroles et Lumières (Where Light Speaks) prijs € 60,00.
Heel beperkt beschikbaar!!
Prachtig fotoboek : "Haïti Portrait d 'un pays". Dit boek is uitgegeven tgv 200 jaar Haïti (meer dan 500 foto's) en kost € 60,00
Ook nog verkrijgbaar TapTap wooden pencilholder € 5,00
Boek bestellen: Stuur een e-mail met naam, adres, woonplaats en telefoonnummer.
Pencilholder bestellen: maak € 5,00 over op rekening 52.45.51.146 met vermelding taptap pencilholder en huisnummer postcode.
9 juli a.s ga ik kort naar Haïti en hoop daar wat hoofdoekjes (Haïtiaanse vlag) te kunnen aanschaffen, zodra dit lukt wordt dit op de site vermeld.
Nieuws COHAN
Sinds het vertrek van Aristide is minder dan de helft van de politieagenten weer aan het werk gegaan. Men is nu bezig oud-militairen die zich niet hebben schuldig gemaakt aan schendingen van de mensenrechten in het politiecorps op te nemen. Volgens de premier is het opheffen van het leger in 1995 tegen de grondwet, maar aanvaard door zowel de bevolking als door de internationale gemeenschap. Er gaan echter stemmen op de opheffing ongedaan te maken... Lees hier verder...
Bericht over de overstroming
Kort bericht van uit Port au Prince:
Haiti staat weer volop in 't nieuws, en de omstandigheden zijn diep-triest. Er zijn enorme overstromingen, complete dorpjes zijn weggevaagd of staan nog helemaal onder water, en de voorzichtige schattingen hebben het over 2000 doden. Er komt nog meer regen aan, dus het einde is nog niet in zicht.
De overstromingen zijn ten zuid-oosten van ons, richting Dominicaanse Republiek, maar de regen bij ons in de stad valt mee. Vorige week hadden we 2 dagen onafgebroken regen (4 inch in totaal), maar daarna slechts buien. Wel hebben we elke dag eindeloze files op Route Frères omdat onze oude straat weer leegspoelt op deze hoofdweg: de regen die boven in de bergen valt komt nog steeds via ons oude straatje naar beneden, en omdat ze daar nu een kanaal langs de weg hebben gemaakt (eindelijk!!!!) spoelt het daarna keihard de Route Frères op, met alle modder en keien die het onderweg meeneemt. Elke dag zijn bulldozers het weer aan 't opscheppen, want 's ochtends is het pakket blubber&steentjes meer dan een meter hoog en gaat metersver door...
Ons huis blijft binnen gelukkig droog, en de waterkelder is nu lekker vol, de tuin goed nat, dus wij hebben genoeg reden om dankbaar te zijn.
fam. de Gier
Nieuw project
Via ons contact Evelien de Gier ontving Projecthulp Haïti een verzoek voor Vitamine, bestemd voor een kliniek net buiten de stad (richting Dominicaanse grens). Lees hier verder...
Nieuws COHAN
De premier, Latortue zegt een akkoord te hebben gesloten met de politieke partijen en ver-tegenwoordigers van het maatschappelijk middenveld. Dit akkoord voorziet in het houden van algemene verkiezingen in 2005... Lees hier verder...
Nieuws COHAN
De commissie van wijze mannen heeft na lang beraad Gérard Latortue gekozen als premier. Hij is 69 jaar en was in 1988 onder Manigat minister van Financiën. Lees hier verder...
Nieuws COHAN
Er is weer een pagina met nieuws van COHAN
Computerles op Haïti
In samenwerking met Kees en Evelien de Gier is in de fabriek van Maxima in Port au Prince een computercurcus gestart.
