Haiti Update January 14, 2010 (4:30 p.m.)
...written and distributed by PDG Dick McCombe
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
This has been a very fulfilling, yet frustrating, day.
On the fulfilling side, we have had overwhelming support from everywhere and everyone again. Thank you so very much for all your efforts!
The District has asked the Assistant Governors to coordinate a local relief strategy for their regional areas. Through this initiative we hope to coordinate the appeal for support, coordinate/consolidate shipments, and promote contribution to our relief funds.
We have been able to have communicate occasionally with PADG Caleb Lucien by Satellite phone, but this has been extremely difficult. The needs remain the same, with specific emphasis on medical supplies and blankets for right now.
We are coordinating with Missionary Flights International to get some "stuff" flown in, and have arranged a few flights from Nassau. We have been able to get Volunteer Doctors and Medical supplies committed from a number of our regions, along with the flights to get them there as well.
We have the Rotarians from District 7710 who have 3 Beechcraft on the ground in North Carolina ready to come down full of supplies. We have a 40 FT container in Athens, Georgia, ready to move with $200,000 worth of medical supplies and on and on...
The challenge now is that the airport in PaP is restricting air traffic, and some of today’s flights were returned. Things are backing up and the PaP Port is closed.
We have arranged for approval to fly into alternate sites and to truck the supplies to PaP. This alternative is being studied, and will be an option we consider for our shipments.
We have received approval from the Prime Minister's office to bring in any relief supplies we wish. However, this approval does not guarantee access to the airport and port, so it is more of a comfort than a fact.
We have Shelter Boxes, Water Purification Boxes, relief supply flights, money and everything else coming in. We now need to position our on-the-ground team to coordinate it. With the communication, that will be difficult, but we can get it done.
Sadly, we have not been able to reconnect with ADG Ted Lazarre and have not yet heard from Amos and we remain prayerful they are OK.
Not much more to say today without listing the names of the 100’s of Rotarians throughout our District and others who have done extraordinary things to get us the support we need, but I believe it would be better just to say a heartfelt THANK YOU from Haiti and all of those you are helping.
God Bless You!
I’ll be in touch with further update tomorrow.
PDG Dick
Haiti Update
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