Haitian Earthquake

FIRST RESPONSE

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A team of 10 representing ADRA’s International A team of 10 representing ADRA’s International Network Response arrived in Haiti after driving Network Response arrived in Haiti after driving from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince. ADRA’s from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince. ADRA’s offices in Port-au-Prince have been seriously offices in Port-au-Prince have been seriously

damaged and ADRA is working out of its damaged and ADRA is working out of its warehouse. warehouse.

It is feared that up to 200,000 may have died after It is feared that up to 200,000 may have died after the 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti on January 12. the 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti on January 12.

President Preval is currently running the country President Preval is currently running the country from a police station near the airport as much of from a police station near the airport as much of

Haiti’s infrastructure and civil authoiry is Haiti’s infrastructure and civil authoiry is destroyed. destroyed.

ADRA partner Global Medic

doctor Mike Howatt

examining an x-ray.

The Adventist hospital is

one of thirteen still

taking patients inside to

perform x-rays, but not

everyone can afford to

pay for them.

This pregnant woman holds her husband’s hand while waiting to see a doctor. She in need of an

urgent C-section.

General surgeon

Mike Howatte treats an injured woman.

ADRA now has 3

medical teams in Port-au-

Prince and has

arranged with Florida Hospital to evacuate serious surgery cases.

Mike Howatte worked

without rest since

arriving at the

Adventist hospital Friday

afternoon. His first

break came at sundown Saturday. They have

performed a lot of

amputations.

A team of specialised rescuers from ADRA Colombia are working with local volunteers and UN

security forces as they continue to search for trapped people among the wreckage of buildings.

Before the water filtration system was installed at the university well, many refugees got their

drinking water downstream from where others were washing, and relieving themselves...

Two members of the Global Medic team testing water from the University pool before setting up

the Explorer filtration system.

A girl fills up her water container from the ADRA’s partner Global Medic

“Explorer” purification system set up at the university

pool. 30,000 people

benefit from this system each day.

Filling up with fresh drinking water at the university pool filtration system. ADRA Also

distributes water purification tablets to 60,000 survivors in Port-au-Prince and Riviere Froide

from 9 distribution centres.

This is a photo of a small portion of the water line at the University pool. There were close to 2,000 people waiting for water at this point, but it was difficult to get a shot showing the whole

line.

The complete Explorer

purification system from

ADRA’s partner Global Medic. Large

storage tanks are filled and used to provide

fresh water after the system is packed up at sunset

each night.

These girls and their parents are sleeping outside on the hospital grounds with thousands

of fellow refugees. ADRA has been able to provide them with some biscuits and truck loads

of food are currently on their way from Dominica.

Food aid is starting to trickle into Haiti now.

The airport has only space to park 18 planes at a time and now storage space for cargo, added to

this is the fuel shortages and power cuts which are hampering the distribution of food, medicine and

shelter materials.

Hospital patients and their families, 25,000 IDPs Hospital patients and their families, 25,000 IDPs in all, are camped out on the lawn of the in all, are camped out on the lawn of the

Adventist University and Hospital, some still Adventist University and Hospital, some still waiting to receive attention. Sanitation is a waiting to receive attention. Sanitation is a

critical problem. ADRA has built 60 latrines for critical problem. ADRA has built 60 latrines for the camp.the camp.

The government is encouraging those who can to leave the city to find safety. ADRA is caring

for those who cannot leave and working to organise this informal camp, providing security,

sanitation, food and improved tents.

This is a unique experience for ADRA. This is the first mainly urban disaster we have faced in recent

times.

Our team of volunteers, international and local have to deal with security issues and fear of a

cholera and typhus epidemic as many body still remain unrescued in the streets

PHOTOGRAPHER: Matt Harzel

PREPARED: January 19, 2010

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