National Palace in 360º
Ruins of the National Palace after the earthquake and the refugee tents in Champs de Mars, Port-au-Prince – April 2010
This 360º panoramic photo taken recently in Champs de Mars shows the ruins of the palace and the tent city which now dominates the historic centre of Haiti’s capital.
As the earthquake victims try to get their lives back to normal, the desperate need for shelter, clothing and food continues to preoccupy the hundreds of thousand homeless. Talking to the families living in these terribly rough conditions it is impossible to ignore their courage and sporadic good humour. A four-year-old boy cheerfully offered the photographer a piece of popcorn in his hand. But their needs are overwhelming. Aid is still pouring into the country, but inevitably is not reaching everyone. ORE is providing food deliveries to groups in the Turgeau neighbour not far from Champ de Mars, as well as helping evacuees in Camp Perrin to get back on their feet.
It is hard to describe the feeling of inadequacy as you register the huge need for everyone in this specific camp in Champs de Mars, sprawled in tents and living under tarps on the pavement across the National Palace… with no help reaching them, so close to the people in charge who receive all foreign dignitaries on the lawn facing the camp across the street.
Haiti is less prominent on the news but the humanitarian crisis is still very present. For the victims it will remain a life and death struggle to survive under appalling conditions until their means to earn a living is restored. It is tragic… is as yet no hint of how they might get help to start over. The people’s real trauma is not knowing what to plan, what is the priority: whether to try to put kids back in school, getting a tent, buying food, cleaning up the rubbles, building a temporary shelter, moving out of Port-au-Prince, out of Haiti? And all the time, for so many not a sign of relief in sight, no hope that real help, real solutions will reach them. This is why your support has been such a blessing and has had such an impact on so many people’s lives. The task is tremendous, but every effort, every gesture we make is particular blessing…
As a local NGO we are able, thanks to your support, to rapidly respond within Haiti with local assistance where it is most needed. For more information about how to help the program please click here: www.oreworld.org/donate.htm
Themocracy
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