One week after the devestating 7.0 earthquake that has devasted Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and other communities, the first medical relief team of foreign surgeons landed in Jacmel. Here is the initial report from Karen Carr of the Community Coalition for Haiti. For more information on the situation in Jacmel, see this report in the Miami Herald.
The Quixote Center is partnering with KONPAY and the Coordinated Rapid Repsonse to Haiti Earthquake to get medical personnel and supplies to Jacmel. Please donate to bring relief now and the long term aid Haiti needs.
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Karen Carr, Community Coalition for Haiti, Jacmel - January 19, 2010
in Jacmel now...There is a heavy UN presence, more Canadian Military troops arrived as we did. Relief flights were pretty constant this morning with WFP and others. Private pilots from the DR are flying in supplies in as well. Gas is running low, but available. There are few medical supplies here except the ones we brought in. Only 3 Haitian doctors and a few Cubans ones for over 2,000 patients and they are still recovering the injured from the rubble. AFtershocks were felt this morning and at 3AM. People are still sleeping outside.
Guerda Lexima with Beyond Borders and Limye Lavi and Joe Duplan of Haiti KONPAY has done a great job getting things ready on the ground for the arrival of our medical teams. We are the first foreign surgical team to arrive. We have set up the tents and are arranging other flights from Santiago from private pilots we are flying things in for free. Have connected with the Nick Gaurange, with NGO here coordinating at the airport.
Working on securing water, food, supplies for the teams. Great effort everyone! Karen
Details on situation:
1) 2 functioning OR's with anesthesia but at two sites (5-10 minutes apart) Just now assessing the load of patients....over 2,000
2) Very limited in supplies
3) Meeting with all hospital staff this afternoon to plan as other teams come and coordinate with the Red Cross and PAM.
4) Injured people are in rural areas as well...but so many are far out and can't get in. PAM is coordinating with CCH/BB./LL to get patients into the hospitals in Jacmel. PAM will get us the use of a vehicle as an ambulance.
