Day 7: Spotlight on Jacmel (and radio update)

Photo credit: Cine Institute, Jacmel

Day 7 Roundup: The Southern Coast (Jacmel)

(Thanks to my colleague David Walter for Jacmel research)

In the past two days, as media and international aid groups arrived with increasing frequency, so did updates from the cities and towns of the heavily-affected southern coast, including Jacmel and Leogane.

Below is a roundup of firsthand and news items related to the present scope and delivery of the rescue effort in Jacmel.

I’ll be posting similar updates soon about Leogane, Petit Goave and other places – and will post major news related to Port-au-Prince – focused particularly on logistics of the distribution of aid, progress of first responders (and now second responders) and the most important issue: the survival of Haitians, the recover of the wounded, the death of those trapped, the evacuation or flight of people to the provinces.

But first some broad updates on the situation in Haiti, and the capital:

Flight, Resettlement and Plans for Evacuation:

This week we're seeing the beginning plans of the Evacuation and Resettlement phase of emergency operations – and there’s considerable action on the border with the Dominican Republic as the government of Haiti eyes temporary camps for 10,000 individuals – or more. The figures remain loose, as the plan shapes up.

Tonight, the bloggers and listserves on Haiti took note of the possible evacuation of citizens away from Haiti – to where, asked many? Perhaps to countries as far away as Senegal who have stepped up to offer homeless Haitians land – even a region of Senegal, should they decide to ‘return to their land of origin, Africa’.

Critique of US 'takeover' of Haiti... where's Pres. Preval?

Various critiques of the aid effort gained steam, and have been widely reported in media reports. One is the growing tension of Who’s In Charge in Haiti? Haitians -- and outsiders – feel that Haitian President Preval and what remains of his fractured cabinet and administration are failing to provide even symbolic leadership or speaking to the media to indicate the Government of Haiti is still in charge of the agenda.

Instead, there’s a growing chorus of criticism about the US military’s control over not only the control tower at Port-au-Prince and relief efforts, but the larger agenda of controlling the relief effort and how Haiti will move forward. A number of media stories have reported the anger and frustration of aid groups and government leaders such as the French who claim the US military has turned away their airplanes and hospital teams, putting the delivery of US troops to provide security ahead of medical teams like MSF, especially coming from other countries.

By MONDAY evening, there were signs of a shift: the US government had agreed to prioritize aid planes over troops, and other countries reported some easing of the tensions over entry into Haiti’s very tight airspace.

The larger criticism – and concern – is related to Haiti’s near future and longer future: will the US call the shots, or will Haiti and Haitians? And what will the role of the international community be in helping Haiti? Stay tuned for an important debate that will evolve in these coming months related to the challenge of Rebuilding Haiti.

JACMEL: Destroyed, Neglected - but Citizens mobilized.

While the details continue to develop, by Friday, Unicef said that 20% of the buildings in Jacmel had been destroyed or sustained considerable damage (source: SF Examiner, quoting Guido Cornale, a Unicef official in Jacmel). Other reports suggested a much higher figure – up to 80% in some posts to Haiti internet news sites and ‘tweets’ by groups and individuals in Jacmel.

News reports say some 65,000 people were living in Jacmel at the time of the quake --(some news reports have a smaller figure). But all agree: a significant majority were left homeless now. Around a thousand were camped out on the airport runway in the first days after the quake.

Jacmel was founded in 1698 and is a beloved city full of beautiful 19th-century architecture and Haitian gingerbread houses, and a vibrant arts scene that attracted many tourists over the years. An international film festival and music festivals helped make Jacmel a cultural magnet for anyone visiting Haiti.

New stories said he quake severely damaged the Cine Institute: the school’s theatre collapsed. But Cine Institute staff and students showed great leadership and courage in sifting through the rubble, and using their film skills to video document and report live from the city. About 75% of the old Jacmel was said to be damaged. (Source: SF Examiner)

On Sat, I posted a story by the Miami Herald about the ignored crisis in Jacmel. Earlier today, I added links to a group of students at Cine Institute there who have provided first hand accounts of the major destruction of Jacmel, which did not see any rescue teams or relief aid providers for the first days after the Jan 12 earthquake.

Here’s an excerpt:
A vocational and auto-repair school, the Eunasmoh Institute, points to the severity of the local disaster: At least 100 students were crushed when the building collapsed in the quake, neighbors said. The trapped bodies of the victims could still be seen Friday, crushed arms and stiff legs protruding from the ruins.

KEY STORIES AND LOGISTICS REPORTS ON JACMEL

Below are links from yesterday and today's new stories and updates with URL links that provide information and logistics updates about the impact of the quake and the current situation in Jacmel.

The city was very badly damaged due to the earthquake, with a loss of life and major injuries that are still being documented. Residents said Jacmel was ignored and they were left stranded,without medical or rescue teams, until just recently. On Wed, thousands were sleeping on the airport runway or in the streets, afraid that damaged homes would collapse.

But as videos made by Cine Institute students show, citizens banded together and bravely focused on trying to reach survivors, bury the dead and care for the wounded, amidst a collapsed city. Although Jacmel is small compared to Port-au-Prince, the impact of the quake on the city is deemed similarly catastrophic by residents and aid workers: schools, clinics, orphanages, homes, hotels, offices – collapsed, broken, people missing and trapped but still thought to be alive as of yesterday…. As aid now arrives to Jacmel, residents mourn the slow response and total lack of help given to city residents in the first critical days.

1/18 Documenting the Destruction
Real-Time Reports: Pierre Cote continues to broadcast real-time streamed reports directly from Jacmel.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pierrecote

1/18 canada involvement / ports / destruction
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2455966

1/17 new york times / report on community
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/nyregion/18towns.html

1/17 roads
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MYAI-7ZT3QP?OpenDocument

1/18 progress report / transportation / damage / dead / injured
http://www.konpay.org/en/node/466

1/18 AP report / interviews / damage/ casualty estimates / needs
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/post_117.html

1/18 destruction of buildings
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=xprnw.20100116.DC39075&show_article=

1/18 Detailed Damage Assessment Map—satellite
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fullmaps_am.nsf/luFullMap/DBA50497586A25D6852576AF00736923/$File/map.pdf?OpenElement

1/18 aid
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/AZHU-7ZTNMQ?OpenDocument&query=jacmel

1/18 needs of children
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/VDUX-7ZTNML?OpenDocument&query=jacmel&emid=EQ-2010-000009-HTI

1/18 tents, survival kits on the way / warnings concerning children’s needs
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/VDUX-7ZTNML?OpenDocument&query=jacmel&emid=EQ-2010-000009-HTI

1/18 Spanish NGO efforts / damage estimates
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ASAZ-7ZTKCZ?OpenDocument&query=jacmel&emid=EQ-2010-000009-HTI

1/18 Caritas aid headed for Jacmel
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ASAZ-7ZTK6D?OpenDocument&query=jacmel&emid=EQ-2010-000009-HTI

1/18 ACTED’s operations in Jacmel / needs of the region /medical / injury, death esimates
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ASAZ-7ZTG3D?OpenDocument&query=jacmel

1/18 UNICEF food, water shipments
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/MYAI-7ZS5AJ?OpenDocument&query=jacmel&emid=EQ-2010-000009-HTI

Eyewitness and aid group posts:

From We Can Build An Orphanage/Judy Hoffman: Last evening we were able to confirm that our children made it through, as did our staff/families. Most have no homes, and all are sleeping in the street. Many of the children cannot find their families/relatives and those who can report that their homes have been destroyed as has much of Jacmel (buildings down everywhere, deaths and injuries have not yet been assessed, two schools collapsed I am told w children inside, etc.-horrible) There is no aid whatsoever that has made it in to Jacmel.
*************

Since that posting, days ago, groups are working round the clock to respond, however belatedly, to the challenge of recovering people who may still be buried alive under the rubble in Jacmel. Medical teams are there, orphans are being transported to safer places. As in Port-au-Prince, a steady exodus has begun -- out of Jacmel,further out to the provinces, by Jacmel residents who have lost their homes and buried their loved ones, and are hoping to find shelter with relatives or friends elsewhere.

Stay tuned.