The following is a set of blog entries written during a Muslim Aid venture into Haiti by Tanvir Uddin - MAA's International Programs manager - to oversee project implementation to bring relief to those suffering from Haiti's Cholera outbreak
Blog One: Day One in Port-au-Prince
Along with MWB director, Shafi Khan, Haiti desk officer, Yasir Abunamous, a young cameraman, Abid Nimer, we flew into Port-au-Prince this morning from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The manifestation of the gross challenges of the country greeted us almost immediately upon our arrival at the airport. This is not to exclude the airport arrival building which was covered with huge cracks running through the side. Ibrahim Abdoul-Salam, the in-country officer for MWB greeted us. He had booked two SUVs with French and European Union number plates (this would give us a lot of importance, Shafi stated). These would be our travel and transportation vehicles for the two days.
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Distributions
After checking in at the hotel, we gathered our important equipment (banners and Abid’s bag of camera accessories) to drive to the MWB-Haiti office. Much of Port-au-Prince was a vast sprawl from the actual Port to half-way up the mountainside where we could see small houses in the distance. All around us we could see tent camps funded by various organisations. In between the tent camps there were large amounts of rubble waiting to be cleared; broken buildings boldly stood amongst the urban activities of the locals. Near the office, open drains carried effluence and many people who lacked employment stood around, their dark skins glistening in the unforgiving sun.
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In the first session of day one, we opened up the boxes that had been sent from Tampa, Florida (on the first hygiene kit drive) as well as some sewing machines (donated by the Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago). We decided to undertake some distributions outside the office in the local community and at a nearby Muslim school attached to Masjid Al Taweed.
Masjid Al Taweed distribution
We visited the classrooms of the primary school students and were greeted by a warm ‘Salam Alaikum’ (peace be upon you). The school has both Muslim and non-Muslims students. The Principal permitted us to distribute there and explained the contents and the purpose of the kits to the children. We handed out three to each child in all of the classrooms. We also gave some to the teachers and support staff as well. To see a smile on the children’s face was one of many memorable moments during the trip.
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MWB Office distribution
Thereafter, we returned to the office to undertake one of the largest distributions. With open drains and dense living areas, cholera could spread here very easily. Some local youth came to assist us in an orderly distribution process. Without a ‘token-based’ system, we couldn’t keep track of who received the kits. However, we managed to distribute about 700 or so kits (2.5 boxes) with the help of some local ‘strong men’ who kept order and organised the lines.
Masjid Yasin in Cite Soleil
Cite Soleil is known to be a ‘rough’ community (one of the poorest and most dangerous) and was really suffering from the effects of the earthquake. Just at the outskirts of this place we met an Imam at a mosque called ‘Masjid Yasin’. This mosque was first established by Bangladeshi UN peace keepers who purchase the land in 1993. It was around this time that the current Imam reverted to Islam and devoted his time to teaching Islam in the community as well as working to bring in aid and relief services from various UN and other NGO’s such as Islamic Relief to the community.
Behind the mosque was a small Islamic Relief camp that the Imam manages and looks after. We left three boxes with the Imam so that he may distribute the hygiene kits to people in that community as well as worshippers after the Friday Juma’ah prayer. It was awesome fun riding on the tray of the SUV as we watched the sun bathe the city in red.
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Blog 2: Distributions outside Port-au-Prince
Leogane
Our first session would involve driving about 90 minutes west of Port-au-Prince to Leogane. This is where the epicentre of the earthquake was situated. On the road we could see numerous tent camps but these became sparse as we drove further west. Although the intensity of the quake would have been greatest in this town, as it had very few buildings and mostly comprised of rural towns, there were fewer deaths and less destruction of houses and buildings.
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On the way, we stopped at one of the tent camps in a village called Ricot. These were donated by the P.R. of China, the Samaritan’s Purse (USA) and USAID. We began distributing from one of the tents at the front that was empty and completed a little more than 1 box. An old man, who managed the affairs of the camp, organised the line and Ibrahim explained the purpose and uses of the kits to people in Haitian creole. More people from surrounding areas were joining the queue and calling others as well.
There was a larger camp just up the road which we couldn’t service and I thought about how there would have been numerous camps like these all over the country needing assistance. The people in camps are just surviving with little income and high unemployment. The feasibility of agriculture is low, thus they were dependent on aid. However, at least they had some clothes on their backs and a place to stay. Instead of simply providing hand-outs, aid needed to be directed to providing long-term sources of income such as through revitalising the agricultural sector.
From the camps we drove further west to a Masjid near Ibrahim’s house run by Imam Luqman Bilal. We were intending to leave three boxes for distribution in that community after the Friday Juma’ah prayer. It was a really peaceful location with lots of greenery; it made us forget the chaos of Port-au-Prince. The agricultural sector, which once flourished, is an example of a sector that needs greater focus.
Cemetery and Port
The last session was short as we made two quick visits at the central cemetery and the port. This was different to the other larger cemetery where those who were unidentified were simply buried in mass graves. That part of the town is also one of the most dangerous in the city. At least in this grave, names were recognisable and families were buried together. They all carried their epitaph with ‘January 12’. Some local gangs controlled the entry of the cemetery and they demanded some money before they would let us in. One of their ‘guards’ was carrying a semi-automatic weapon – that did make for some great photographs!
Afterwards, we travelled to the main port. There were numerous shanty towns that developed near the ‘fresh’ food markets. It smelled really putrid due to the rotting vegetation and open drains. We realised that some of the distribution should have been undertaken here. The fruit and vegetables were of poor quality, and it hit home that the little that is grown locally is not ‘quality’ produce. This visit sparked a project idea (which we later discussed with Ibrahim) about agriculture for sustainable food production. This would allow the Haitians to become self-reliant and to be independent from the imported food from other nations.
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There is a lot of scope for business to develop. At night as we sat to make project plans for Haiti – I was really amazed that the situation in Haiti presents much opportunity for business as the economy will be gradually expanding and as infrastructure develops, the levels of return on investment would be fairly high. That would allow MWB-Haiti to obtain additional funds to support more poor people in the area.
Blog 3: Preparations and Reflections on Haiti
Preparing for field work in a developing country is often an arduous process. This is particularly the case for Haiti; since the earthquake last January, roads and other telecommunications infrastructure have not resumed normality. Even so, Haiti imports much of its food and other essential items making it one of the most expensive places to work in; for aid workers, this is another obstacle to administering aid.
Consequently, we went to purchase basic food supplies from WalMart last night. We stocked up on tuna, bread, beans and fruit snacks. We took my large blue suitcase to carry the food. Later on we affectionately called it the ‘Blue suitcase buffet’ where one could indulge in all the tuna that they could handle. Despite having tuna for breakfast, lunch and dinner, after a long session’s work, we actually began to crave it!
The projects
Muslim Aid Australia recently funded a $15 000 cholera relief programme with “Muslims Without Borders” (MWB) (see: http://mwbrelief.org/) to provide hygiene kits to people in Haiti. The main objective of the trip was to undertake in the distribution of the relief items and to observe the operations. As well we would evaluate the long-term projects that have been planned by MWB for additional funding. These include the 'Sisters-Helping-Sisters' project to provide sewing training to women for sale of cloths in the US as well as micro-grants to establish businesses such as internet cafes.
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Our partners: MWB
MWB was founded by Shafi Khan. It is an upcoming youth-based organisation out of Washington D.C. The MAA-funded Haiti cholera project was their first major relief project in Haiti – the usual challenges can be overwhelming highlighting that aid and relief work is not easy. We hope to partner with them for other projects related to income-generation and long-term development.
Reflections
I really enjoyed my time and wish that I could have stayed there longer. It’s as if the people are walking on a stage where the rubble, broken buildings and feeble infrastructure juxtaposes with the affable people. There is reason for optimism–daily an additional site is cleared, more children attend school, and people go about building and starting businesses. This all happens without much assistance from the government.
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Despite what they had gone through in the past year and the challenges that lay ahead, they were showing all the signs of working hard to build a better future. Perhaps international governments should sit with the locals rather than providing token aid, and work together for the collective good.
All in all a fantastic trip that motivates one to be thankful for what they have, and to work harder to help those who are less fortunate than yourself. Walhumdulilahi Rabbil AlAmeen
One of the best Charity Organizations in Australia
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