On January 20th, key OBI members met in conference addressing OBI's ongoing response to the humanitarian tragedy to our nation's south. Our intent is to serve those in need in Haiti, and to further ongoing efforts of Technical Exchange for Christian Healthcare (TECH), the Association for Christian Conferences and Training Services (ACCTS) and other Christian non-profits and non-government organizations. We are also gearing up to provide post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) training packages and counseling support to first responders, emergency workers and military dealing with trauma and psychological injury. This is similar to the service we completed in Sri Lanka following the tsunami recovery efforts.
Current Assessment of the Situation
While food and water shortages recently threatened an outbreak of lawlessness, intervention by US and foreign forces appears to be providing some welcome stability to a potentially volatile situation. Tragically, another earthquake (6.1 on the Richter scale) struck on the morning of January 20th, increasing already rampant uneasiness among survivors. Expectations are that structures that survived the first quake may now be further structurally compromised or actually collapse.
In a larger scale, satellite images of Port-au-Prince show the following extensive damage:
- 40% of hospitals
- 88% of government buildings (since the earthquake took place during business hours, a very large percentage of government officials are feared to have lost their lives)
- 50% of NGO offices (non-governmental organizations, mostly aid programs)
- 60% of churches
- Communities at the center of the earthquake are 90-100% flattened
The US government (US Navy, the Army's 82nd Airborne, etc) have assumed control of the port and airport, facilitating entry and the distribution of food and water. The UN is recommending that NGOs use the Dominican Republic port and airfields to send supplies and medical personnel by sea and by road into Haiti.
The situation remains desperate for nearly all of people of Haiti and now, increasingly, for aid workers who are enduring long hours, seeing rampant and horrific humanitarian needs and largely proving incapable of stemming the massive physical and psychological suffering.
Update Pastor Romain Coeurcide, Maranatga d’Haiti Baptist Church in La Saline
In our first message about the earthquake we referenced our previous activity with a pastor in Haiti. In the immediate aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, OBI did not have contact with Pastor Romain or any members of his church. The pastor’s son, also an assistant pastor at the church, managed to get a short message to us using a brief internet connection. While Pastor Romain did survive the earthquake, seven of his parishioners are known dead and more deaths are anticipated. Nearly everyone in the church is homeless including Pastor Romain, their homes having collapsed. His church is also extensively damaged.
Closing
Olive Branch continues to work with TECH to coordinate with other aid organizations to get aid, in its varying forms, to Haiti. We will continue efforts to overcome current logistical challenges and those difficulties that stem from disruption of all infrastructures. We continue to accept funds to use for the greatest need. Specifically we will direct funds to Pastor Romain, to provide PTSD training packages and to TECH, if needed. Please make your contributions by sending a check to P.O. Box. 748, Norfolk, VA 23501-0748. You can also use the GiveDirect form to provide a donation by credit card. ONLINE DONATION
