Actually, I met a few of the fellows from Brazil with the UN Peacekeeping Mission last year. I want to tell you how sad I am to read your post. The Peacekeeping troops in Haiti have had a very difficult assignment over the years - and I think the fellows I met said that their tour ended in the fall of this year (2010, I think?)...
If you are from Brazil - you and your countrymen have my thanks and my prayers...
As well. I just had a conversation with Adrien (he stood in line for 3 hours for three hours to use a temporary phone that was set up to call family/friends in the USA). He mentioned the following:
There are vast amounts of people leaving Les Cayes to Port-au-Prince to check on family and friends. However, there is only primary road, which, as he understands is not open. There are several back routes at twice the distance, but he is unsure whether those are open either either.
The hospital in Les Cayes is desperate need of food, medicine, beds, dressings and basic supplies. Many remain on the street waiting for any medical attention at all. I'm sure this pales by comparison to Port-au-Prince.
The next two to three weeks will be critical. As food, water, medical supplies are already in short supply - we can further expect a displacement of people from Port-au-Prince as an influx into Les Cayes and other outlying cities. This will tax an already over-stressed region, and given the condition of the infra-structure in Haiti today, I'm not certain International Assistance will be able to reach these cities in time with adequate basic supplies.
My thanks to all of you,
John
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