7th February News update from Haiti
Below is a recent letter from our Provincial, Sister Marie Raw to the Sisters of the Province with the latest news from two of our companions, Sisters Joanna and Rita, currently serving on a Daughter of Charity Assistance Team in Haiti.
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
Provincial House, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill,
Registered Charity Numbers:
7th
February 2010
Dear
Sisters,
Sisters Joanna and Rita have been able to keep in touch with us from
time to time and I am now forwarding their messages and some
photographs.
We now have internet in our compound! However, there are 30
sisters, so don't expect daily news bulletins!
Sister Evelyne arrived yesterday afternoon, the whole province was
here to greet her, it is a very special time for the Haitian
Sisters, and they really are appreciating the love and support of
the Community
worldwide.
Sister Evelyne is in a tent just like the rest of us, and will see
all the different houses as well as the city of
We had to close down the clinic that we started across the road,
there was food distribution at the same time each day, and the
police could not control the situation, so for the safety of
everyone, especially the patients, so many of whom were children, we
closed, and we heard that last night thieves broke in and stole a
lot of the food, and other relief goods from the priests. Tomorrow,
we are having a meeting with
the extended Vincentian
Family,
in the hope of setting up a large camp for the displaced
people. They are everywhere, and have to eat, wash, sleep etc. on
the streets.
We
are praying that it will not rain in the foreseeable future, that
would cause another disaster!
The other day I was able to go out with a Spanish search and rescue
group, we climbed the mountain, ( no roads ) where many people had
not received any help since the quake. The conditions were terrible,
they were all sitting in the rubble of their houses, little children
running around on the rocks, and mums trying to cook a little rice,
and do some washing, having carried buckets of water from the bottom
of the mountain. We found several people who needed hospital
attention, and eventually managed to get them to hospital where they
received treatment.
Sister
Rita does not have access
to the internet as the cable is cut, but she sends short texts when
she can. She is caring
for babies whose mothers were killed in the quake.
The
earth has been moving all day so we are all dizzy. Now we have had
some bigger tremors so keep running in and out of building. The
sleeping baby is on nutrition programme - the other guy was
abandoned and left with us yesterday.
Some
more photos. A man I work with took them Many were too horrific so
I've deleted them; bodies are still being pulled out. Many people
risk their lives trying to find things to sell in the rubble.
Sr Rita
I’m sure there will be much more news when Sister Evelyne returns from her visit. Meanwhile you might want to share this letter or photographs with others who are interested
God bless and with love
Marie