Giving PUR Water to Haiti Survivors

Last night started with a mild aftershock.  I had just fallen asleep - literally within seconds of my head hitting the pillow - when my bed started shaking. Since I was sharing a room. I thought that maybe Mike was shaking my bed but that didn't make much sense.  Then he told me we needed to evacuate out of the building and I realized it was an after quake.  It wasn't much but I can hardly imagine how terrifying it must be for the people who experienced the big quake.  And, it is dangerous for people near buildings that are about to fall over.

I start my morning by visiting with our partners to learn about PUR distribution efforts and how I can help.  A great place to meet many of our partners is the water and sanitation meeting jointly held by UNICEF and the Haitian government.  I'm able to meet Samaritan's Purse, UNICEF, USAID, CDC, and others at this meeting.  The group has concentrated their work in the central city and done a good job of restoring water to this area by a variety of means.  It's clear that the bigger challenge ahead and one in which PUR can help is in reaching outside the downtown area into the more rural areas.

On the way to the meeting and back, I stop at places that are familiar to me from previous trips in Haiti.  The world has changed dramatically.  The Presidential Palace looks similar to the US White House but it's cracked and fallen over and looks like a scene from the movie "Independence Day" when the world is attackeded by aliens. 

The Delmas market has collapsed and may have taken as many as 500 people since the quake hit at a prime shopping time. We climb into the rubble and speak with some of the relief workers.  They're salvaging products from the warehouse beneath the building but the main shopping area above is completely flattened. I look up and see that millions of tons of building are tittering and about to fall over. It's time to move out of here.

The toughest place to visit is the Hotel Montana.  I stayed there during all my previous trips to Haiti.  The UN has secured the area, probably because of all the international personnel that were killed here.  I talk my way in past the military guards to pay my respects.  It's easy to remember the good and tough times that I've had here.  I remember ducking gun fire on the balcony during a trip to help the Haiti flood victims after Hurricane Gonaives.  And I remember getting to know for the first-time colleagues Rob Ainslie and Maria Elena Figeroa from Johns Hopkins and Craig Just from the University of Iowa over dinners. There's a list of people who are "lost" in this disaster and I'm grateful that I don't recognize any names. 

Global Medic, ADRA, and UMCOR are sharing vehicles and there's a shortage today so I hire a local driver, Gibson St Cyr, and a translator, George Verryer.  George tells me about the horror of the earthquake.  He lost his father in the disaster and is worried about how to care for his 18 month old daughter.  He's full of spirit and an eager entrepreneur to hustle a job by helping the relief workers.

After my meetings, the head of Global Medic, Rahul Singh asks me to train the local team of volunteers that will conduct the PUR demonstrations.  They've been helping set up portable water filtration units in the city and now will transition to the more rural areas to provide PUR.  They have great esprit de corps which is evident when they thank their Global Medic team leader, Steve, who is rotating back to Canada tomorrow.  Despite the fact these guys are very poor and many lost their homes during the quake, they have somehow purchased a card and all signed it for Steve.  Steve has seen a lot of horrors this week and he's clearly touched by this outpouring of emotion from his Haitian friends.  They've given their team the name "Lyon" or "Lion" because they're tough in fighting for their country's recovery.  All of the guys want a picture with Steve. 

I conduct the PUR demonstration and the "Lyon" members are eager to understand how to properly use PUR.  They ask great questions and before long we're all drinking purified water.  We give them PUR for their own use and they're very eager to have it. 

Rahul and I want to start providing PUR today so we ask Gibson and George to take us just a little way out of the main city.  We drive up a little mountain and it doesn't take long to find a place where relief workers have not reached.  Here people are collecting water out of a creek.  It's just like Africa where the creek is the source not only of drinking water but also of water for washing clothes, washing themselves, and for their animals.
 
I show the folks who are gathering water how to use PUR.  It's a bit chaotic because of the excitement about seeing PUR work.  After conducting the first demonstration myself, I ask one of the local men to conduct the second demonstration to make sure everyone sees how to properly make PUR. 

A woman named Giselle tells me that they need PUR because they are worried that the water is not safe.  She's very weak because of lack of food and safe water during the past week but very focused in watching the demonstration.  We ask the people the best way to provide the community with PUR and agree that the nearby church would be an excellent distribution point.  Having a central distribution point will help ensure that everyone is covered and provides a way to reinforce proper use.

We provide all of the adults who are at the site with several packets each so they can get started immediately in having safe water.  This creates a mini-riot and reinforces the need for the central distribution point.  It's pretty clear that they see a need for PUR. 

The best part of my trip is handing out the PUR-treated water.  Giselle says it tastes good like sweet water, "dulce l'eau".  We make sure that all of the children get some of the safe water and make arrangements to provide more PUR.

Tomorrow, we're planning to reach further outside the city to provide PUR. 

Comments

[Jack McFarland]

God's continued blessing on you and your work in Haiti. If you are in the vicinity of Criox-des-Bouquets, please try to visit HOPE orphanage and the the medical clinic operated by CSI (Christian Service International).

[Angela]

I follow your posting everyday and though we will never meet am very proud of you and what yourself and your company are doing for so many people. Keep up the good work.

[Maria Burquest]

Keep the posts coming Greg -- great to know a P&Ger is on the ground doing what you can to help out. We're all walking alongside you on this one.

[Jessica]

I've been reading about your experiences on Kilimanjaro and now in Haiti. I can't thank you, your team and P&G enough for your efforts. Stay safe!

Regards,
Jessica

[Pearl Nicholson]

I PRAY THAT GOD YOU AND KEEP FROM ALL HARM. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP TO THE STARS BECAUSE IT GETS BETTER WITH TIME. PEACE & LOVE FROM THE NICHOLSON FAMILY!

[Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla]

Keep up the good work Greg. You are saving millions of lives by supplying safe water to the affectees.

[Inder Manilal]

Hi Greg,

To you and P&G keep up the Good and Godly work, may the Lord continue to shower His grace on you and P & G to Provide clean drinking water to those at the time of need.
Kindly advise the best option to donate for the purchase of PUR Packets for relief in Haiti.