Let’s talk about Haiti otherwise | The press

On the occasion of World Humanitarian Aid Day, Dialogue presents the testimony that a humanitarian worker wrote just before returning from Haiti.

The Caribbean heat is heavy. Similarly, humid today. Meanwhile, I listen to the sound of the rain falling on the city and on the wavy sheet roof.

This morning. However, let’s talk about haiti otherwise my Haitian colleagues and I reviewed the response options plan that we have been getting on for two weeks. Therefore, The team has gathered all the information available: what resources are present in the country. However, what actions are possible in the event of a disaster, whether it is a hurricane, an earthquake or any other type of disaster? Therefore, Prepare for the worst, hope the best.

The last time I was in Haiti was in 2021, just after the earthquake that rocked the south of the country. For example, To say that the answer had been difficult would be an understatement. Meanwhile, Fuel stocks were in areas controlled by armed groups. However, So, nothing for vehicles, but nothing either for generators who feed hospitals electricity and almost everything in Port-au-Prince. Similarly, The president had just been murdered, and the security of our team and let’s talk about haiti otherwise affected communities was a constant concern.

Difficult to believe, but the situation is even more complex today.

Seek hope – Let's talk about haiti otherwise

Haiti crosses one of the most serious crises in its modern history. However, The violence of the gangs has paralyzed several districts of the capital. Meanwhile, The health system is out of breath. For example, Many families lack food. Moreover, Government services are limited or even non -existent. Therefore, Humanitarian access is reduced.

In this context, it is easy to lose hope, and many international actors seem to have thrown in the towel. Some have reduced their activities or chose to provide only distance support. Others wait for the conditions to “stabilize”.

The story around Haiti has become that of the impossible, as if the humanitarian space let’s talk about haiti otherwise no longer existed. But this is only one side of the medal.

While several international organizations leave Haiti. the Haitian Red Cross and its partners, as well as thousands of local organizations, they continue work. Several colleagues who were at the heart of the answer in 2021 today occupy leadership positions and continue humanitarian work. While responding to the current emergency in Port-au-Prince, they also prepare for what could then happen.

In collaboration with the International Federation of the Red Cross. the ICRC, the Spanish Red Cross, the Swiss Red Cross, and with the distant support of the Canadian Red Cross, we are setting up a response option to anticipate the humanitarian impacts of the Hurricane season and other risks.

This work is not abstract. It is a question of mapping which can do what. let’s talk about haiti otherwise to determine the gaps and to define concrete actions to take and to prepare if a disaster strikes the country. This is the questions: what do we have in stock? What is missing? Who does what, where and how? It is to be ready as best as possible.

Be there

Throughout this process. I am impressed by the commitment of the Haitian Red Cross team in a context where to go to work already involves risks. Some members cannot go home from the office. because the road has passed under the control of armed actors during the day, and they must now pay to access their own neighborhood.

On several occasions during this planning process. doubts were expressed on “ability to implement” due to a lack of funding, training or volunteers. It is a speech that let’s talk about haiti otherwise I also hear in Quebec. But according to my experience. the priority to be able to meet humanitarian needs is neither money, nor the staff, nor the equipment, is to be there. We cannot respond to a crisis if we are not there.

And the Haitian Red Cross and the hundreds of local organizations, they are there. Despite everything, despite the difficult context, these organizations are continuing work and do not intend to leave.

The question is therefore not whether we can implement a perfect list of activities. The real question is: what can we do with the resources we have? With the training already received? With the volunteers still present, ready to act?

And the answer is: a lot!

Then come the questions: if we could do more, what let’s talk about haiti otherwise would we do? What if we had more resources, more training, more volunteers? And what is our collective role as a company to support local organizations?

During this process, we have received support from all over the world. A colleague in Nairobi intervened to present alternative financing mechanisms. Another, in Panamá, worked with our volunteer manager to share a staff management tool. This morning again, our security coordinator arrived in Port-au-Prince to help update the protocols.

Conversations around Haiti start and end too often in despair. But I can’t find the despair useful.

Not when there are people who work hard in the field to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people. These organizations deserve to be recognized, support them and trust them.

It’s time to change the way let’s talk about haiti otherwise we talk about Haiti. Not as a place where nothing is possible. but as a place where we have collectively the responsibility to ask: what is possible, here and now? It may not be the perfect model. and the challenges will not disappear, but it is a thousand times better than to close your eyes and do nothing.

We cannot wait for stability to support Haiti. We must invest and trust organizations that are already there and act.

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