Haiti Earthquake Updates 20-Jan-2010

First Hand Account by Dr. Mark Ottenweller
The crowds grew as we entered the city. The dust rose and the stench of death was everywhere. Every house and building was damaged or destroyed. It felt and looked like the end of the world - so much destruction and despair.

People, blankets and mattresses covered the streets. Swollen and bloated bodies heaped on the street like garbage. No water, food, fuel, health care, electricity or security. No supplies, no antiseptics and no gauze. Before we arrived the most common surgery was done with a bottle of alcohol and a hack saw. People are writhing in pain - so much pain and so much anguish. The general hospital was flooded with injured and dying patients.

Many, with crushed and broken limbs, wait on the hospital grounds, sidewalks and in the streets trying desperately to get in and get relief.

Then we arrived at the church property in Canapé Vert, where 110 people lived under a tarp and the stars. What a contrast...what hope...what warmth and encouragement! The disciples rose up to greet us with a welcoming embrace. Children smiled, hugged and initiated games with the team members.

We unloaded the food, water and medicine we had brought. It made us feel like angels from heaven, a rock star, or event a knight in shining armor. The Christians were so thankful and excited for all the help.

Every night and morning they sang with all their hearts. Maybe you don't know the words but you recognize the tune. I have never been more moved by singing in my entire life. It was incredible!

There were so many stories of hope and courage. One doctor, who was badly injured diving out of his office window during the quake, came out to help us take care of all of the medical problems we faced. Children, who lost their entire family, came out to hug us and give to us. Jorel and Junie Claude, the Port-au-Prince church leaders, were so busy meeting the needs of others at the camp that I never, ever heard them complain or mention their own needs.

What more can I say about this "light on a hill" where everyone was "shining like stars" in such darkness? "God is truly among you." You all "reflect the Lord's glory with ever increasing glory" and "I thank God every time I remember you." We can learn so much from you about bringing glory to God. To God be the glory through you.

January 22, 2010

10 Days Later: Needs Grow, Death Toll Rising

The situation in Haiti is growing more desperate by the day.
  • The death toll is still not certain but it is estimated to be as many as 200,000 people
  • According to the BBC, at least 75,000 bodies have so far been buried in mass graves but many more are lying in the streets or trapped under rubble
  • Due to current living conditions, officials believe a health crisis will soon spread through the survivors Dr. Ottenweller recently returned from Port-au-Prince where he delivered much needed supplies to the people sheltered on the Port-au-Prince Church of Christ property. The medical treatment and aid he provided there was an immense help to them, but much more is needed.
Watch the Slideshow Below of Dr. Ottenweller's Relief Trip to Haiti
After a 7.3 magnitude quake hit Haiti on January 12, Dr. Ottenweller traveled to Haiti and the Port-au-Prince Church of Christ.
Little of the city is left standing like these baptistries of the Port-au-Prince church.
The Church building itself is uninhabitable though over a hundred people are on the property seeking shelter and help.
Dr. Ottenweller met with and helped HOPEww physicians and treated the sick and injured.
There are many children on the site and throughout the city who have lost parents, siblings or are severely injured.
There is no solid death count as of yet, but officials believe it is hundreds of thousands.
Most of the city looks like this - with still many bodies trapped inside.
Because of the destruction, it is difficult to bring in equipment to move the rubble.
Officials estimate that 3 million people are now homeless.
Disciples on the church property have created a shelter. Their supplies were running out just as Dr. Ottenweller arrived with more.
Many people are sleeping out in the open with no tent or blankets.
People are making do with what they have, but if aid does not start moving in, the sickness that will spread will be devastating.
Two children in the Port-au-Prince Church of Christ were killed in the earthquake.
Those children that have survived are at risk for disease and further injury.
Now homeless, these children and thousands more are living on the street on whatever provisions they can find.
A clinic was set up on the church property to serve the 120 people there and the dozens who come by daily for help.
There is no security, no shelter and no schooling for the thousands of young people in Haiti. Hope seems far off.
No one can say how long it will take to rebuild Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas.
In the midst of chaos, people are searching for hope.
Many have considered moving outside the city to escape disease, but it is too dangerous.
The main Port-au-Prince jail was destroyed and there are many bandits that are making traveling extremely risky.
With the dangers of disase in the city and bandits without, millions of people are suffering.
Their only hope is to stay together and pray for more people to give and aid to come.
For many, there is no where to go for food.
The toll of disease and starvation could be as terrible as the quake itself.
Using whatever they can, people are trying to move on.
The HOPEww office was severely damaged.
Staff and volunteers have created a temporary office area to work from.
Physicians and volunteers are doing everything they can on the church property to help the wounded and sick.
Clinics, like this one run by Chinese volunteers, are few and far between.
What little food there is is rationed out as much as possible, but much more is needed.
Everywhere you look, there are groups of children, orphans and the sick needing help.
Will you help the people of Haiti? Donate today to HOPEww to send food and water.
Jan 19, 2010 Update

Help Arrives, Needs Mount

Dr. Mark Ottenweller of HOPE worldwide and Stanley Dumornay of Haitian Support have successfully arrived in Port-au-Prince. Upon their arrival, Dr. Ottenweller immediately started to treat those staying on the Port-au-Prince Church of Christ property. They were able to deliver much needed supplies to the members of our partner church in Port-au-Prince and others whose lives have been devastated by this disaster and are assessing what we can do to maximize our ongoing relief efforts. According to Mike Taliaferro at ICOChotnews.com,

About 110 people are camping out on the property, roughly half of them members of our church. 200 disciples are still unaccounted for. 12 have died. People are still in shock by the chain of events. They have endured broken limbs and collapsed houses. A few of the children have lost most of their family. It is a heavy time, but also a time of hope. The church was very excited to see the food and medicine. Some wept openly when they saw the boxes of supplies. Mark and Stanley arrived on Sunday, right as the existing food stores were running out at the church property.

Aid is only now beginning to arrive in Haiti and much more is needed. Please continue to pray for the efforts to bring hope to the survivors of this disaster.

 receive emergency supplies
Port-au-Prince Church of Christ members receive emergency supplies delivered by Dr. Mark Ottenweller and Stanley Durmonay
Jan 15, 2010 Updates

Dr. Ottenweller and Team Depart for Haiti

Thank you for your continued support of our relief efforts for Haiti. Tomorrow Dr. Mark Ottenweller of HOPE worldwide will join Stanley Dumornay of Haitian Support to survey conditions in Port-Au-Prince and provide emergency relief in order to maximize our relief efforts. This team will also focus on addressing the needs of the members of Port-au-Prince Church of Christ that have been devastated by this disaster. Since air travel into Port-Au-Prince is limited, our team will be headed to the Dominican Republic to make their way across the border into Haiti by ground.

Please be praying for their success and safety. Continue to check back here for updates as our response efforts further develop.
Jan 14, 2010 Update

Help Desperately Needed

The great outpouring of support for the suffering people of Haiti since Tuesday's earthquake is humbling and inspiring. At HOPE worldwide, we have seen immediate and significant offers of financial and professional assistance. I pray that our brothers and sisters in Haiti are able to know just how much they are loved and cared about. However, the current communication challenges in Haiti are presenting a huge barrier to getting information in or out of the country.

Despite the absence of consistent communication from Haiti, we have taken the following action steps:

Emergency Relief Funds Needed

HOPE worldwide has fully engaged its disaster relief fundraising team to request donations from all who desire to help. The simplest way to donate to Haiti is to visit our website at www.hopeww.org and follow the few easy steps for online giving.

Please note: we fully understand the desire to send food products and supplies to Haiti, but all disaster relief experts involved in responding to this disaster are advising against doing so, since the infrastructure in Haiti has no way to handle these items at this time. Reports of free shipping to Haiti by UPS are a hoax.

International Coordination

HOPE worldwide is participating in White House conference calls to help coordinate relief for Haiti. We also are using the resources of national and international disaster relief organizations whose purpose is to assist NGOs in effectively delivering disaster relief services.

Emergency Response Team Headed to Haiti

Preparations are being made to send a small emergency response team, including Dr. Mark Ottenweller, with satellite phones to survey conditions in Port-Au-Prince and provide emergency relief in order to maximize our relief efforts. This team will also focus on addressing the needs of the members of Port-au-Prince Church of Christ that have been devastated by this disaster. Since air travel into Port-Au-Prince is limited, out team will likely be headed to the Dominican Republic to make their way across the border into Haiti by ground. Please be praying for their success and safety of these brothers.

Collaborations With Organizations Involving ICOC Members

We have been blessed to collaborate with two humanitarian aid groups that have special connections to Haiti.  Haitian Support was developed several years ago by Haitian-American Christians from across the United States who have since established a school and clinic in some of the more remote areas of Haiti. Their knowledge of Haiti and contacts within the country have been very helpful in getting out the limited information that we have about conditions on the ground in Haiti.

Examples of Collaboration:
  • 50 or more disciples have gathered on the grounds of the Port-Au-Prince Church building for care and support, even though the building itself has been severely damaged by the earthquake.
  •  The website for Haitian Support can be found at:  www.haitiansupport.org.
  •  Also, we have connected with Angels Mission Haiti, a medical relief organization started by disciples in the Roanoke Valley Church of Christ, who specialize coordinating the services of medical professionals who desire to volunteer to serve in Haiti. It appears that Angels Mission Haiti will be working with the U.S. Navy's hospital ship, the USS Comfort, to provide medical relief on the ground in Port-Au-Prince. We understand that medical professionals represent the greatest need in terms of volunteers for Haiti.  The website for Angels Mission Haiti can be found at:  www.angelmissionshaiti.org
Churches Are Responding

We understand that many churches are considering a special disaster relief collection for Haiti or, alternatively, letting their members know of the ability to donate to this cause through the HOPE worldwide website. HOPE worldwide is cooperating with the ICOC's HOPE worldwide and Benevolence Committee in implementing recently developed disaster protocols to efficiently coordinate  the disaster relief efforts of ICOC churches and HOPE worldwide.

ICOC Communication Portals

We are especially grateful for the aggressive steps that are being taken by Mike Taliaferro of ICOC HotNews and Roger Lamb of Disciples Today to get out information about the Haiti disaster. We are thankful to have such active partners in getting news out to all of you.

Many thanks to all who have expressed such strong support and concern for the people of Haiti. Please stay tuned to HOPE worldwide's website for future disaster relief updates.