Haiti Earthquake - is there a thread?

[Doe]

This confuses me. Didn't the missionaries go to Haiti to help people? And now that there is a disaster and every hand is needed they are leaving. I can understand that if you are injured you would want to leave, but to leave when you are able bodied and really needed? I just don't get it.

Here is a link of some American missionaries talking about their reasons for choosing to leave.
When you go to the link click on "Americans in Haiti" playlist which is underneath the video player.
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?catId=1206853

 

[robinb]

I know we had a some local missionaries that are staying. One of the women told her father, when he asked when she was coming home, "we came here to help them, why would we leave now?" I believe that is almost a direct quote. She was trapped for 10 hours, got hurt some, but feels like she can stay and do good, and help them.

That is the kind of thing I expected to hear more about.

I'm sorry but I don't buy it that the work needed now is so specialized that aid workers cannot help or that they would be in the way. I can understand that after going through something that horrible you may just want to go home and be with your family. That is a perfectly natural reaction. It just seems ... strange ... that so many aid workers are trying to get INTO Haiti to help when there are so many aid workers lready there trying to get OUT. I guess going home is probably best as it makes room for people who really want to be there and help.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Has anyone seen anything like this on the us news? My parents get the international news channels. The greek channel specifically. They are showing people running down the street with machetes and taking way aid that people are getting.. such was water blankets etc.

 

[ms1031]

Yes, it is being reported that looters are stealing aid supplies before it is able to reach its destination.

 

[happygirl]

Has anyone seen anything like this on the us news? My parents get the international news channels. The greek channel specifically. They are showing people running down the street with machetes and taking way aid that people are getting.. such was water blankets etc.

 

[robinb]

People are desperate.

The BBC has news coverage. There was a video uploaded at 18:38 GMT that shows the looting:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8460771.stm

 

[LisaNJ25]

Yes, it is being reported that looters are stealing aid supplies before it is able to reach its destination.

here is one article I found:
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/new...et-aid-to-Haitians-as-looters-roam-323053.php

It is a shame.. I could see why american would want to get out of there.

 

[KathyTX]

Maybe WebmasterKathy's mother was among this group and is now home, safe and sound.

From today's Dallas Morning News:

10 of Highland Park church's 12 Haiti mission workers are safely home

11:21 AM CST on Friday, January 15, 2010

Yes, that is my mother's team. Of the 12 of them, 10 (including my mom) arrived home on a chartered flight at 3:00 AM this morning. From there, we went to the hospital and spent several hours getting evaluated, cleaned up, scanned and medicated.

My mother was trapped in the rubble of the clinic where they were working for hours. She was very lucky- although very badly bruised, cut, battered and traumatized, she has no injuries requiring hospitalization and is recuperating at my home.

The most seriously injured of the group, Jean, suffered extensive internal injuries during the collapse of the clinic. She was evacuated to Guadaloupe where she was undergoing surgery, which we have just learned she did not survive.

 

[VickiVM]

I would think many of the missionaries were living in Haiti with their young families and homes destroyed, and/or public services (water, electricity, etc) shut off. They may not be in a position to just move their families to the front lawn and continue day to day life.

 

[ms1031]

Yes, that is my mother's team. Of the 12 of them, 10 (including my mom) arrived home on a chartered flight at 3:00 AM this morning. From there, we went to the hospital and spent several hours getting evaluated, cleaned up, scanned and medicated.

My mother was trapped in the rubble of the clinic where they were working for hours. She was very lucky- although very badly bruised, cut, battered and traumatized, she has no injuries requiring hospitalization and is recuperating at my home.

The most seriously injured of the group, Jean, suffered extensive internal injuries during the collapse of the clinic. She was evacuated to Guadaloupe where she was undergoing surgery, which we have just learned she did not survive.

Wonderful to know your mother is home, and so sad to hear her colleague has passed.

 

[krcit]

That is the kind of thing I expected to hear more about.

I'm sorry but I don't buy it that the work needed now is so specialized that aid workers cannot help or that they would be in the way. I can understand that after going through something that horrible you may just want to go home and be with your family. That is a perfectly natural reaction. It just seems ... strange ... that so many aid workers are trying to get INTO Haiti to help when there are so many aid workers lready there trying to get OUT. I guess going home is probably best as it makes room for people who really want to be there and help.

I don't find it strange at all. These people went to help people learn to read, teach them skills. They didn't sign on for distaster relief or to be put in danger from looters and disease. I give all the missionaries credit for going there in the first place. They are better people than me. I am not going to fault anyone who has just lived through a horror I hope I never see, in wanting to be home with their families. Such a horrific situation. I pray for all thosen affected. I cannot even imagine what thay are dealing with. I saw a couple on the news today who had come to NY for a little vacation and left their 3 year old son with a nanny. They cannot find him now. Heartbreaking.

 

[MelanieC]

Yes, that is my mother's team. Of the 12 of them, 10 (including my mom) arrived home on a chartered flight at 3:00 AM this morning. From there, we went to the hospital and spent several hours getting evaluated, cleaned up, scanned and medicated.

My mother was trapped in the rubble of the clinic where they were working for hours. She was very lucky- although very badly bruised, cut, battered and traumatized, she has no injuries requiring hospitalization and is recuperating at my home.

The most seriously injured of the group, Jean, suffered extensive internal injuries during the collapse of the clinic. She was evacuated to Guadaloupe where she was undergoing surgery, which we have just learned she did not survive.

Kathy - WOW! I'm so glad your mom is back on US soil and ok. My prayers are with her and her group as well as everyone affected!!

 

[disneymom3]

Yes, that is my mother's team. Of the 12 of them, 10 (including my mom) arrived home on a chartered flight at 3:00 AM this morning. From there, we went to the hospital and spent several hours getting evaluated, cleaned up, scanned and medicated.

My mother was trapped in the rubble of the clinic where they were working for hours. She was very lucky- although very badly bruised, cut, battered and traumatized, she has no injuries requiring hospitalization and is recuperating at my home.

The most seriously injured of the group, Jean, suffered extensive internal injuries during the collapse of the clinic. She was evacuated to Guadaloupe where she was undergoing surgery, which we have just learned she did not survive.

I am so sorry. Glad your mother is okay of course, but it has to be devasting to lose one of her group like that. I am relieved that your mom is okay.

The way I look at the missionaries leaving is that they have some place to go and are less of a burden on the system there by leaving. Especially those who are not equipped to be of assistance for whatever reason. If you are a missionary and have young children, what are you supposed to do with them while you go out in the street to help people? If you have medical needs and can get them met in the US, thereby freeing up options for people who can't leave, wouldn't that be the best use of resources?

We have a young family from church who are missionaries there. Nothing has been heard from them so far. They just adopted a baby while there who is their second child.

 

[MelanieC]

I don't find it strange at all. These people went to help people learn to read, teach them skills. They didn't sign on for distaster relief or to be put in danger from looters and disease. I give all the missionaries credit for going there in the first place. They are better people than me. I am not going to fault anyone who has just lived through a horror I hope I never see, in wanting to be home with their families. Such a horrific situation. I pray for all thosen affected. I cannot even imagine what thay are dealing with. I saw a couple on the news today who had come to NY for a little vacation and left their 3 year old son with a nanny. They cannot find him now. Heartbreaking.

I agree - Plus many of them were just pulled out of the rubble or hurt. I can imagine they just want to go home to be with family.

 

[robinb]

I don't find it strange at all. These people went to help people learn to read, teach them skills. They didn't sign on for distaster relief or to be put in danger from looters and disease.

Ah ... now that I get. I was thinking of people who go and help build things or medical personnel. For them, disaster relief is not that much of a stretch.

BTW Kathy, I am very glad that your mom is safe at home .

 

[Heidict]

So glad to hear that you mom made it back home safely. Horrible to hear about her friend though. I will keep them in my prayers. This has to be so difficult for her.

 

[Anjelica]

Reports last night stated water that was to be distributed was being "stolen" and sold to people who desperately need it.

Anderson Cooper did a video clip regarding the prison where now close to 4500 prisoners are out on the streets. The warden was talking that some of these people are VERY dangerous.

They have GOT to get the policing under control asap.

 

[Magic Mom]

Kathy, I'm very happy to see that your mom is home safe.

 

[VickiVM]

American troops due there Monday, I believe.

 

[Briarmom]

People are desperate.

The BBC has news coverage. There was a video uploaded at 18:38 GMT that shows the looting:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8460771.stm

I can't imagine.

Yes, that is my mother's team. Of the 12 of them, 10 (including my mom) arrived home on a chartered flight at 3:00 AM this morning. From there, we went to the hospital and spent several hours getting evaluated, cleaned up, scanned and medicated.

My mother was trapped in the rubble of the clinic where they were working for hours. She was very lucky- although very badly bruised, cut, battered and traumatized, she has no injuries requiring hospitalization and is recuperating at my home.

The most seriously injured of the group, Jean, suffered extensive internal injuries during the collapse of the clinic. She was evacuated to Guadaloupe where she was undergoing surgery, which we have just learned she did not survive.

I'm sorry about Jean.
That is a wonderful update about your mom.