Embassy bound

One of Stephane's cousins is in charge of logistics for the UN and has to go back to PAP to do that. He has agreed to drop me at the Embassy on his way. They are currently evacuating Americans, so it is possible that I will be evacuated, but I do not yet know for sure. I will let you know when I know something. THis is not really my first choice, but after some discussion, we decided that Stephane would be more flexible/effective in his decision making over the next few weeks if I am not here.

I know many of you would like more details about the situation here and I will give a full account at some point in the near future, but due to time and emotional constraints, I will give you only a few descriptions now. To be honest, I have avoided telling you much b/c there is nothing hopeful I can tell you. Port-au-Prince is essentially destroyed, even Hotel Montana, Hotel Karibe, and other 'posh' places in PAP; nothing escaped. The South is gone -- Jacmel, Leogane, Ti Goave, Gran Goave, etc. are all flattened. It is very difficult to imagine how the recovery efforts will proceed, given the lack of resources and government efficacy.

We have slept on the ground two nights, last night in the car. On the second night, the Public Works Ministry was concerned that people in PAP were not getting water (good thought), and so opened all of the water reservoirs at full blast, not thinking that since so much of the city was in ruins, much of this water would end up spilling out of broken pipes (bad implementation). THis led to the streets in downtown (Lavil, Carrefour, etc.) filling w/water, prompting a panic among the people there, who believed that the ocean was rising and flooding the city. We were located about a mile inland and slightly uphill and were quickly overrun by thousands of panicking citizens. It was very difficult to get reliable information, even the police didn't seem to know if there was a problem or not. And that is typical.

Most of the grocery stores were destroyed and there in only limited produce and meat coming from the provinces. Although food aid deliveries have already started, feeding 3million+ people is a daunting task. Given the lack of organization among the police, I do not predict a good security situation in the coming days and weeks.

Aftershocks continue, further panicking people and destabilizing the wreckage.

This is the worst thing I have ever seen.