| Haiti – First responses to the emergency |
| Haiti – A picture begins to emerge of the situation of the Salesians after the earthquake |
The Provincial Fr Victor Pichardo had already arrived earlier in Port-au-Prince by military helicopter. On his return Fr Pichardo took with him Fr Attilio Stra, an Italian Salesian missionary, the Rector of the Enam (École Nationale des Arte et Métiers) community, who had survived the collapse of the building, for hospital treatment in Santo Domingo. His injuries are not serious.
Bro. Alberto Rodríguez, Provincial Economer, Mr Franklin Ortega, from the Development Office of Antilles Province and two Salesians from the Barahona community, the closest to Haiti, Fr Ángel Sánchez and Fr Gabriel Almonte, saw for themselves the chaotic situation and the powerlessness of the people now living on the streets, in the squares and public parks.
The first stop was at the “Saint John Bosco” community of the Enam, the most seriously affected of the Salesian works in Haiti. Here they met Fr Wim Boksebeld and Fr Olibrice Zucchi Ange. “Silence, suffering and sadness reigned,” the four visitors said. Most of the pupils and their teachers are still buried under the ruins. At 16.53, local time, when the earth began to shake the pupils of the primary school were on the first floor of the three storey building which is now a heap of ruins. Unfortunately here too, as in other places in the city, there have been cases of looting, as persons unknown have carried away what remained, desks, chairs, and school computers used for teaching.
Gianluca Antonelli, a member of International Voluntary Service for Development (VIS), in conjunction with the New Rochelle Salesian Mission Office, has promised to get the Italian Civil Protection authorities, already working in the city, involved.
The other Salesian centres in Port-au-Prince are all in the same situation. The Salesians are camping out in the courtyards and spending the night in cars or in the open air.
The small group also met Fr Jeacques Charles, the current Superior of the Vice Province of Haiti, and his appointed successor Fr Sylvain Duncange. The most urgent need is to provide the Salesians in Haiti, already at work there, the minimum necessary infrastructure to take in and care for people. The first things they need are drinking water and tinned food supplies and food for young children because there is very little food in the city and what can be found is by now often contaminated; then they need medicine and tents.
On their return, by means of a teleconference, Bro. Alberto Rodríguez and Mr. Franklin Ortega updated the New Rochelle Mission Office Crisis Committee who have already begun making plans for relief assistance and its distribution.
The network of solidarity on the part of the Salesian Provinces and the Salesian Family continues to expand as initiatives multiply to collect the necessary funds for first aid.
Published 17/01/2010
