The bakery and the kitchen equipment of the Father Bohnen Mini-Schools suffered some damage by the earthquake which hit Haiti on 12 January. The main kitchen survived, but with the collapse of the boundary wall, gas cylinders, the stoves, pots, cutlery, cooking utensils, plates and food stocks were stolen.
Without the kitchen and an adequate boundary wall the Salesians cannot start school programmes. Temporary class-rooms, even furnished with the minimum equipment are in danger of being looted. Therefore the rebuilding of the boundary wall is fundamental.
Large tents capable of holding 40 people are needed as temporary class-rooms. The New Rochelle Salesian Missions Office is working on acquiring and air-lifting them from Santo Domingo to Haiti.
The Civil Protection Dept. of the government of Malta has offered 10 tons of 1.5 liter bottles of mineral water, 12 tons of preserved food (tuna, beans, corned beef, etc.), and possibly some blankets. Logistics are being arranged to help those who have lost everything.
The visit of the Rector Major Fr Pascual Chávez is eagerly awaited. He is due to arrive at Santo Domingo on 11 February and will be in Port-au-Prince between 12 and 15.
Published 09/02/2010
