The Brown Study

Haiti Quake: Day 12 – It’s the Children, Stupid!

Michelle Petit-Sumrall — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:18:34 +0000

This is the story I’ve been dreading for more than a week. But after nearly two weeks, I can put it off no more.

Haiti Earthquake - http://www.flickr.com/photos/21532636@N05/4298150230

A little personal observation has shown that most people who are thinking about Haiti’s catastrophe are most acutely aware of all these beautiful children, some broken and hurting, some smiling amidst the pain around them.

Port-au-Prince alone had, reportedly, more than 40 orphanages before the quake. We can conservatively estimate that each held about 100 children. That’s 4000 children, from newborn up, in that one city alone.

Given the number of people assumed dead (the smallest estimate is around 70,000), and assuming about 2-3% of children were immediately left orphaned in the initial earthquake, that’s another 1500-2000 children.

It wouldn’t be surprising to find another few hundred, perhaps even a thousand more, left parent-less in the “second wave” of calamity, as various medical conditions cause people to catch and succumb to secondary infections, either for lack of medical care, adequate housing, or simple bad health.

A child receives food rations after the Haiti Earthquake - http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/

The thing is, so many people have been affected across the entire nation that the effects of this tragedy will be felt by the younger generation for the rest of their lives.

In the midst of all this are fears of children being literally snatched out of the country illegally, not by well-meaning but overeager parents-to-be, but by the scum of the earth known as “child traffickers”.

Various news organizations around the world are quietly reporting the suspected abduction of approximately 15 children, right out of (presumably makeshift) hospitals since January 12^th’s earthquake.

“We have documented let’s say around 15 cases of children disappearing from hospitals and not with their own family at the time,” said UNICEF adviser Jean Luc Legrand.

“UNICEF has been working in Haiti for many years and we knew the problem with the trade of children in Haiti which existed already beforehand, and unfortunately many of these trade networks have links with the international adoption ‘market’,” Legrand explained..

A Young Girl Sits in the Pediatric Department Tent of the IDF Field Hospital in Haiti. - http://www.flickr.com/photos/israel-mfa/4299966920/

The problem is, although a lot of children previously orphaned or abandoned seem to have survived just fine, the buildings that were housing them often did not fare so well. The result is a swollen number of children who are literally living outside, where they are even more at risk than usual.

Add to that the general chaos in the country, the destruction of too many governmental buildings in which various identification papers were held, a population that desperately needs to make money so they can purchase the goods they need and begin rebuilding what they have lost, and what you have is the ideal situation for the less savory to snatch children for their own nefarious purposes. With no one to look out for them, they are exposed to all the dangers already inherent in a country where kidnapping was already considered by some a viable, even profitable way to make money. This is especially true for older children, who find themselves living on their own on the streets, scrabbling for survival. Children like Jean Peterson Estimé, a 13 year old boy who’s parents and five sisters were killed in the earthquake.

“I’m trying to get a little job so I can take care of myself,” he says, attempting to look brave even as he shuffles his dirty feet in too-big sandals.

The United Nations, aware of the growing problem, is attempting to take steps to protect the children, whether orphaned or not, against pedophiles, kidnappers, and other traffickers. Meantime, it is also urging member nations to be careful in approving adoptions. People who’s adoptions were already approved are finding themselves fast-tracked; but the legions of new volunteer parents may find themselves caught in more than the usual red tape, as government agencies, orphanages, and NGOs struggle to identify children and their living relatives.

Meantime, the danger is real.

So every day, I think of the children and send a little prayer out to the Universe. They are already survivors; may they remain protected from evil.

On a side note, Anaika St. Louis, an 11 year old girl whom CNN had reported as having been pulled, alive, 48 hours after the earthquake, has died. Her funeral was held Friday, January 17. May she and all the other little ones rest in peace.

Here is CNN’s coverage of her dramatic rescue and subsequent passing.

Haiti Quake: Day 10 – Miracles, Hope, and Despair

Michelle Petit-Sumrall — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:42:08 +0000

It is now day 10 since the Enriquillo Fault line twitched, sending buildings crashing on top of nearly 3 million people, chasing those not caught in the debris into the streets. Despite all the odds, people keep emerging from the rubble that was downtown Port-au-Prince, hungry, dehydrated, but alive.

In the past week alone, I have heard of at least 15 people being pulled out of the rubble. Most surprising of all, about half of them are 20 or older. The latest is an elderly woman of 84 whose chances, truth be told, are not very good.

But there is no doubt that Haiti’s tragedy is also a beautiful and terrible demonstration of the dichotomy of the country and it’s people. Amidst terrible tragedy, the Haitian people are resilient, clever, undeniably patient (where Katrina survivors started looting barely 2 days after the storm’s passage, demonstrable reports of the same took nearly 6 in Haiti after the quake), as quick to lend a hand as to ask for one. They are resourceful in spite of their ignorance (Haiti’s literacy rate is barely above 50%, according to the CIA Factbook).

Conditions are difficult in Haiti, a country where difficult conditions are hardly unknown. After centuries of internal strife and one form of civil combat or another, Haiti is third-world Africa in our backyards. Instability keeps me from calling the country a “Developing nation”, a euphemism designed simultaneously to give those living in such countries some sense of hope, while making the rest of us feel good: in the back of our minds, we can think “Oh, they are developing, they’ll get there eventually”.

That isn’t true in Haiti. Since the departure of Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, the Haitian people have lived under a strange system of oppression. Although we no longer hear about people “being disappeared”, make no mistake about it, these practices continued until the coup that removed Jean Bertrand Arisitide in 2004.

Given what happened to my cousin in 2006, I’ll tell you this: it still happens, just in a different way. Kidnappings are common. The victims are usually tortured and/or raped, sometimes mutilated, most often killed, even if the ransom is paid. It isn’t the government doing this; it’s a group of people who suffer from the terrible affliction of envy, a special breed of poor and disenfranchised who believe theft is the only way to get justice. Theft of life, theft of money, theft of other people’s hope.

And yet, the people of Haiti are unique in the western world in this way: their hope never dies. They never give up, they never surrender. Despite generations of poverty and despair, despotism and governmental corruption, they expect things will be better, eventually. Meantime, they forge their own way, experimenting with everything from new governments to new hairstyles and new music. Most of all, they are not afraid to stand up for what they believe is truly right. Since the revolution of 1791, Haitians have largely been unafraid to voice opposition to a government they themselves judge as corrupt and/or oppressive . Simultaneously, they will put up with difficult conditions against all odds. As the first and only nation created through a revolution of slaves, they are aware that they could and should have been farther along. Perhaps that is why they struggle so diligently, seeking—through revolution, coup d’etats, and attempts at actual democratic elections—the path they need to truly grow and prosper. Perhaps it is in their blood to survive, if not to thrive, against all normally established and recognized odds. Their battles are a constant, every day thing, embedded in their blood, in their bones, in their souls.

And so, amidst what should have been terror and utmost despair, what we find are people of all ages surviving live burial long after anyone else expected them to live. The displaced diaspora hopes right along with them, and the rest of the world would do well to do the same.

Haiti Quake: Day 8

Michelle Petit-Sumrall — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:24:21 +0000

Reports of continuing aftershocks over the last week have me worried that it may not be over yet. This morning, a 6.1 magnitude aftershock was felt, frightening already stressed people on the ground.

What worries me is the possibility that last week’s 7.0 was actually a foreshock and something worse is yet to come. It’s happened before.

There are actually two major fault lines in Haiti, one, the Enriquillo Fault Line, is the one that triggered last week’s devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The other, an unnamed fault north of the Enriquillo, has been accumulating tension for 800 years and is, essentially “overdue”.

View Larger Map

Haiti Quake: Day 7

Michelle Petit-Sumrall — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:18:09 +0000

I went to work today wearing a red shirt under my work shirt to mark the 7^th day since the earthquake that shook Haiti last week.

I didn’t sleep much last night, partly tormented by terrible stories I’ve been hearing all weekend long. The children are a huge story this week: the orphans who were on the verge of finalized adoptions but suddenly found themselves without proper paperwork; the new orphans, whose numbers aren’t even estimated yet; the children who died despite the best efforts of rescue teams who worked tirelessly for hours trying to locate them.

But the most horrific story had to do with doctors, the very people who are supposed to be sworn to “first, do no harm”.

Left Behind

Last night (Monday, January 18, 2010), CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta filed a story that made my hair stand on end. Apparently, a Belgian medical team, unable to obtain serucity for themselves and their two dozen or so patients, decided to pack up and leave the makeshift hospital overnight, with no one staying behind to take care of them.

It is unclear exactly what happened to make the team leave, whether they were ordered out or simply chickened out altogether in the face of rumors of rioting nearby. What was not shown in the bit on tv was that the Canadian team pulled out the day before.

Although I do not mean to judge, as I’m not sure what I’d do in the same situation, I am surprised that not one member of the team said “No way, I can’t leave these people behind, please leave me some supplies and does anyone else volunteer to stay overnight?”

I’m also disturbed because it appears they took the time to pack up most of their gear, while their patients, many of whom had just undergone surgery and needed critical care, watched.

[WARNING: the following content contains VERY graphic images. If you are squeamish at all, please forgo the images]

Of course, after 6 days, there were increasing reports of looting (stealing money, candles, cigarettes, presumably anything else they thought they could resell or use for themselves), some of which was reported by CNN over the weekend. In a searing incident in downtown Port-au-Prince, Anderson Cooper found himself in the midst of a situation he couldn’t stand by and watch. A young boy, standing around in a crowd of people attempting to secure various items from a demolished store, was hit in the head by a large rock or piece of concrete. Anderson put down his camera and grabbed the boy, who was clearly dazed, and took him to a safer location.

On a more prosaic note, Wyclef Jean gave a heartfelt press conference, defending his charity, Yélé (I wish I could find the original video with his comments in créole):

It’s been a difficult weekend. I go to work and my feet work, but I am happy to have feet with which to feel pain.

Haiti Day 3: My cousins found!

Michelle Petit-Sumrall — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:41:46 +0000

Just a quick note before I go in to work. Thanks to a link on CNN’s iREport website, I have finally heard news of my cousin and her daughter. They have been found alive and well.

We got lucky, too many families have been broken up or have perished entirely. Please continue your efforts to help, using a trusted and well-known organization. BEWARE THE SCAMMERS who profit from the suffering of others.

I have to go…

Haiti Earthquake: Day 2

Michelle Petit-Sumrall — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:37:00 +0000

Just a few thoughts, as I watch CNN’s Anderson Cooper report.

There is nothing to do, and there is everything to do.

The current problem is one of not enough resources. As I watch a family of men trying to extract a young girl, 13 years old, I cannot help but wonder: what is going through their minds? Out loud, I hear them crying out God. “God help us! Lord, what are we to do?”

The girl was stuck under a concrete slab, only her feet showing. She was screaming and crying out to the people above, including her brother, who couldn’t have been more than 15.

There is nothing he can do but hope and pray.

At this time, 1 AM, Thursday January 13, 2010, we still have not heard from or about my cousin Marie-Jo Brédy, a Project Director with the Ministry of Tourism, or her 10 year old daughter Isabelle Brédy, who is a student at Sainte Rose de Lima school.

They are right: the waiting and wondering is the worst. I find my mind skittering away from all kinds of scenarios. The one that haunts me the most is of both being alive, but unable to reach each other.

That is the thought that scares me the most.

Please donate. The Red Cross has set up an easy method using your cell phone, simply text ‘Haiti’ to 90999 to donate $10.

Wyclef Jean (yes, that Wyclef Jean, from The Fugees) has set up the ‘Haiti Earthquake Fund’ in a similar fashion. Text ‘Yele’ to 501501. He is already in the region, having taken a flight out nearly 24 hours ago.

Haiti Quake Gallery

Michelle Petit-Sumrall — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:02:15 +0000

My heart is truly in pain, looking at these pictures. Please donate $10 to the Red Cross by texting the word ‘Haiti’ to 90999, or $5 to Wyclef Jean’s “Yélé Ha&itrema;ti Earthquake Fund” by texting YELE to 501501. Click the Yélé image to visit Wyclef’s site.

Obviously, this is only a preliminary Gallery. I will add more as I can find freely available images. If you see something that is copyrighted or that is not correctly linked back, PLEASE let me know and I will fix it as soon as I can.

Famous Buildings

Cathedrale de Port-au-Prince - Before

Cathedrale de Port-au-Prince - After

Hotel Montana - Before (1)

Hotel Montana - Before (2)

Hotel Montana - Before (3)

Hotel Montana - After (1) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/chucksimmins/ / CC BY 2.0

Hotel Montana - After (2) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/37913760@N03/ // CC BY 2.0

Haiti's National Palace - Before

Haiti's National Palace - After

People

WARNING: Some of these pictures are disturbing; however, many have become iconic, and I hope they will remain online so that we may remember.
ALL IMAGES ©Copyright their respective authors.

A girl is trapped half in and half out of a collapsed building - http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmcnab/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

A woman rests after receiving treatment - http://www.flickr.com/photos/37913760@N03/ / CC BY 2.0

A displaced family eats in the street. - http://www.flickr.com/photos/insidedisaster/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

An injured woman appears to be in shock as survivors straggle along - http://www.flickr.com/photos/giladlotan/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

Distended, bloated bodies outside General Hospital - http://www.flickr.com/photos/insidedisaster/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

Evacuation of US Personnel - http://www.flickr.com/photos/chucksimmins/ / CC BY 2.0

US Embassy staffers are medevaced out of Haiti - http://www.flickr.com/photos/chucksimmins/ / CC BY 2.0

US Army personnel unloading on a rescue mission to Haiti - http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/ / CC BY 2.0

Haitian National Treasure Destroyed in Quake

Michelle Petit-Sumrall — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:28:05 +0000

I had not thought I’d be essentially reopening The Brown Study with such a dire story, but it so happens that this one touches me pretty directly: although Haiti is not my nation, it is the land of my ancestors, and I have family there, including a cousin, Marie Jo Bredy, and “Granny” Serette, who was once married to my grandfather.

I came home from work tonight to find a voicemail from my mom, telling me “Surely you have heard about the disaster in Haiti, call me!” Well I hadn’t, but 15 minutes later, I did.

The very first image: Haiti’s National Palace, with its roof completely accordioned down onto the main building.

At approximately 21:53 GMT (approximately 5:53PM Eastern Daylight Time), a magnitude 7.0 quake hit the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Located just 5-6 miles underground, the force of the quake was reportedly felt all the way up to Cap Haitien, in the north. As a result, many very historically important buildings, including the National Palace, have sustained substantial damage. The video footage is horrific: people, covered in dust and blood, walking through the devastated streets of the poorest city in the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, looking lost, distressed, crying, praying. Buildings collapsed into the streets. A huge fire is burning somewhere in a building that appears to be large enough to have been important. I am not sure at this time what the building is. The big Cathedral’s facade appears mostly up, but it’s clear it’s lost its soaring heights. The city’s biggest hospital is said to have collapsed.

Through it all, there is absolutely no doubt that many, many people have been trapped in the rubble. I would guess most will not come out alive.

I am worried about my cousin Marie Jo and her daughter, both of whom would have been on their way home at the time the quake hit, one from work, the other from school. Their house is on a hillside, as well, which is very unnerving to think about.

I refuse to think too long about what happened to the slum city of Cite Soleil.

Please pray for the Haitian people tonight. If you have a few dollars available, or if all you can do is donate blood to your local blood bank to replenish what they will lose in your community when they ship blood to Haiti, please consider doing so.

More updates as I have them.

Update:

As of about 15 minutes ago (1:15 AM EDT), The New York Times is reporting that the UN says it’s Haitian Headquarters, as well as the National Cathedral and the Haitian Parliament buildings have all collapsed. This is a disaster of unimaginable proportions in any capital city; in the capital of the poorest nation on this side of the Atlantic, it’s virtually a doomsday scenario.

Please, if you have any love for your fellow human beings, say a prayer for Haiti, send good thoughts, then run (don’t walk) to an aid organization you trust and help out. I’m sure supplies will be needed, as well as money and blood donations.

If you want to help, consider the following places:

International Medical Corps

Yéle Haiti

CARE

Direct Relief International

UNICEF:

In the U.S;

In Canada

The Red Cross:

In the US

In Canada

Crockpot Chili

Michelle Petit-Sumrall — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:42:17 +0000

Chili is delicious any time, of course, but most especially in the dead of winter when the weather turns cold and dreary. However, it seems impossible to find a chili recipe that doesn’t involve canned beans. The very idea of using canned beans in the crockpot (aka the “slowcooker”), where they’re likely to turn to mush after hours and hours of cooking, just gives me the willies, so I’m coming up with my own.

Additionally, a friend and co-worker of mine just got a brand new crockpot for Christmas and was wondering what to do with it first. I suggested the chili; he said “I’ve never made chili before”, to which I responded I’d look up a recipe for him. Lacking a proper recipe anywhere, here is mine.

David, I hope this turns out just the way you like it! Just, please, don’t put the cat in the pot!

This recipe should fill a 3-4 quart crockpot nicely. Feel free to multiply quantities if you have more people to feed… and a bigger cooker!

INGREDIENTS: 1 lb pinto or red beans, dry
4 cups water
1 smoked ham hock, smoked neck bone, smoked turkey meat, or 1/2 rasher of bacon
1 lb ground beef chuck (or other ground meat)
2 cans chili-ready tomatoes
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt (more if you choose not to used smoked, salted meat)
1/2 tsp pepper
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped (optional)
2 cloves garlic
pinch of cinnamon
DIRECTIONS: Crockpot cooking is simple: dump everything into the crockpot, cover and cook until the beans are as soft or al dente as you like, usually 6-8 hours on low, as little as 4-6 on high. Adjust seasonings as you go along, and check the water level periodically.

The Long Hiatus

Michelle Petit-Sumrall — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:30:46 +0000

Hopefully, there are still plenty of people subscribed to my blog, and/or interested enough to hear (either directly or through some grapevine) to see that I’m back. These same people, my formerly faithful readers, may have wondered what in the world happened to me. The second half of 2009 happened to me, to us, and I found myself unable and unwilling to share anything, because some of it was painful, heavy, difficult, and frankly pretty private.

With 2010 approaching, I’ll be reviewing those last 6 months and share a few tidbits, a little glimmer of our lives, particularly the ones that have been upsetting but can serve a larger purpose. Such as the Georgia Power Saga. Oh yeah, one heck of a story there.

Meantime, I hope to see you again in the New Year, feeling once again my usual optimistic self. Until then, dear reader, may 2010 represent a fresh slate, less painful life changes, and rosier outlooks. If it’s cold where you live, please enjoy my Crockpot Chili recipe. Yum!

The Brown Study

Haiti Quake: Day 12 – It’s the Children, Stupid!

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Left Behind

[WARNING: the following content contains VERY graphic images. If you are squeamish at all, please forgo the images]

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