haiti, the trees are gone

[rockriver]

a close associate just returned from haiti, doing medical work.
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just a brief report so far.
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but the story that got my attention.
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they were trying to tell patients to keep the wounds/infections clean.
there is no clean cloth. there is no medicine.
as the medicals went through the description of each method to keep the
wound clean, they got a negative and realistic response as to why the suggestion wouldn't work.
finally they got down to explaining how to boil the cloths and the boiling process would
kill the germs.
there is no oil for fire and there is no electricity for fire or cooking.
so.. the medicals would say get wood and make a fire.
the answer ....
the trees are gone. we have no wood.
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with no wood, they can't have a fire to boil the water to clean the bandages/wounds.
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no trees. no wood. no fire. no boiling water. no clean.
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rr

[Matt In Oklahoma]

WOW and no cattle for dried dung campfires either huh? No seriously thats crazy, never woulda thought of that. My church supports things there would fire starter tablets, camp stoves or something like that be what we need to send to help? What could be sent without crazy "we cant ship that" regulations to help?

[monkeybird]

I haven't seen a single word about Haiti in the media for at least a month. Its hard to believe that the US send millions to the Haiti government and the people remain some of the poorest in the world. The people received no benefit of any kind from US government aide, it's the churches who are trying to make a difference.

Imagine trying to survive in a place like Haiti.

[rockriver]

matt,
this was not a plea for a donation or contribution.
personally, i got real "disappointed" when i kept seeing folks from texas and ga. and the u.s. down there digging out a house, looking for a survivor and seeing 25 locals standing around watching.. not helping. then when the americans found a bowl, the haitians would rush in, grab the bowl or ?? and steal it, running off.
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i lost my desire to help them.
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but i don't want to restrict your or anyone's efforts to help.
my associate reported treating huge numbers of people per day.
i have no doubt they are in a mess. the shtf. but i'd sure want to know where
my contribution was going, if i were to send a camp stove and fuel down there!
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the consequences of their actions, their geography, their politics have come home to roost.
i haven't confirmed this, but i've heard gossip that the u.s. and others have poored huge dollars to
rebuild and support haiti, in years/decades past, contributing to the sorriness of the situation.
i have no proposal, as i'm ignorant on the causes.
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just paying attention to the results, is a lesson for me.
rr

[Matt In Oklahoma]

oh no I didnt think it was, we have some folks heading there from church so i wanted to use your valuable intell and try and figure out what to send with them. I know what they are like and how it is but these folks are going anyway so I wanted to help them in spite of their nieve selfs. we dont agree but i cant let them go unprepped in spite of my feelings.
The money we send is soaked up by the wealthy and corrupted and the people have no desire to make themselves any better or help themselves in any way, wether that is lack of spirit or just plain laziness seems to be the question. kind of like another place i know :)
Thanks for the sitrep and glad our prayers were heard and your "associate" is well