A friend of mine is considering going to Haiti to provide medical assistance. Here’s an email she received with advice on what to pack from a relief worker there. I found it very powerful:
The people of the affected areas are sleeping in the streets and in the yards of their buildings, because what has not come down has cracks. It has not rained yet, so be prepared.
They are in need of toilets, so bring your own stuff that you can carry and do whatever on the go and keep walking. I know it’s going to be something that none of us has seen before, so get ready in more than one way. Bring your plastic container to pee +++, your wet towels, toilet paper (it is good to carry small rolls that are about to finish), energy bars, a light scarf for your head and a light plastic poncho or a few large garbage bags that you can get inside by opening some holes. Bring a small pocketbook umbrella.
Bring all the clothes you can get rid of and be prepared to give them away as soon as you find the opportunity so that you can carry just your one or two change of clothes. Do not bring anything that you do not want to lose, not even a pocketbook. Be ready to give everything away and come back with just the clothes on your back.
I think that a light backpack will be best to carry around with your basic stuff, and one of those “green” bags that may be water proof. No luggage you don’t want to leave there. Bring your medication and a bit more to give away, because you may be meeting people that have not had access to many things yet. If you are bringing water, get the small bottles, so that you can give away some on the way, depending on how you can replenish your supply while there.
This is the worse that anyone has ever seen!!! You have to be careful, because people are still in shock in one way or the other, even the Jesuits and the NGO workers that have lost their colleagues, so there will be some kind of adverse reaction from individuals and God forbid, in mass!!!
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Thanks for sharing this email. The situation sounds so much worse than any of us can imagine from what we see on television!
I’m not very religious, but God bless and keep that wonderful, brave person who is doing what I wish I could do: Help those poor souls. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help her arrive and work safely in Haiti.
–KB
It sounds horrifying. I’m glad so many people are helping and trying to make a difference.
The details in this email paint such a picture of need, but I’m sure it captures only a fraction of what it must actually be like there, and how hard and painful it is.
Chillingly desperate sounding first-hand account. Sobering.
Wow, that is powerful. Just reading the message made my hair stand on end. I cannot imagine what the people, Haitians and relief-workers are going through. Incredible. But how lovely that people are getting there to help with whatever they can.
This makes the horrendous, sad situation in Haiti even more sad and horrifying. My heart goes out to everyone there, and I have the utmost respect for anyone who ventures there to help.