Humanity in Motion in Haiti

Video: You Tube -Rotary International Channel

UPDATE FROM HAITI: PRID Barry Rasin- January 27

Salvation Army Volunteers are seen unloading and setting up for distribution food and water. The distribution totaled more than 260,000 meals, 1600 gallon bottles of water to help in preparation of the meals. The entire distribution effort was concluded in four hours. Source: Salvation Army Blog USA

On Wednesday January 27, 2010 a delegation of Rotarians (PRID Barry Rassin, RIDE John Smarge, PDG Richard McCombe and PP Carla McCombe, DGE Diana White) and others visited Haiti to meet with Rotarian leaders on the ground, visit the epicenter and further coordination of Rotary relief efforts to Haiti. PRID Barry Rassin has issued the following summary.

Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts Summary

District 7020

January 27, 2010

On Wednesday January 27, 2010 a delegation of Rotarians (PRID Barry Rassin, RIDE John Smarge, PDG Richard McCombe and PP Carla McCombe, DGE Diana White) along with one Orthopedic Surgeon (Dr. Patrick McGrath) who would stay, and ZNS News Anchor Jerome Pyfrom and Videographer Burton Wallace flew from Nassau to Pignon, Haiti. Our purpose was not to visit the epicenter but to meet with the Rotarian Leaders who have working tirelessly to bring relief to all they can.

We met at the Hôpital de Bienfaisance de Pignon which is run by DGN Dr. Guy Theodore. Dr. Theodore, AG Caleb Lucien and Adele Noel-Romelus from Pignon met us at the airport and transported us to the Hospital. AG Dr. Claude Surena, PP George Nicolas and Jean-Baptiste Brown flew to Pignon from Port-au-Prince to join us and ensure that we understand the present conditions and anticipated short term future needs of the most affected areas. Dr. Surena is our Rotary Disaster Chair for Haiti and also the President of the Haitian Medical Association and was appointed by President Preval to coordinate the receipt and distribution of all medical relief. His complete involvement into the relief efforts of the country is a great help for us to understand what is happening and what we need to do to assist. The Rotarians from Pignon have been coordinating the delivery of items sent in by Rotary to ensure they get to the appropriate people.

We only had a few hours as Dr. Surena had to return to meet with President Preval. When the meeting concluded we toured the Hospital which is overloaded with victims from the earthquake. We also toured the Hosean Mission and saw the housing for visiting physicians.

Below I have summarized the primary points made during our meeting:

The Government of Haiti immediately called a State of Emergency for three months which will enable an easier and more efficient entry of goods and medical personnel into the country. This could be extended to six months.

The acute relief efforts are coming to an end over the next couple days.

The next phase will be on fixed clinics and then hospitals as the medical care becomes much more focused.

They are working closely with the World Health Organisation to get the supplies and equipment needed for patient care.

Orthopedic supplies and strong antibiotics (Bactrim, Cipro and Keflex) are still the most urgently needed in the medical area and will be for some time.

72 yr. old retired Salvation Army officer Lt. Col. Herb Rader undertakes an operation in the Salvation Army clinic in Port-au-Prince. (Photo: Jeremy Watt/The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory)Source: The Salvation Army Blog USA


The Hospitals have been treating and the patients are recovering to go home but they have no home to go to. The plan is to put tents up next to the Hospitals in order to provide a step down situation for the patients out of the hospital.

They estimate a need of 200,000 tents to house those who lost their homes. Not necessarily full blown shelter boxes but just the tents.

Dr. Surena suggested that one possible Rotary project, in partnership with other agencies, would be to establish a Rehabilitation Center for all those who need Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Psychosocial Counseling. In conjunction with the facility we need to establish a workshop for artificial limbs (DGE Diana White has begun discussions with the Rotary Jaipur Limb Project to plan for establishing locally the necessary workshops). There have been a substantial number of persons with crushed limbs resulting in amputations.

The School System in Port-au-Prince has been shut down. Those migrating to unaffected areas of the country are now causing an overflow situation in all schools that are available to continue. Many children have no school to attend.

The Government is now setting up a committee to handle the airport landing priorities as the Port-au-Prince airport has been overwhelmed.

Significant Rotary manpower will be needed but not yet.

They are in great need for psychological counselors who speak Creole.

There is probably no more need for Rotary to supply medical teams as other organizations have now geared up and are providing appropriate manpower in the medical arena.

There is an urgent need for Food and water and that will continue for some time. While fixed and pre-prepared foods are good they would like to see more of a focus on staple goods like Rice and Beans. They will need to provide about 150,000 meals per day for many months to come. They are able to buy some of the basic food items locally for distribution if they could receive cash donations to do so. That would also help the economy.

They need clothes including shoes as they lost all of their possessions. They ask for separated and sorted clothes.

They understand the need for an overall plan for relief and will begin on that task as they can; however they must do all they can to sustain life and develop an ability for the population to become self sufficient in the short term.

They have begun a concerted effort to locate Rotarians from all of the five Rotary Clubs that were affected. We will develop a report from each of the five Rotary Clubs so that we can also support them and assist them as individuals as they are also victims of the disaster. They have lost everything and need our help.

We are considering the purchase of a truck for Rotary in Haiti in order to help them move the high volume of supplies from the ports or the airports to those that have been targeted for distribution and assistance. What Rotary sends in aid is received by Rotarians and distributed to those in need.

All of these priorities listed does not mean that there are not other needs like x-ray machines, autoclaves, or specific supplies, but these listed are considered the top priorities for Rotary to pursue.

We in Nassau are now organizing a cargo ship to take into Port-au-Prince all the collected supplies from Rotary in The Bahamas, The Red Cross and the Methodist Conference. We are able to fill about 12 containers or more and so it will be much more effective to spend about $40,000 for the ship to transport the goods. We will ship when the Port is ready to accept which is expected in two weeks. We will need the cash to pay for the ship but the containers are being lent to us at no charge. Again our Rotarians will meet and unload and distribute.


The Rotarians in Haiti greatly appreciate the outpouring of support from Rotary in The Bahamas and the District 7020 but also from all the neighboring districts and around the world. They are strong and positive and will continue to work to bring their country to the healthy, vibrant and productive country that it needs to be.

They specially thanked PDG Richard (Dick) McCombe for his incredible support and assistance from the first moment of the disaster. They also thanked RIDE John Smarge and DGE Diana White for our District 7020 for taking the time to fly in for this visit. They also appreciate the hard work being done by Rotarians within our District led by our excellent District Governor Errol Alberga.

We ask Rotary Clubs and Rotary Districts to consider the above and work with us to focus on their needs for today. However, please keep in mind that this is a long term relief effort and we will be part of the rebuilding and will need significant cash to participate in meaningful projects as time goes by and we have a plan in place for us to help implement.

I am proud to be a Rotarian and know that Rotary around the world will work side by side with our Rotarians in Haiti to bring them to a new and positive era for their country.

Happy residents benefit from a orderly and dignified process of receiving food from a generous and caring world via The Salvation Army. 261,000 meals were distributed in four hours by volunteers and staff of The Salvation Army’s Earthquake relief operation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Source: The Salvation Army Blog USA

Please stay current with the needs as the transitioning of relief efforts will continue.

Barry Rassin

PRID 2006-2008

Source: Rotary International District 7020

EARLYACTORS COLLECT WITH COMPASSION FOR HAITI

Rotarian Natasha Parchment-Clarke had bribed her friend Sophia Alexandropoulos with a belly full if she would spend the morning driving her mini-bus to collect donated children’s clothes from schools in Montego Bay with EarlyAct clubs and deliver them to the Salvation Army headquarters. So over a hearty homemade breakfast, the route was planned, appointments were made and then the duo set off with Maxi Priest energizing them on the stereo.

The first stop was Naz Children’s Centre in Ironshore where the children’s clothes drive began as an idea of the EarlyAct secretary – 7 year old O’Neil Campbell. The school secretary and the Principal appeared with bag after bag of clothing, shoes and blankets until the mini-bus was filled to capacity – the door was slammed shut and the bags pressed down so Sophia could see out the back. Click Here to read more on this amazing effort by our EarlyActors!

Immediate Medical Needs in Haiti -- Updated January 21

Dear all,

Here is the latest list issued by Claude


Immediate Medical Needs in Haiti -- Updated 21 Jan 10


Antibiotics (oral & IV):


Cloxacillin
Amoxil
Bactrim
Cipro
Fucidin and or Bactroban
Futhithalmic/ophthalmic gtts/oint


Analgesics: (liquid, tablet, injectable, IV)
Tylenol or Advil
Codiene
Morphine or Demeral injectable


Other Medicines:
Gravol liquid, tabs, injectable
Xylocaine 1% or 2% with and without
Anti-inflamatories (oral and IV)
Anti-asthmatics (oral and oral sprays)
Anti-bacterial solutions
IV fluids -- NACL, Dextrose 5%, DW with NACL Ringer lactate


Orthopedic Supplies:
Steinman pins
K-wires
Splints
Casts
Cast padding
K-nails
External fixators
Bandages
Betadine
Alcohol
Orthopedic drills
Big scissors
Softbank gauze
Surgical masks


Other Supplies:


Gauze, cling, dressing supplies, bandaging (all sizes)
Adhesives
Suture materials
Disinfectants (wound care/sterile saline, etc)
Gloves
Syringes â?" 1cc/2cc/5cc/10cc
Needles (22, 25, 18gauge)
Alcohol
Plastics bags
IV sets, a lot


Immediate Food Needs in Haiti


Rice
Beans
Cornmeal
Dried foods
Canned foods
Powdered milk


PDG Dick


Source: Rotary District7020 Haiti Updates Blog

Update from PDG Dick: January 25

The day before yesterday we had a couple flights come in from the US with medical supplies gathered by our South Florida Rotarians with the pick up coordinated by PDG's Larry Labadie and Phil Lustig. They came in on two planes owned by friends of ours from Kentucky.

Yesterday was a very rewarding day as were able to reach the suffering on the ground directly again with 6 flights of medical supplies. There were 4 from the Bahamas and 2 from the DR with an aircraft provided by the BVI. There may have been a few others that came in, but I was in Pignon Haiti and missed all emails and phone calls. Our DR Rotarians (Charles Adams) have been very generous in resupplying the flights from Port de Paix in the DR to save the return flight to the BVI for supplies.

We brought Dr. Kevin Tetsworth into Pignon with us yesterday who hails from Australia. He is an Orthopedic Surgeon who has volunteered to help out while on vacation. Unfortunately he is desperately needed in Les Cayes but Dr. Leger said to hold off until we get the Orthopedic supplies there necessary to do the surgeries. There are currently 50 waiting at his hospital. Pignon has some limited supplies left so only the surgeries that they have the supplies for are being done.

I flew into Pignon on one of the flights yesterday with supplies and a number of Bahamian Rotarians. We were graciously met by Guy Theodore, Caleb Lucien, ADG Adele, President Evinel and a contingent of local Rotarians. We went to Dr. Theodore's house and held a meeting at which we discussed our relief efforts, their needs and tried to understand clearly how best we could help them and what direction things would take going forward. This was very productive and helpful. I am going in on Wednesday with RIDE John Smarge, PRID Barry Rassin, DGE Diana White, and PP Carla. We will meet with Haiti Disaster Chair Dr. Claude Surena, PAG Nessim, PAG Caleb, DGN Guy. We are going to try to get a consensus of the stages relief that will be required and a cleared understanding of what role our fellow Haitian Rotarians want us to take. They will guide us on this.

After our meeting we toured Dr. Guys Hospital in Pignon. Most of the patients came from one of the affected areas. They had been brought there in the back of a truck bed by surviving family members or total strangers. These was a young girl going into have both her legs amputated. The Volunteer Doctor that met us told us that her mother had arrived with her after struggling for her own life. As I understood it she had not eaten for days, and had lost her other 2 children and her husband. Carla came with two duffle Bags of Teddy bears and she gave the first one to her. We gave the Teddies to all the children in the hospital. Tragically there were some that did not even know they got one. The pain and suffering that those poor people suffer is something none of us will ever comprehend.

After that we toured Calebs Camp where he is housing some of the refugee children. They were cooking up dinner for 200 that were at the Hospital. The venue could well turn up to be a refugee Shelter site. I will keep you posted.

Our St. Croix shipment encountered mechanical problems and has been working on them. It is now scheduled into PaP tomorrow morning.

My classmate Phil Lustig and Larry Labadie have consolidated another shipment and the flight is due into them in Vero Beach tomorrow morning. If they can turn the flight around in time, they may make a run into Pignon with the supplies.

We have 8 doctors that arrived in Miami tonight that we are trying to get into the hospitals in Haiti. We are trying to coordinate that right now. Worst case, is they come to Nassau tomorrow and go into Haiti Wednesday.

We have a couple of Dialysis machine offers that we are still coordinating. One is on the way to South Florida right now. I am waiting on Dr. Claude Surena's advice as to where it needs to go.

Dr. Greg Hoeksema from Cayman is in town with us on his way to Haiti. He has spent the day with local Rotarians inventorying the medical supplies and sorting them so we can more easily send them out to the specific hospitals based on their exact needs.

I urgently still need an Autoclave and a Dermatome. The Autoclave is the tool sterilization piece of equipment, and the Dermatome is used to lift the skin for the skin grafting. Can anyone help with this?

We have a Telethon tonight in Nassau to raise some additional funds. I will let you know how we make out.

I know Jamaica was trying to get some goods into Haiti but had been struggling with the Southern Command air restrictions so I await the results of that. All disaster coordinators need to send me any new relevant info so that I can post it.

I'll keep you posted.

Thanks
PDG Dick

Source of Videos : CNN

Update from PDG Dick - January 22 - A synopsis of Rotary's Relief Efforts

Montreal police officer Hugo Letellier delivers food to an orphanage in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, on Jan. 26, 2010 as part of a United Nations program. Photo: LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO Star

I wanted to share a synopsis of the District 7020 relief efforts as I see it right now. As we move forward we will be redirecting our efforts as the needs dictate, and everyone's input is important and appreciated. (We will) post this on the Blog and we welcome your comments and recommendations as we consider and develop our next steps.

When the earthquake struck, the International Community undertook to provide relief for the victims through the normal response organizations such as, United Nations, USAID, US and other countries' military response teams, International Red Cross etc. I will call that group, "The Machine" for the purpose of this synopsis. Within days "the machine" was arriving in Port au Prince (the front door) and beginning the painful task of rescue and relief coordination. The magnitude of the destruction and the number of injured, buried and dead was enormous and dealing with that was the primary focus. They undertook to: Provide medical aid to the injured, dig from the rubble and save the ones that could be saved while there was time and opportunity. Remove and bury those that were not fortunate enough to survive to prevent disease. While that immediate need was addresses, "the machine" also began to put in place a temporary infrastructure to provide basic life necessities such as food, shelter, water and medical care.

While that was happening the Haitien People were doing the same, They were trying to provide medical aid to the injured family members and friends. They were trying where possible to dig from the rubble and save those that could be saved while there was time and opportunity. They were removing from the rubble their families and friends, and many of them were evacuating Port au Prince to distant communities in the country where they may have family or friends or was just safe, and that may not have been as badly damaged from the earthquake. Many of them took the sick and wounded to these communities for care as the immediate medical response in the Port au Prince area was nowhere near up to the challenge of the required capacity. The sick wounded and scared began to move back to the country!

That's where District 7020's Rotary Relief initiative comes in. We had 17 Rotary Clubs in Haiti and in excess of approximately 350 Rotarians. (last calculation, but its close). These Rotary clubs are spread throughout the country of Haiti with 5 of them being located where catastrophic destruction had taken place. Port au Prince, Delmas Airport, Petion-Ville, Carrefour, Jacmel were most seriously affected. There was damage in the other communities but not as catastrophic. The daily reports I have submitted describes our Disaster Relief response to Haiti. Our relief effort began with our first flight of medical Supplies and support going in on Friday. We went in "the back door" into the communities where we have Rotary Clubs and those that were not on the radar yet of "the machine" but to where Haitians were evacuating to. This has continued as you know every day since we started. 57 flights as of yesterday and approximately 55,000 lbs of medical supplies. The numbers of the sick and wounded numbers arriving in these communities has been going up every day, and the challenges they face has begun to change from immediate medical aid to shelter and life sustenance needs.

"The machine" has now dealt with its initial priorities in Port au Prince and the surrounding most affected areas and is now building the infrastructure for a comprehensive relief and recovery effort and is now and moving deeper into the country with its relief efforts.

Rotary must now re-evaluate what we should be doing next as far as our relief effort is concerned. Some of the issues we must consider are:

The ballooning population growth in these small communities is beginning to tax the basics of life, such as shelter, food, water, education, not to mention the medical aid. What should Rotary be doing about this? In the past this has been our community focus?

The health and strength of our Rotary Clubs is at risk. If we are sick, wounded and tired it makes it very difficult for us to care for others. How do we help sustain and support our Haitian Rotary Clubs and Rotarians?
What role should we play as international aid begins to come into our communities? Should we do as we have done in the past and find a community need or should we specialize and pick one or two main focus area that we should concentrate on?

How do we partner with other international organization, many of whom are specialists in one area. Do we help coordinate that with them or do we let them do that and find our own focus area?

How do we continue our fund raising and what do we do with the funds we receive? How long should we plan the cycle of fund raising and spending on this initiative? How much do we want to raise and spend and on what?

Orphaned Children and misplaced families need to be supported by some sort of infrastructure. Is that something we should be thinking about.

The mental health of the suffering in this nation is being challenged, What role do we have in that?

Construction quality and the need to rebuild. Should we be educating people on proper construction practices and should we reconsider our bricks and mortar rule in this instance?

These are just thoughts, and I welcome your comments and ideas. Many of you have experiences that will help us make sound decisions. Please share them.

Rotary Shares. Yes ! Yes ! Yes!

I thought I would get that in! I am meeting with some of the Task Force team on Sunday in Pignon to discuss the current status and our efforts in the Northern Region, and we will be meeting with Claude Surena and the Haiti Rotary Leadership on Wednesday next week in Port au Prince. PRID Barry, DGE Diana White, and RIDE John Smarge will be at the Wednesday meeting.It is most important that we listen to our fellow Rotarians on the ground in Haiti and follow their advice.

PDG Dick

Source: Rotary International District 7020 Website

Update from PDG Dick - January 21

Video source: CNN

Dear Fellow Rotarians


We had two flights today from Nassau into Haiti today. We had the Odyssey Caravan loaded with 3000lbs of medical supplies for Pignon and another flight sponsored by Van Meurs Corporation and taking in some high end medical supplies with the Red Cross. Unfortunatley when the Caravan arrived the Pignon grass strip was fogged in so Captian Paul Aranha went back to Cap Haitien. Caleb called his brother who met the flight there and secured the supplies while the Pignon Hospital truck drove to Cap Haitien and collected everything. It went very well and the supplies were at work with the sick and wounded last night when I spoke to DGN Dr. Guy.

A young woman begs for her leg to not be amputated after doctors concluded that it had to be cut off. PHOTO: Shaul Schwarz / Reportage via Getty Images for TIME

The second flight arrived later and went directly to Pignon. They were received by the ground team, given a tour of the hospital dropped the supplies an left. I hope to hear from them this morning.

We had some interesting Air issues yesterday. A gentleman that was adding his plane to the fleet from the Bahmas had to ditch in the sea on the way down here. No injuries but very unfortunate. Another flight lost an engine due to catastrophic failure on take off, but he was empty so all was well. He called me last night and has borrowed a friend's plane and has an engine on the wait for his. The challenge ahead is Inagua is out of gas and does not expect to have any until Wednesday next week. We will now need to fly through Georgetown Exuma with the small planes for refueling which adds to distance and time. Our Caravan uses jet A so it's still OK.

A boy injured in the earthquake is treated by a medical team from Cuba. According to medical workers, he is orphaned; both of his parents were killed in the collapse of their home. Photo: Timothy Fadek / Polaris for TIME

It was a very difficult day on the communication side yesterday. I did not get through to Claude Surena at all and neither did any of the ground team so we are still struggling with the communication is a big way. I did hear from Assistant Governor Ted Lazzare. He had moved out of his car and into a Shelter Box and felt that he could venture further now that his wife and daughter were properly sheltered. We were also able to give him some cash so he can get some supplies and gas. He will be trying to locate some of the Carrefour members and assist with their plight.

I will be meeting with the Red Cross today in Nassau. They have received enormous amounts of "Stuff" for Haiti. Much of it is still outside their building and they are sorting. If there are critical supplies there we will take them and get them on the ground in Haiti in the next short while. The rest of the stuff can go with our Sea shipment which is being planned now. We are trying to secure containers in Nassau and Freeport which can go down. A number of Rotarians are trying to secure a barge that we can ship on. I have contacted a fellow Rotarian from the Petionville club in Haiti and he will provide the trucking for the goods. We can container ship to Cap Haitien and truck down or Ro-Ro barge to St. Marc or Gonaives, so the plan is coming together. This shipment will be things like food, water, beds, blankets, heavy supplies and clothing as a filler.

The surgical tent in the Hospital yard in Les Cayes is imminent. I should have final times on that later today.

Residents use buckets to collect unsafe water streaming into an open sewer. Municipal water pipes were damaged by the earthquake, disrupting the supply of drinking water. Photo: Timothy Fadek / Polaris for TIME


St. Croix has a barge in St. Marc full of 1200 cases of water and additional supplies. I will try to get information on that for you today. The Tortola X-Ray machine and supplies are in the air and will be in Port de Paix by noon today. Yves will meet the flight. There are two Doctors on board that flight that are being dropped in Pignon and will go to Claude Surena's house/clinic when they arrive. The Dialysis machines are still needed.

We have 100 water boxes couriered to Miami and in the queue and destined for Haiti consigned to our team down there. I will try to find out how we can move them through quickly today.

I'll keep you posted.
PDG Dick

EarlyActors join in the Haitian Earthquake Relief Effort

The day after the earthquake struck Haiti, a young 7 year old Montegonian began thinking about how he could personally help children just like himself who had been affected by the tragedy.

Read about what this 7 year old is doing to help the Haitian Earthquake Relief Effort here.

Rotarians Party for a Purpose & Raise Funds for Haitian Earthquake Relief Effort

Pictured left to right: Kamal Chuganey, Raveen Dadlani (Fellowship Chair, Rotary Club of Montego Bay - Sunrise), Manoj Ramchandani (President, Rotary Club of Montego Bay - Sunrise), Nishant Sevkani, Amit Rupchandani.

Rotarians and friends partied for a purpose on Saturday 16 January raising almost J$ 500, 000 from a handful of Montegonians, who were worried and affected enough to donate to the Haitian earthquake relief fund.

What should have been a birthday celebration for Raveen Dadlani, turned into a fundraising social at his trendy home in Ironshore, Montego Bay.

When suggested by the Director of Rotary Club of Montego Bay Sunrise, Manoj Ramchandani, he was eagerly supported and the word spread quickly throughout the Rotary family. Attendees included members of The Rotary Club of Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Montego Bay East, Montego Bay - Sunrise, and the soon to be chartered Montego Bay – Rosehall.

‘Twas a contradictory evening of revelry and remembrance as wine passed between candles lit for lives lost and conversations swayed form friendly chatter to tragic commentary and even a respectful moment of silence.

After dinner and drinks Amit Rupchandani picked up his guitar to entertain the group with his talent. In a flash, all Blackberries were out and song lyrics were being accessed and requests were being made thick and fast; Neville Scott played the guitar next to a choir of faces lit by Blackberry screens then Rory Frankson crooned a few classic pieces before the guitar returned to Amit and popular requests.

Amit Rupchandani and Neville Scott musically entertain guests

As guests departed, they were optimistic that they had contributed to the relief of their neighbours in Haiti whilst, unlike them had families and homes to go to for the night.

Written by Natasha Parchment-Clarke

(Rotary Club of Montego Bay)

Update from PDG Dick - January 20

Video Souce: CNN

Today (Actually yesterday, Jan 20th) I had some challenges! It was to be a lay day in the air as we had the Haiti ground team transporting supplies into Port au Prince, thanks to Caleb and Hosean Ministries large Bus and someone's truck. This got done and all the Medical Supplies were delivered to Claude Surena in PaP. Additionally a Shelter Box and supplies were also delivered to ADG Ted Lazarre who has been living in his car. Thanks Caleb for that personal rescue mission.

We had two flights today from Nassau into Les Cayes Haiti. Unfortunately we had a mix up with our flight partners and some of the stuff that went there was supposed to go to Pignon and Verrette but we dropped it never the less and will make up the balances to get Pignon and Verrette sorted out in the next day or two as we acquire what is needed and or requested by them. Les Cayes is in good shape with the exception of a few specific items which we are working on as well.

We have a team out of Florida and another out of North Carolina that are prepared to set up a surgical tent in the Hospital yard in Les Cayes. That is being organized today and I should have an update ion it in the next day or so.

St. Croix has a barge which is landing today if all is as planned in St. Marc full of 1200 cases of water and additional supplies bound for PaP. Tortola has also located an X-Ray machine and supplies and they are on the way and should be in Port de Paix Friday. We still need additional X-Ray machines. PDG Richard has located some from a St. Croix connection and we will organize them today. The Dialysis machines are also still needed.

Our Immediate Past Assistant Governor Eves Martial advised me that the team into Port de Paix was making great progress with the surgeries and they are going to be needing some supplies soon. That's on the top of the list for today.

Dr. Batsch from the Pignon hospital sent some pictures and some X-Rays to show the work they are doing as well and as soon as I can I will get them posted to the site.

St. Croix has sent 1200 cases of water and additional supplies by Barge and are intended to land in St. Marc and transhipped into PaP. I am following that and will advise how that goes.

I probably missed something but will add it to tonight's info.

I'll keep you posted.

PDG Dick

URGENTLY NEEDED in Haiti

Two men carry a child with a splinted leg on a makeshift stretcher in Port-au-Prince
Photo: JONATHAN TORGOVNIK/REPORTAGE FOR CNN

Dear all,

I need portable x-ray machines and orthopedic surgeons and surgical nurses for haiti.

Please contact me if you can help.

Thanks

PDG Dick McCombe

Photos: CNN

Update from PDG Dick - January 19

Video Source: CNN

We had two flights today from Nassau and 1 from Tortola into Haiti. The flight from Tortola had Dr Klas Buring and Dr Belkys Rhymer on board along with the orthopaedic tools and supplies necessary for the surgeries that were waiting. Our Immediate Past Assistant Governor Eves Martial received them. Thank you to the BVI team.

On a side note, the three Rotary Clubs of the BVI and their Family of Rotary had a fundraiser the day before yesterday and raised $180,000 and have pledged to get to $200,000. It's a small country but what a huge heart!!!!! Thank You!

Of the 2 flights from Nassau today one went on to Pignon, and landed on the grass strip there. It is only 25 miles further south but saves 3 or 4 hours of delivery and transport on the ground. Pignon is the home of Caleb Lucien's Hosean Ministries and DGN Guy Theodore's Hospital. In the Rotary fashion Caleb was in Cap Haitien clearing the flights in and his wife Debbie received the flight in Pignon. Thanks Debbie. Tomorrow we are taking a lay day in the air. Caleb has loaded up one of his big school busses and a truck and is making a run into Port au Prince.

The supplies will be sent to Rotarian Dr. Claude Surena in Port au Prince to allocate where needed. We will resume flights in again tomorrow. We have been receiving very specific Medical supply lists that we are continuing to fill. We have sent approximately 50,000 lbs of medical supplies so far and most of them donated. We used some of the relief funds raised to purchase the exact supplies needed and have them ready to be loaded tonight. PRID Barry has a full size Gym at the Western Medical Clinic in Nassau. We have received enough to fill it and it sits about 1/3rd filled today for those trying to imagine the quantity we have moved.

Photo: JONATHAN TORGOVNIK for CNN

As I mentioned we have spoken to our Rotarians in Jamaica and we are now in the process of shipping the big and heavy stuff from the US through Jamaica via Air Jamaica and onto Port au Prince. We have huge generators, water makers, water etc going that way. Nathan is trying to organize for the Southern Command to meet with us to plan the ground distribution to remote sites in Haiti. That will probably work hand in hand with the Shelter Box Camps. More to follow on that if it happens. We will use some of their big helicopters to do lifts out of Port au Prince and drop in sites designated and distributed by Rotarians as mentioned earlier.

St. Croix has sent 1200 cases of water and additional supplies by Barge and are intended to land in St. Marc and transhipped into Port au Prince. I am following that and will advise how that goes. We have 2 inbound flights from the States that are picking up medical supplies in Vero Beach and then on into Nassau and onto Haiti. They are staying with us for a week to do additional runs.

I think we have approximately 15 planes at our service in total right now. Rotary Rocks! And, Rotary Flies too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are trying to organize the barge and should have that completed in the next day or so. That will be a run for the heavy stuff. We are cleared into cap Haitien and should have the ground trans available to get it to Port au Prince.

We are going to need to take fuel to provide for ou=r truckers as that commodity is very low right now. Our club in Carrefour is desperate for some. Unfortunately we can not fly it so we are trying to get some to them from within Haiti.

The way forward is beginning to be more strategic as we are able to find out more information on what is happening on the ground and the international relief becomes more organized. We have been very effective in providing support where the "big guys" have not yet been able to get to yet, which has avoided wastage and duplication of effort.

I plan to go down with a small team in the next short while to assess where we are with the ground team in Haiti, but will only do so when they feel that is appropriate and will not impede what they are doing. I have been told that the quake that hit Cayman on Tuesday morning did not do much damage.Thankfully that is the case.

Keep up the great work with the fund raising and supplies collection through you local relief efforts throughout the district. This will be a very long process and every effort that you have made will eventually be put to use on the ground there when appropriate.

Please let me know what you have done and if there is any way I can facilitate getting it on the ground for you.

Thank you for the support.

I'll keep you posted.

PDG Dick

UPDATE from PDG DICK: JANUARY 18

An old woman whispers a prayer while sitting outside her quake damaged home in Port-au- Prince, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010. The woman was one of more than 100 old men and women living outside the home with no food or care other than an occassional bath from two orderlies who remained to help.
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Another brief update.

We got 7 flights off the ground and in the air for Haiti today. Of those flights, 6 will go into Haiti directly and the 7th, the Caravan will do a second run from Inagua. We dropped in Cap Haitien, Les Cayes and Jeremie. The Methodist group was able to get 20 plus of their missionaries out on these flights

An old man lays on a bed outside his nursing home in Port-au-Prince, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010. More than 100 old men and women were living outside the home, that was damaged during Tuesday's earthquake, with no food. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

One flight from the BVI arrived Cap Haitien around noon full of Medical supplies. They return tomorrow with one Orthopaedic Surgeon and his tools and medical supplies and one EMT. They will be clearing and going through to Port de Paix. Our Immediate Past Assistant Governor Eves Martial will be receiving him.

Tomorrow we are looking at 3 flights into Cap Haitien. We are going to do a trial run into Pignon tomorrow to see how it works. It is closer to Port au Prince and will eliminate the ground transportation cost for that distance south. The supplies will be sent on to Claude in Port au Prince.

An old woman lays on the ground outside her earthquake damaged nursing home in Port-au-Prince, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010. With no food or medical care, some of the remaining 100 patients have already died of starvation(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

We have 2 very specific Medical supply lists that we are filling now for Port au Prince and Les Cayes and will have them ready to fly Wednesday morning. The balance of our donated medical supplies will be gone and we will begin to send the blankets and food as the main items. We do send in water but at $0.50 a lb it follows Meds and food on the priority chain.

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

We have spoken to our Rotarians in Jamaica and we are making preparations to ship the big and heavy stuff from the US through Jamaica via Air Jamaica and onto Port au Prince. PRID Barry is working the details out on this with Dennis Chong.

Nathan is trying to get the Southern Command to agree to use some of their big helicopters to do a few lifts out of Port au Prince and drop in sites designated and distributed by Rotarians. Details to follow.

Our Team is doing well in Haiti given the situation. Pray for them as they work almost around the clock. Special blessing to PAG Caleb Lucien for his extraordinary efforts as the point person in Haiti for all these supplies.

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

PDG Dick

Rotary in the News - Rotarian Claude Surena takes in over 100 earthquake victims into his home

Photo: Associated Press

Haitian doctor takes more than 100 patients into his home as refuge from devastation
By Mike Melia (CP) – 3 days ago

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — It wasn't long after Tuesday's earthquake levelled nearly all of the houses next to Claude Surena's that neighbours started showing up at his doorstep.

For years, the 59-year old pediatrician had treated the sick at his two-story hillside home near the centre of the Haitian capital.

Suddenly, he was running a triage centre, treating more than 100 victims on his shaded, leafy patio with food and supplies salvaged from ruined homes.

Read the full story here at The Canadian Press.

UPDATE from PDG Dick - January 17

Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times

Today's update will be brief.

We got 11 flights off the ground and in the air for Haiti today. Of those flights, 10will go into Haiti and one will go to Inagua.

The flight time from Inagua is less than an hour and much easier for the small planes so we are stockpiling there One flight has left from the BVI and is going through Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and on to Cap Haitien tomorrow. We are hoping that after clearing in Cap it can fly on to Pignon. We will know this later.

We have 3 pallets of Medical Supplies in Vero Beach and are working on the flights to get that to Nassau and on to Haiti with our Bahamas Methodist Habitat partners. Turks & Caicos has organized some more Shelter Boxes and they will be sent shortly.

Nathan has a container on the way to Miami and we will know more about the delivery method soon. We have asked for an indication from the on the ground medical team for specific medical Supplies needs and I will post for you as soon as I get it.

I believe Michael Terrelonge will be starting a blog for us.

Look for his announcment.

Thanks PDG Dick

Lionel Michaud cried after finding his 10-month-old daughter among the bodies outside the central morgue.

His wife was also killed when the building they lived in collapsed while he was at work.
Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times

UPDATE from PDG DICK- January 16

Doctors in a search-and-rescue team from Miami explained to Ajnor Amel, 55, right, and his wife, Lina Blanxfort, 53, that to save their son, Herby, 21, from the rubble they might have to amputate his foot. The team extracted him without an amputation, but it was not clear if he would have access to the medical care he needed to live.
Photo: Maggie Steber for The New York Times

A great day.

I am wrong, an EXTRA ORDINARY day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We were able to communicate by phone with a couple of our Team in Haiti today, but our Satellite phones did not work. It did not matter we knew what we had to do. Claude Surena who has been one of our Primary Contacts in the Haiti disasters has been designated as the National Coordinator of the Health Commission they are putting in place.

That is a huge responsibility that he accepted at the insistence of the President Preval. Congratulations are due to him.

Our priorities Remain: Money, Medical Supplies, Blankets, Clothes, Shelter, Food, Water.

The Bahamas Clubs today collected in excess of 50,000 lbs of medical supplies, blankets and food.

We sent out 5 twin engine flights to Cap Haitien, of which 2 were scheduled to go on to Les Cayes. They were turned back to Cap due to rain.

Tomorrow we have 10 twin engine flights and 1 DC-3 leaving loaded with medical Supplies to be dropped in Cap Haitien and Les Cayes. We are working closely with the Methodist Ministries and they are bringing back departing missionaries on the return flights. We have another 6 flights schedule Monday.

The Jamaica Clubs together with their military connections are flying in supplies and returning with Jamaican nationals. Their proximity and the availability of these resources makes them extremely effective. They are coordinating the flights with inbound supplies and staffing with Claude Surina as well. Thanks Claude.

Many of the regions have raised large sums of money. As I said yesterday I have not had a chance to confirm these amounts but hope to do so for you soon.

I hope that the note below clarifies the need and importance of the fundraising by all of you across the District.

These fund raising initiatives are VERY important. While everyone wants to get or collect something to send, it becomes painfully clear very quickly that the challenge to get the stuff to where it needs to go on the ground is impossible.

The benefit to the most needy diminishes by the day. Many Rotarians can beg the supplies necessary but many more must do what they do in the fund raising department because that's what gets the job done. We will probably send $150,000 to $200,000 worth of goods down to Haiti in the next 2 days, but it will cost us close to $50,000 to do so. The $50,000 will get the goodwill on the ground where the needy will actually benefit and they will do so while the need is still there. Without it, we would have $200,000 sitting in a warehouse. A point to remember! Goods in a warehouse while they rebuild the port or arrange for shipping after commercial shipping opens will be too late for anybody.

Our container of medical supplies in Atlanta that was going to be transferred to a DC-3 tomorrow has hit a snag and further details will follow.

Our 3 Beechcraft from North Carolina are ready to go and we will coordinate that tomorrow.

PDG Dick

Vinette Zamor, who lost her entire family during the quake, awaits treatment outside the hospital.
Photo: Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

Update from PDG Dick - January 15

Photo: BBC News In Pictures

January 15, 2010

A Great day!

PDG Amos and family are safe! Ted Lazarre has been found and is ok!

A very productive day as well. Supplies and money came in in great quantities from everywhere. Our District as always did the extraordinary. One club raised over $39,000 at their meeting, and another one matched it!!!!!! Supplies and funds in every region under the regional coordinators is coming in quickly and in great quantities. Great work clubs and Rotarians. I am sorry that I can not give you exact figures but the funds are going to a number of regional accounts and I am not sure of everything and would not want to mislead you.

Still using Satellite phones to communicate. Caleb, Claude, Guy and Ted. This Disaster Investment has been a life saver. Some protocols to work out yet but generally what a great thing!

Photo: BBC News In Pictures

On the lighter side, we had one flight leave from Nassau to Haiti with medical supplies and a Doctor Ageebe and a Nurse Fountain. Not everything went as planned but we made progress. The plane got there with the supplies which were picked up, but we lost the Doctor and Nurse. OOPS!

We finally found them but the old challenge of communication was interesting. I got a mixed message that they had been dropped in Port de Paix. I could picture them standing on a vacant dark lonely runway looking for someone they may be comfortable staying with until they were found, but in fact they had been left in Cap Haitien at a hotel whose name they did not know and no phone contact for.

The good news is in texting them on their Bahamian cell we were able to ascertain where they were and it was the same hotel we had stayed at when we visited the Cap Haitien club so we were able to use the satellite phone and communicate with Rotarians on the ground in Haiti and by tomorrow at 11:00 they will be on their way to Pignon to help the wounded at Dr. Guy Theodore's Hospital.

The challenges remain that the Port is closed, the airport in Port au Prince is over taxed and on occasion has to turn flights away, and the communication systems are restrictive. We are working around those. We are working with District 4060 (Charles Adams) on a plan to ship by sea to the Dominican Republic and tranship over land from the Dominican Republic to Haiti. We need to overcome the availability of trucks, the boarder and the inland challenges but with their help I am sure we can.

Photo: BBC News In Pictures

In speaking to Shelter Boxes they expect to have 2900 on the ground over the next few week. 900 are there now, and 1000 are on the way with the balance to follow.

We have a container of medical supplies in Atlanta that is going to be transferred to a DC-3 tomorrow and will be in route to Haiti by Sunday. A number of relief flights from other countries have gone in as well. Our Jamaican Rotarians in concert with the Jamaican Government and Coast Guard have sent in an army of supplies and people and are continuing to build their relief efforts.

Photo: BBC News In Pictures

We have 4 flights (Twin engine) leaving Nassau tomorrow for Haiti followed by a DC-3 on Sunday. The 3 Beechcraft from North Carolina to Haiti are due early next week and we will have 4 planes on the ground in Nassau for the remaining 2 weeks available to us and all we need to cover are the fuel costs.

The Donor Advised Fund is set up and we have full exposure on the International Web Sites.

Tomorrow is another day!
Successes to follow!!!!

Another very proud moment for us all.

Rotarian Claude who has been one of our Primary Contacts in the Haiti disasters has been designated as the National Coordinator of the Health Commission they are putting in place. That is a huge responsibilty that he accepted at the ins...istence of President Preval.

Congradulations are due to him. Please do not email him any congratulatories at this time as his email is very busy and he is trying to get things done. Congrats Claude"

PDG Dick

Photo: CNN

OTHER NEWS: We've heard from ADRR Christian Inervil from Haiti who says he and his family are fine. He confirmed also that two other Rotaractors - Pierre Carisme and Dominique - are also fine. Let's continue to pray for them all- Kameika Fullerton Delisser (Rotary Club of St. Andrew North)

Walk For Haiti - Wednesday, January 20

Photo: James Wray -In Pictures: 'Haiti Earthquake Aftermath'

The Rotary Club of Trafalgar, New Heights and the entire Rotary family in Jamaica are raising funds for the Rotary District 7020’s Disaster Relief Fund for Haiti, to secure urgently needed humanitarian supplies and other pressing needs as identified by those on the ground in Haiti.

As part of this fundraising effort, the Rotary Club of Trafalgar, New Heights will be staging a walk-a-thon at Emancipation Park and surrounding areas in New Kingston, between 5:30-9:00 pm on Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

Photo: James Wray - In Pictures - Haiti Earthquake Aftermath

Walkers are being invited to bring a donation of $200 and a candle.

As many people as possible will be given collection cans, which will be used to solicit funds from motorists and pedestrians during the peak traffic period. Walkers will re-converge at the park for an evening of reflection, forming a human chain around the track for a candle-lighting ceremony.

Departing from Emancipation Park, the planned routes are:

- Group 1: Knustford Boulevard to Trafalgar Road to Devon House entrance and return

- Group 2: Along Oxford Road to Half Way Tree Road to Chelsea Avenue to Dominica Drive to Knutsford Boulevard and return.

- Group 3: Along Oxford Road to Belmont Road/Worthington Avenue to Trafalgar Road to Knutsford Boulevard and return.


Contacts:

Fabian Brown, Club Member and Event Coordinator: 474-2570, stpats94@gmail.com

Allison Hickling, Director of Service Projects: 331-4548, allison.hickling@gmail.com

Photo: James Wray -In Pictures: 'Haiti Earthquake Aftermath'

Rotary Club Montego Bay Sunrise hosts Fundraiser for Haiti Relief Effort

Photo : SOS Childrens Villages Haiti

Hey Everyone,
As we are all aware, the situation in Haiti is, in the words of Haiti Disaster Relief Chair, "Very Terrible."

As logistics prohibit the movement and storage of "kind" donations at this time, cash is of significant aid.

It is in this effort, that I invite you to a social on Saturday Night, January 16, 2010 at 8pm at Palmshore Apartments, Ironshore, Montego Bay. Food and Drinks will be included.

Contribution is JA $2,000.

All proceeds will go to towards the Haiti Relief Efforts through the District 7020 fund.

As space is limited, RSVP is required.

Yours in Rotary Service,
Manoj Ramchandani
President 2009-2010
Rotary Club of Montego Bay Sunrise
rotaryclubmobay@gmail.com

Photo : SOS Childrens Villages Haiti

UPDATE from PDG Dick

Photograph by Lisandro Seuro, AFP/Getty Images

Dear Fellow Rotarians

This has been a very fulfilling yet frustrating day. On the fulfilling side we have had overwhelming support from everywhere and everyone again. Thank you so very much for all your efforts.

The District has asked the Assistant Governors to coordinate a local relief strategy for their regional areas. Through this initiative we hope to coordinate the appeal for support, coordinate / consolidate shipments and promote contribution to our relief funds.

We have been able to have communicate occasionally with PADG Caleb Lucien by Satellite phone, but this has been extremely difficult. The needs remain the same with specific emphasis on medical supplies and blankets for right now. We are coordinating with Missionary Flights International to get some stuff flown in and have arranged a few flights from Nassau.

We have been able to get Volunteer Doctors and Medical supplies committed and the flights to get them there as well from a number of our regions. We have the Rotarians from District 7710 who have 3 Beechcraft on the ground in North Carolina ready to come down full of supplies. We have a 40 FT container in Athens Georgia rweady to move with $200,000 worth of medical supplies and on and on

The challenge now is that the airport in PaP is restricting air traffic and some of today's flights were returned and things are backing up and the PaP Port is closed. We have arranged for approval to fly into alternate sites and to truck the supplies to PaP. This is being studied and will be an option we consider for our shipments. We have received approval from the Prime Ministers office to bring in any relief supplies we wish, however this approval does not guarantee access to the airport and port, so it is more of a comfort than a fact.

We have Shelter Boxes, Water Purification Boxes, relief supply Flights, Money and everything else coming in. We now need to position our on the ground team to coordinate it. With the communication that will be difficult but we can get it done.

Sadly we have not been able to reconnect with ADG Ted Lazarre and have not yet heard from PDG Amos and we remain prayerful they are OK.

Not much more to say today without listing the names of the 100's of Rotarians throughout our District and others that have done extraordinary things to get us the support we need, but I believe it would be better just to say a heartfelt THANK YOU from Haiti and all of those you are helping. God Bless You!

A special Thanks to my Haiti Team, Errol, Rupert, Diana and Barry for their usual unwavering support.

I'll be in touch with further update tomorrow.

PDG Dick