Stories from the field
Haiti Diary: Chiran Livera
Joining the team in Jacmel
February 12, 2010
Since my last update, I have arrived in the city of Jacmel and joined the Canadian Red Cross team. My team has only been in the city for a few days but have already made excellent progress in getting out to communities to identify the needs.
Jacmel is very different geographically from Port au Prince. A very mountainous area, green with vegetation and a picturesque Caribbean ocean all around. As I look around, any of these views could be on a postcard. However, as I turn back to face the city I am quickly reminded of the enormous task ahead of us.
The earthquake that devastated Port au Prince also left many in need on the other side of the mountain in Jacmel. Like in Port au Prince, aid distributions are underway. Here, the next challenge will be shelter.
Over the next days my job will be to assist in the coordination and distribution of shelter relief items from the warehouses in Port au Prince, such as tarpaulins, emergency shelter tools and tents and get them into the hands of those who need them most.
Chiran Livera is a Program Officer for the International Emergency Response team at the Canadian Red Cross. A Simon Fraser University alum, he is trained in humanitarian relief management in complex emergencies and also has a facilitation background in international humanitarian law, armed conflict and active global citizenship. Chiran joined the Canadian Red Cross as a youth volunteer in 2004 and he will be in Haiti for three months to assist with shelter assessment initiatives and distribution of relief items.
