Stories from the field
Haiti Diary: Chiran Livera
Reaching into the furthest areas of Haiti
April 9, 2010
For the past week we have been traveling to the remote rural areas of Southern Haiti to distribute emergency supplies. In these rural areas, families were affected to a lesser extent than in the city. With the impassable terrain, they received little aid until we arrived. For the most part people have been coping well.
Visually the area is impressive - rolling mountains, fresh spring water in the rainy season and beautiful fields reaching into the horizon. However, the area is without electricity and twice a week people have to make the 5 hour trek down the mountain to sell their produce. In our assessment we found that there are concerns for sanitation - something we hope to improve while we work together with communities.
During our needs assessments I met a passionate grandfather who explained to me that although his house has been damaged and is uninhabitable, he has not chosen to go live in the displaced camps in the city as his life has been in the mountains. With the tarpaulins we provided he was able to make a temporary shelter and use the other aid items such as the hygiene kit and mosquito nets to provide for his large family.
His story is echoed throughout the communities here - although conditions are difficult, the mountains are where people are comfortable and where their lives are. I hope we can help them improve their lives and rebuild their communities.
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.
