Alumnus reports positive feedback from Haiti
Letter to the Editor
Jesse D. Bowman class of 2006 - CPT, FA Fire Support Officer 1-73rd CAV, 2 BCT, 82nd ABN DIV
February 15, 2010
Things are continuing to progress here in Haiti.
When we first arrived, we were extremely busy pushing out medical teams and as much food and water as we could. We arrived before our trucks did, so we had to rent two pick-up trucks. We made runs back and forth to the airfield to pick up as much humanitarian aid as we could, and then we would bring it back here and distribute it to the people.
We also had Navy helicopters working with us providing as much as they could load up and deliver to us.
I am residing at the golf course here in Haiti right now. (If you hear anything in the news about a golf course, that is where I am because this is the only golf course in Haiti.)
We were fortunate to be able to have the assistance of several states' DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Teams). They lived with us for the first two weeks and just left yesterday. They were able to provide medical capabilities on a higher level than we could to the people.
At one point we had one of the largest amount of displaced people located around the golf course, with an estimated 50,000 people. We treated and provided aid to this camp, as well as displaced persons around the area.
A good trend that we are noticing is that it seems a vast majority of the injuries from the earthquake have been treated, and we are now working on follow-up care and general medicine needs. So there is definitely progress in that area.
In addition, non-governmental organizations, such as the Catholic Relief Services are doing an amazing job providing more and more aid to the people. We have been working with a man named Donal (nicknamed Don. He is an Irish guy from Dublin) with CRS that has a tireless amount of energy.
The big push for the last several days and the next two weeks is to push food out to distribution points around the city. We are getting away from the one-day rations that we first put out when we got here and have moved to providing enough food for individual families that they can eat for two weeks on the one pickup.
Progress is being made, but much more is needed. The Haitian people are strong and they will get through this. I am proud to be here.