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Yesterday, Nadine’s crew went to the new Red Cross camp. Stephan, Simon and I went to the Canadian embassy where we would have less restrictive rules (not closing doors at 6pm). When we got there the front of the building was crowded with Haitians wanting to emigrate. It took us quite awhile to get in and wasted most of the day to my uttermost frustration. The Canadian journalists are all camping on the roof of the embassy, quite an intense place with lots of stories flying around.
This is where the Canadian media sleeps at night:
This is where the media write and edit their stuff:
This morning, the crowd in front of the embassy got huge, and the rumors spread. While waiting for my driver to show up, I was watching the moody soldiers barking at the tired survivors desperately trying to emigrate and not understanding the principles of “please stay behind the line sir”. Some people have quite urgent situations and just want to talk to someone, without going through the queue. A man comes up to me to see if I can help him (do I look Canadian now?). He has just found 2 children on the streets and they gave him names of relatives in Canada.
Emanuel and his cousin John were also standing there and we started chatting.
Emanuel is a 25 year-old student that like many others, didn’t find his parents when he came back from school on Tuesday. He doesn’t even know if they are under the rubble. Since then he and his cousin have been drifting from camp to camp with the backpack he had that day. With no money, no home, Canada sounds like a good Idea to escape this place.
I liked these two, and by talking a little more they told me about these camps in particular where no help or media has visited yet. Emanuel is quite an educated guy (speaks 4 languages) while his cousin looks like a streetwise, more manly guy.
The perfect pair, I hire them and off we go. Part 2: tomorrow.
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6 Comments
2010-01-19
07:43:31
please keep it coming. these real news feeds are very important! all the best , stay safe and thank you for helping...omm
2010-01-19
11:02:32
I'm sure you look Canadian in Haiti Nico!Intense stories,wow I can imagine how bad they want to emigrate!But how is the emigration process working?
2010-01-19
17:39:03
Hi Nico,
still following you from Germany, Sunday we´ll go to St. Lucia. It is very intense. The same kind of people which we all love so much and in Haiti they have to suffer like this!
Just watched a TV show in which they collected over 10 Million Euro for red cross, diakonie, caritas and World food programm, from viewers. We had to donate something too. What else can one do?
It is the pictures and the music that touches the souls.
Keep it up.
We´re with you.
It is hard to see that the help takes so long to get there, because the whole world is moving.
Moni, Wolf and the whole tribe
2010-01-19
17:48:26
It's always important to be a witness to events no matter how upsetting.
It's great how you always stay focused on the human edge.
Take care.
Linda
2010-01-19
23:26:54
Hi ! Awaiting for Canadian Embassy part 2!
Keep up your good work !
2010-01-25
13:44:20
Why stopped with the work in the Montana hotel (Haiti)? Where is Master Tran Trieu Quan? (room 306) President of Taekwondo