The last couple days have been pretty interesting here in Port au Prince. Wednesday, March 7th, we had a small earthquake measuring 4.6 with an epicenter somewhere 20 miles south of Port au Prince. There were no reports of damage or injury, but there were reports that people flooded the streets, getting out of their buildings in a panic. So much fear. I can’t imagine how the immediate thought would be, “It’s happening again!” All the death and loss coming back to mind.
Thursday, after lunch, we heard rumors through some of our Haitian friends that there was an attack on President Martelly’s house and so we went into lock down here at base camp. We hadn’t had any confirmed news, but we were better safe than sorry. We found out later that there was no attack, but a Haitian senator was telling everyone to get in doors and off the streets saying there could be civil unrest. A lot of Martelly’s dissenters were doubting his Haitian residency and he was going to hold a press conference. At the conference he presented all of his Haitian passports, and there were no protests.
We are also getting news alerts of some former political figures over the last couple days, including a police officer yesterday. Several weeks ago the Prime Minister of Haiti, who was only in office for a short time, resigned saying that tension with the President was too high, and that night some vandals burnt down the giant open air market in Tabarre just a couple miles from base camp.
I read a news story today about how two Pakistani UN soldiers that were stationed in Haiti, were tried and convicted of raping a 14 year old boy here in Port au Prince. The two are being ejected from the army, sent home, and sentenced to 1 year in jail back in Pakistan. There's still much debate on the topic of the UN needing to take responsibility for the Cholera outbreak in Haiti.
BBC article on Pakistani UN rape case
A team came in this last week after spending some time in the Dominican Republic and were going to take a bus from there into Port au Prince, and had to change to a flight after finding that the DR/Haiti border is closed down. A little research tell us that the Dominican side closed it down after several reports of their truck drivers being harassed and even detained on the Haitian side. News says that officials from the DR and Haiti are meeting today to try to resolve matters. Link below.
Defend.ht article about DR and Haiti border
We were not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:6-8) We realize the volatility of the nation we are in; therefore, we stay alert, cautious, in the know of what’s going on, and take the proper safety measures when we can. We appreciate your prayers for our safety, but also for the peace of Haiti within the government: that they would make wise decisions to prosper the people and not themselves, and for the people: that there would be harmony with their neighbors to the east, those foreigners that are here trying to help (and that those foreigners would act responsibly) , and among one another.
- Thomas
No comments:
Post a Comment