Posted by : Lizzie on 24/01/2010 at 15:17

Reports from our partners in Haiti are telling us of fears of the traumatic effect this earthquake has had on so many Haitians. Paralysed by fear, some of those who have reached them in the north are refusing to sleep inside a building. Not only are medics having to deal with the physical injuries of the survivors in Port-au-Prince, but the mental and emotional effects of trauma amongst the survivors could have serious long-term implications.

On Friday, our partners returned to Port-au-Prince in their ambulance, delivering much needed medical supplies to one of the few functional hospitals there and food to an orphanage of around 70 children. Sadly, many of the smaller impromptu villages of tents which have been set up around Port-au-Prince are being overlooked by the larger aid agencies. As we have all been hearing so much of the great work already being done by the giant aid agencies amongst so many people, our partners are focusing on giving aid to these small and somewhat neglected groups of people.

Now refugees from Port au Prince are starting to arrive in Cap-Haïtien, our partners health clinic is proving essential in providing free care and their ambulance is in high demand. An operating team will shortly be heading to their clinic to set them up as a field hospital, so they can take the overflow from the swamped hospitals in Port-au-Prince and the main hospital in Cap-Haïtien.