Posted by : Lizzie on 03/02/2010 at 15:34

The UK media were expecting a mass exodus of refugees to the north of Haiti, following the devastation of the earthquake. They were right, many have sought safer refuge from Cap-Haitien, home to House of Blessings, our home for disabled and abandoned children. But there are not the mass queues of refugees. Instead, families have welcomed their beleaguered relatives with open arms. Their children, their children's families, their distant cousins, all have been welcomed. For now, these refugees are fortunate. They have a roof over their heads, they have food and water. But it is only for the time being.

Usually, families in the countryside are supported by the income earned by their city relatives. Now, these relatives, if they have survived, have returned back home with nothing but the clothes on their back. With no external income, we can only expect poverty to be increasing. I'm sure you already know, as we've spoken many times already, of the dire situation in Haiti due to immense poverty, the mud cakes sold in markets as the only food that so many can afford and the desperation of parents reduced to selling their own children in order to survive.

As you know, we will be continuing to work in Haiti, both with disabled and abandoned children through our House of Blessings project, and a new project for street children and restaveks. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on our next steps.