Two Years Later, Where is the Outrage?

 There is not enough anger for my anger, 

there is not enough grief for my grief.

As the two-year anniversary of the earthquake approaches, I am finding myself with a case of insomnia. Here I am, enjoying the perfect Haitian winter, lying awake with my head filled with thoughts I can’t escape. Sure, it’s natural to reflect on what has happened as another year ends, yet what I can’t seem to get away from is all the things that haven’t happened.
 
The hundreds of thousands who haven’t moved out of the camps they set up after the earthquake, two years ago. The permanent homes that haven’t been constructed, hell even the temporary shelters that haven’t been built. The tarps that only last a couple of months yet haven’t been replaced after two years. The jobs that haven’t been created, the billions that haven’t been spent, the building back better that apparently will never happen.

Click to read more ...

A Tale of Eviction in Haiti

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Despite the lack of attention in the media, the situation in Haiti remains dire. Despite money donated by international organizations and regular people, real relief has not reached the people who need it the most. The blue tarps that blanketed the city, reminiscent of the early reporting by Anderson Cooper, are still there – an obvious sign that things have not returned to normal.

Click to read more ...

“We Are Tired of Living under Tents”

By Alexis Erkert, Another Haiti is Possible Co-Coordinator, Other Worlds - October 6, 2011

On Monday morning, October 3, ten women stood across the street from the Ministry of Social Affairs, waving their arms, wailing and chanting. They were calling on Osany, of the pantheon of vodou lwa, or spirits, for assistance. The lyrics of their chant, repeated over and again, were patently simple:

Stop stealing this country’s money
This country’s money belongs to the poor.

Click to read more ...

Rep. Payne to Haiti: "Continued Evictions Must Cease"

I am appalled to hear of the continued forced evictions of displaced people in Haiti. It is even more disappointing to see that this is being led by leaders in local government who should be working to alleviate the hardships of those already suffering.  I strongly condemn the actions of Mayor Jean-Yves Jason for forcefully evicting displaced Haitians from an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Camp in the parking lot of the Sylvio Cator Soccer Stadium on Friday, July 15. On the spot, the 514 families were unfairly made to choose between leaving the camp for a small sum of $250 USD or be forced out of the camps.

Click to read more ...

Threats and Violence Towards IDPs at Camp Django

By: Jeena Shah, Esq., Bureau des Avocats Internationaux/Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti

Camp Django, home to approximately 250 families who lost their homes in the January 12, 2010 earthquake, has been the victim of several threats of forced eviction, the most violent of them occurring during the last 24 hours.  Yesterday, 3 police officers with agents of the Delmas Mayor Wilson Jeudy came to the camp to offer 5,000 gourdes ($125 US) to each family for them to leave.  Camp residents protested the offer, finding it grossly insufficient to help them secure alternative housing. 

Click to read more ...