On his second visit to Haiti since the January earthquake, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visited the displaced-person camp at Petionville Country Club where we have set up child-friendly spaces. The Petionville site, now the temporary home to 45,000 earthquake survivors, is one of dozens of emergency camps built of tarps, tents and crude lumber.
A couple dozen aid workers from a handful of NGOs escorted the top U.N. official through the camp and explained the urgent need for more assistance before the onset of the rainy season. The U.N. has already committed $1.4 billion to Haiti for humanitarian aid and reconstruction. Mr. Ban visited the camp on March 15 after meeting with Haitian President Rene Preval.
Mr. Ban told journalists that the U.N. sees shelter as the most urgent priority. He assured the camp’s coordinators that the world has not forgotten the Haitian people’s plight.
Located on high ground in the suburbs of Port au Prince, the Petionville camp was hastily constructed on the lush grounds of an exclusive country club. With assistance from the U.N., the camp is managed by J/P and Catholic Relief Services and several organizations such as Oxfam and Save the Children (and of course AMURT) work there too.
Ban Ki Moon walked through the top of the camp, just enough to see our site. He asked me if the children go to school to which I replied that unfortunately most schools are not yet reopened.
Check out BBC video: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8567391.stm
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