COTN Responds to Devastation in Haiti (UPDATES: 1/14/10 - 1/18/10)
POSTED ON Jan 14, 2010 / UPDATED ON Mar 18, 2011
Makeshift hospitals line the streets
Tending to the injured and dead in Haiti
An aerial view of the devastation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
COTN board member Dr. Dan Diamond and team set up a makeshift operating room in Haiti
COTN board member Dr. Dan Diamond and team set up makeshift UN field hospital in Haiti
MONDAY - January 18, 2010 (9:45pm)
Founder and President Chris Clark reports that his flights have been changed and he is rushing to the Dominican Republic to assist our staff in coordinatiing our response. Chris has been in Africa the past two weeks and has diverted his plans to fly from Africa to Europe and then into Santo Domingo. He will be joined in Santo Domingo by COTN–USA Board member Dr. Greg Desautel and Vice President of Corporate Communication, Mark Johnston, of Sanford Medical Centers http://www.sanfordhealth.org/ who have flown in on the company jet to assess how their teams and personnel can assist. Chris reports that he has been in hourly contact with COTN's Dominican Staff as well as with Debbie Clark Co-Founder of COTN who is organizing our response. "Our team in Barahona has done a excellent job of assesing the needs and our capacity and we are blessed to be able to respond in a coordinated way. USA staff have been manning the phones and seeking help via the internet to bring personnel and supplies to the people of Haiti."
Dr. Vicki Sakata, acting COTN Medical Director–Haiti Response, has just reported that 20 surgeries have been completed the last 24 hours in the border town Jimani, where COTN will join in the medical work that is underway with teams that are arriving in the next few days. A team of Japanese surgeons worked through the night and then handed their OR rooms to another set of surgeons who arrived from New York. A container of medical supplies arrived from Puerto Rico but its inventory is in short supply of IV fluids. "There are still hundreds needing surgeries," Dr. Sakata reported. "The need for these patients will extend for months," she said. "We still need a helicopter to move the most critical patients to Santo Domingo."
Please donate to COTN's Haiti Earthquake Response Effort TODAY! Your financial partnership is greatly needed! Our response effort will be determined as funding allows.
SUNDAY - January 17, 2010 (8:20pm)
Barahona, Dominican Republic – The first COTN team from the States arrived in Barahona tonight (Sunday). The team, made up of four COTN staff, a photographer, and Dr. Vicki Sakata from Seattle, Washington, along with our COTN–Dominican Republic staff, have been involved in much discussion and decision-making as to our next steps.
COTN staff writer Laura Brost reports, "The team and Dominican staff are trying to determine how COTN can best utilize the skills of the medical professionals in the States who are standing by and waiting to join us here in the Dominican Republic. And also how to transport and deliver our supplies, donations and water in the best way possible, as people in Haiti are becoming more and more desperate.
"Tomorrow (Monday morning) our team will depart for Jimaní, a town located about an hour and a half from COTN's ministry site here in Barahona. [* Jimaní is one of only two main thoroughfares between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Half of the town was completely washed away in the flash flood of May 25, 2004, killing many of the citizens during the night. It is still in the process of rebuilding.]
"Many Haitians have crossed the border here into Jimaní seeking medical attention and help. We're not sure how many doctors or medical staff are at this location, or what the situation is like, thus the reason for tomorrow's trip.
"Dr. Sakata along with our COTN–DR staff will assess the situation in Jimaní and determine how and where our medical teams can best be utilized. If it's possible to direct those in need of medical attention to Barahona, COTN's medical clinic and operating rooms could be utilized, which would be an incredible advantage, especially compared to operating outside in the open, as we've heard many doctors are being forced to do now.
"According to COTN–DR staff, the biggest medical issues right now are broken bones, crushed limbs, and those needing amputations. Tomorrow we will know more information."
Please donate to COTN's Haiti Earthquake Response Effort TODAY! Your financial partnership is greatly needed! Our response effort will be determined as funding allows.
SUNDAY - January 17 (10:03am)
Children of the Nations is currently sending two medical teams to the Barahona region to assist the Haiti earthquake victims who have been transported to the Dominican Republic. The first team should arrive tonight. More details once they are on the ground.
FRIDAY - January 15, (3:40pm)
Please donate to COTN's Haiti Earthquake Response Effort TODAY! Your financial partnership is greatly needed!
We reported yesterday that the Haiti/Dominican Republic borders had closed, and we are pleased to report that they opened early this morning. Our Dominican staff report that Haitian earthquake victims continue to flock to the border hospitals, the hospitals in Barahona, and even Santo Domingo, the capital city.
The government has called for all medical personnel in the region, even medical students, to report to duty if possible. Antonio Jiménez is one such medical student. Currently in his last year of medical school (sponsored through COTN’s University Student Program), Antonio brings a much-needed skill to the medical response effort: translation. Our COTN–DR staff has reported that the language barrier has proven to be a difficulty in treating the Haitian victims both in the Barahona region as well as Santo Domingo. Since Antonio is fluent in French Creole he has proven to be among those who are a blessing to the medical effort.
Children of the Nations is currently mobilizing medical teams to travel to the Dominican Republic to assist in caring for the injured. COTN–USA board member Dr. Dan Diamond of Washington departed for Haiti with a medical team yesterday and board members Dr. Greg Desautel of South Dakota and Dr. Mike Jungkeit of Washington are also mobilizing teams. Trauma and grief counseling teams will also be needed. Our medical staff and clinic personnel have already assisted the local hospitals and surgical centers by supplying them with surgical supplies from our COTN–DR medical clinic, which are in low supply and great demand in the area.
Our Dominican board and staff continue to assess how to best implement distribution of the food and supplies. As Haitians are facing desperation, looting is a real concern, so a well-thought-out distribution plan is a must. Current plans include distribution of food and water in the Barahona and border regions of the Dominican Republic as well as a distribution effort in Haiti. Our staff is currently working with partner ministries and churches in Haiti to finalize implementation.
Since an estimated 45- 50% of Haiti’s population is children our plan is to focus on their needs. "While our hearts go out to all the victims," shares Chris Clark, founder and CEO, "we are encouraging our Dominican staff and volunteers to focus their medical and food distribution efforts on the children."
There are THREE ways you can partner with us:
GIVE – Your financial support is greatly needed. To date, over $25,000 has come in toward our Haiti Earthquake Response Fund. These first donations will go toward meeting the immediate needs of the earthquake victims: providing medical personnel, medical care/supplies, food, and water. Our response effort will be determined as funding allows. Mid-term and long-term needs are currently being identified—more details forthcoming.
GO – Medical personnel (doctors, surgeons, nurses, and trauma/grief counselors) and supplies have been identified as the two GREATEST needs. Children of the Nations is currently mobilizing medical teams to head to the Dominican Republic to tend to the patients filling the hospitals near the border and in the Barahona region and also head into Haiti as needed. If you are a medical professional and would like more information, please contact Jeff Lander in our Venture Dept. at 360-698-7227.
GATHER – Visit our Donate Resources page for a current needs list. We are currently arranging transportation for one to two 40-ft. shipping containers of food and supplies from our USA warehouse. As we deplete our inventories both in the USA and the Dominican Republic, these goods will need to be replenished so that we are able to continue to minister to the children in our care. Donations of medical supplies and SmilePacks™ (particularly Hygiene packs and “Let’s Eat” packs) are requested. Contact our Resources Director, Dave Schertzer, at 360-698-7227 for more information.
Please donate to COTN's Haiti Earthquake Response Effort TODAY! Your financial partnership is greatly needed!
FRIDAY - January 15, 2010 (1:11pm)
Please donate to COTN's Haiti Earthquake Response Fund TODAY! Your financial partnership is greatly needed!
An update from COTN missionary Malou Faublas, currently on the ground in the Dominican Republic...
"Hola dear friends,
The situation of the poor wounded Haitians in the hospitals of the Dominican Republic is sad, very sad. First of all, the hospitals are packed and we don't have orthopedists, so the only care we are able to offer those who come with severe wounds is the amputation of hands, feet, legs, etc. The wounded can NOT get the real care that they need because they are too many for the few doctors in Barahona. So Children of the Nations medical clinic is a blessing because the two hospitals here in Barahona are running out of surgical instruments. THANK GOD we can help and provide for such need. One good news, Pastor Emmanuel [COTN staff and principal at our Altagracia school] is back from Haiti. His family is okay but homeless because their house fell down like everything else in Port-au-Prince. His mom, who is a tremendous prayer warrior, and siblings are okay. I will keep you posted." ~ Malou Faublas, COTN missionary serving in the Dominican Republic
In response to the immense need for medical personnel and supplies, Children of the Nations is currently mobilizing medical teams to depart for the Dominican Republic as early as Saturday and early next week. For more information on medical teams or trauma/grief teams, which are also needed, please contact our Venture Dept. at 360-698-7227. To donate medical or surgical supplies please contact our Resource Director, Dave Schertzer at 360-698-7227.
THURSDAY - January 14, 2010 (5:37pm)
Please donate to the Haiti Earthquake Response Fund TODAY!
We are currently working through our Dominican Republic staff, pastors, and church relationships to help them assess and meet the overwhelming needs in Haiti.
Many Haitians have come across the border seeking medical assistance in the Dominican hospitals closest to the border and in the Barahona region where our ministry center is located.
As of this morning the Haitian/Dominican borders have closed, but we are hoping they will re-open to both those seeking to enter Haiti to offer aid and assistance as well as those coming to the Dominican Republic in need of assistance.
Areas of greatest need that our Dominican board and staff have identified, and that COTN is able to assist with, include:
- Drinking water
- Food supplies
- Medical aid and supplies
- Clothing
There is an overwhelming need for medical assistance and we are currently in the process of sending two medical teams as early as Saturday. We will also be sending some of our USA staff to assist with the efforts as well as facilitate communication with our USA offices.
Thanks to the generous support of our partners, in just one day over $15,000 was donated to the Haiti Earthquake Response Fund. Your continued financial support would be greatly appreciated. We will send as much additional support as we are able.
Check back to this link for updates as they come in.
Click here to read initial news article "Devastating Earthquake Hits Dominican Republic's Neighbor, Haiti"
Questions? Call our USA headquarters at 360-698-7227.