Twelve months after the earthquake turned much of the capital Port-au-Prince to rubble, life has moved slowly in Haiti. While the main roads have been cleared of much of the debris and bodies under it, throngs of people still hunker down under tarpaulins in spontaneous camps out of the glare of the midday sun. The traffic is grindingly slow, moving at the same pace as the women who meander past the street vendors balancing water or baskets of vegetables on their heads.
In the suburbs of Dalmas, students of the 33 Dei Gloria Primary School are in a temporary building. The sounds of the children chanting numbers in French blends with the noise from the constant traffic and pick grating on stone as rubble is cleared just metres away from the small classrooms.
Mackintosh Fran Durvier’s dad can’t forget the moment the earthquake stuck Port-au-Prince:
"I had decided on a whim at 4.15pm on the day of the tremblement to pick up Mackintosh and Freddy from school. I work from home as a mechanic and the school is 15 minutes away,” Jean Andre Durvier recounts, speaking softly amidst the constant roar of the traffic horns blaring metres from the corrugated iron fence.
Widowed prior to the earthquake, it is clear that Jean Andre is proud of his two sons. His eyes light up when he speaks of Mackintosh, a conscientious student.
“As I was turning into my gate just before 5 o’clock, I felt the car being twisted and pulled I didn’t know what was happening. My house help Kaida was outside and looked terrified.”
Jean Andre paused to reflect and clear his throat. It is clear that a year later the impact of those 35 seconds have left him with emotions that are very close to bubbling to the surface.
“Right in front of my children’s eyes, our house collapsed. It was too much for the children to see.”
Jean Andre dabbed the tears that fell freely from his eyes, hung his head and gathered his thoughts.
A school routine has been vital to establish a semblance of normal life not only for Mackintosh and his younger brother Freddy but every child said Principal Mme Elizabeth Myrtha Hyppolite.
“They are with their friends who are terribly important, and they can learn. It is much better that they are at school than at home surrounded by the memories of 12 January, or in the camps, which is not an environment that children should be exposed to for a long time,” she explained.
Jean Andre agreed. Life under a tent was not suitable for the children. He said their minds are whirling with questions.
“So many things have happened this year. They are asking me what is going on in Haiti, first the earthquake, then the hurricane and now the cholera. They feel confused,” explained Jean Andre. “I am their father and I am the key figure in their life. I have to keep their morale up and keep them stable, particularly now. I have to be their anchor.”
Principal Hyppolite nodded at his words. Parents were the first line of support she said. She restarted the school days after the earthquake flattened their previous building that she worked in for many years because she knew it would be a calm eye in the midst of the storm of chaos.
UNICEF engineers recently visited Dalmas 33 Dei Gloria to assess the site for building five semi permanent classrooms as well as water and sanitation facilities.
While the physical environment can be altered and fixed, the scars that the children of Haiti bear will not heal overnight.
“Parents should not be forgotten either, they are suffering as well,” cautioned Mme Hyppolite. “It’s difficult for the children to survive; their parents sometimes simply don’t have the money to feed them or provide for them as they had done before.”
Hanging his head, Jean Andre silently nodded.
“I think about this every day. I live from day to day, relying on the generosity of friends and family and what little work I can get.” His eyes fill with tears, “It’s my responsibility to protect them, and provide for them, it’s very difficult.”
Reconstruction of lives and buildings after such a major earthquake will not happen overnight. The resilience and will of Haitians, together with the concern and support of the international community will make it happen but it will take years.
Source: UNICEF
Mother Nature is a terrible, powerful force, but the human spirit is just as strong. Thank you for reminding us Rosie.
Posted by: Mommy@Bodfortea | January 13, 2011 at 02:17 PM