Help us to organize and provide practical and thorough aid to a tent city of 575 tents in a park in the center of Port-au-Prince after the January 12, 2010 earthquake devastation.
We are focusing on a park that is inhabited by 575 tents in the center of the city. Each tent houses a family unit. The estimated area of the park is 300ft. by 100ft. Some inhabitants have plastic tents that have been donated to them. Others have constructed houses out of wooden scraps, tarp, or sheets. There are no latrines so the roughly 3,000 inhabitants use the streets as a bathroom. There is no real organization or leadership in the zone and communication between aid and need is lacking.
In January we contracted nearby rural dwellers to build a 10ft. x 7ft. x 7ft. wooden and palm leaf house to house our appointed Haitian community organizer and to serve as a meeting place. We plan to build one house and a latrine for every 25 houses.
By grouping houses and leading representative elections, the zone will become practically organized. All residents will have a voice. Distribution will be done fairly. This zone's organization and approach will serve as an example to other zones.
