Celebrations

Yesterday was "Flag Day". It is the annual national holiday marking the birth of the flag of Haiti in 1803 which is a French tri-colour with the white ripped out. (In other words, a red and blue flag). This represents independance from France (achieved in 1804) when Haiti become only the second independant state in the Western hemisphere and the first black republic anywhere in the world. Of course, its history since 1804 has been anything but peaceful or simple.

Yesterday we held a party in the camp for Flag Day. Hundreds came out for the party which included a singing and dancing competition, a DJ, drinks, a flag raising ceremony and of course, the national anthem. This was organised by our new community worker, Fornia Cenezir, who did a great job. She managed also to make hygiene promotion part of the event - each 'competitor' had to mention a hygiene message in their songs or dances.

After we packed up in the afternoon, the ex pat staff had a day apart - the first time we've had off together since I've been here (almost a month). We drove up the coast to just near the city of Sant Marc. There's a beach there that you expect to see in those Caribbean tourist brochures. It was a nice change from Port-au-Prince and having dinner by the sea was magnificent. Of course, it started to rain, and all I could think of was the people in my camp. Put a literal dampner on things.

Today was a shopping experience. I had to run around getting kit for our security guards - raincoats, gumboots, disinfectant (which of course leaked throughout the van), torches, batteries, high visibility coats, whistles etc. Of course, nothing was available in one place.

The planned drainage of the camp is starting to gain momentum. There is string marking where the main drain will start. There is an outlet built to the neighbouring canal. We are meeting for the second time tomorrow with the committee to see how many shelters we need to move.

In the meantime the UN clusters have asked for us to provide our contigency plan for the upcoming hurricane season. Given that I haven't mitigated for rainy season yet, I'm not sure how we're going to come up with a hurricane plan. Job for tomorrow... or next week.