By Sima Simon, Guest Blogger
Part 1 of a first-hand account of the Israel Flying Aid Delegation to Haiti

Yesterday was tough! It was our first day in Haiti, trying to understand how we can help these people. It took us three full, tiring days to arrive here – only to walk around all day and not know how the hell to start? With whom? With what?

The feeling was whatever we will do will not be enough

We split up to find a long-term project which would answer a critical need. After collecting some intelligence from the streets and making our way through destroyed roads, some of the team arrived at “Orphelina” – orphanage house for girls. The house belongs to the church and is run by a group of nuns. The modest and unfinished building managed to survive the earthquake almost unharmed. When the group walked inside the gate, they heard the voice of angels singing. It was the sound of the nuns’ voice. They were surrounded by a group of girls, 1-14, years of age. It was dark, but they managed to see that they are making the best of the so little that they have.

This is why we came here; this is what we were looking for; this is where we can make a difference.

We woke up this morning all excited: Linoy – our one and only children’s nurse joined the hospital staff, while Shuli, Dudi and Hamutal – our amazing medical clowns – went to do their holy mission of making children laugh here in the hospital area and out in the streets while our IDF soldiers are building water towers for the locals.

The rest of us made our way to the orphanage escorted by the IDF delegation officer.

This was at 7:30 in the morning.
Since then, we have managed to:

• Do a short assessment of what needs to be done urgently.
• Put in place a fast plan divided to “mission groups”.
• IDF – in charge of bringing the delegation engineer for a safety check of the building
• 1st group – led by Limor – staying with the nuns and the girls, helping them and playing with them
• 2nd group – led by Chaim – finding a local contractor and putting in place a group of workers who will start to clean the land next door and work on the infrastructure.
• 3nd group – led by us – going to do some food shopping the local Sunday market

How can I put in words the experience we had?

Haim Beker, Orange Israel, COO who is 65 years old cleared up the land and managed to put in place an infrastructure for tomorrow in order to get running water for the orphanage.

Limor, our local contact from the Dominican Republic reached the heart of every child in the orphanage. The girls played with the tons of toys and goods “Mama Yokero” and Toy R Us donated to our delegation with hardly any previous notice.

Watching David Avner, Orange Israel CEO, carrying 50 kilos sacks of rice on his back, loading the trucks with food for the girls and working hand in hand with us, was truly a strong moment for me.

After unloading all the food in back in the orphanage, and making sure the nuns have all they need in order to make the girls and for them good meal we left in order to make all arrangements for tomorrow.

Stay tuned for more updates from the field. To support Israel Flying Aid’s wor with children in Haiti – visit their project card at JGooders.com.

Tags: emergency, haiti

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