Amber B. Cambell with Badger Relief

By Amber B Campbell, CNA, Badger Relief .... continue page 2

The next day brought about another opportunity for us to get out and deliver more assistance and supplies to the suffering Haitians. We left on foot setting out on a journey to deliver tents and supplies to the worst hit areas of Port Au Prince. This was a very different experience then driving. I got to soak in the true culture of the Haiti as we continued down the effected streets. The hot sun was cruel as we walked. Streets were lined with families running their little markets trying to sell whatever they had to earn a little money. I looked at the faces with such empathy. Their shoes barley fitting their feet if they were even lucky enough to have shoes on their feet. Clothes that were clearly wore and faded some torn. My heart ached and my eyes stung with tears as we passed endless scenes of this tragic
reality these people were facing on a daily basis. I was within inches of all this mass destruction. My nose quite aware of the putrid smell that was all around me. Here was Badger Relief in the heart of the disaster enduring the conditions and horrific sights just to make sure that more people got the help they needed.

As we continued our mission into the hardest hit areas I searched all over for signs of help that I knew should be down here but to my dismay there was not much. I saw Haitians hard at work trying to clear areas of rubble with what little equipment they had. From sun up to sun down they tirelessly worked with shovels and wheelbarrows attempting to clear whatever they could with little aide to assist them. Streets were littered with trash no where to go with it. Huge cracks in the roads and sidewalks made it very difficult to walk around. Haitian culture was all around me people living their day to day lives in such horrific conditions. To them this was their everyday reality their life the norm. For me it was a nightmare I could not even attempt to comprehend living this way. I looked around me and shame filled every inch of me. I was spoiled to say the least my life was pampered compared to the Haitians. As we neared the hardest hit areas the sights of destruction,devastation,and poverty became worse. Little children half naked and shoeless walked around their little faces smiled at me and their eyes seemed to beg me for some kind of help. All I wanted to do was scoop them up in my arms and shower them with love give them whatever they needed. I scanned my surroundings and saw people helping each other. Women hard at work doing their daily chores of washing and cooking caring for the children. Seems like pretty normal life except for the hundreds of tents these families are forced to live in and that's if they are lucky enough to live in a tent. Some are under bed sheets and tarps. What a very sad reality to face day in and day out. We entered the tent cities and I became very nervous as several people stared at us and talked amongst themselves. Here we were Badger Relief in the heart of the hardest hit with some of the neediest people delivering tents and medical supplies. As suspicious eyes watched us walk around, we started handing out tents and medical supplies to the people and then they understood why were were there and what we were trying to do. The people were more then thankful for the supplies and tents that we had given them. I knew that everything we had done so far would make a difference but I knew it was not enough and it saddened me greatly to have to walk away from the desperate people without more to give. Their eyes so sad it shattered my soul. As we left people asked when we were coming back with more help with more supplies and we promised we would return with more but when they said we need help now! All I could do was hang my head and hold back the tears.

The sights are more then anyone can imagine and to see first hand the absolute hell these people are living in is unspeakable. I can't even fully put into words what I saw and experienced while in Haiti. The need for help,supplies,and aide are enormous. Months after this horrific earthquake the devastation
is a constant reminder that enough is not being done to help the Haitians rebuild their lives. The clean up has barely begun due to lack of heavy equipment needed to accomplish the big clean up. The Haitian people remain homeless their families sleeping in tents and that's if they are lucky enough to be one of the families to receive a tent. There are still people that need medications and and clean sterile bandages. The lack of water and food has forced the prices to increase dramatic making it that much harder for a culture already stricken with poverty to survive and get the basic necessities just to stay alive. This mission trip to Haiti changed my life and made me even more determined and committed to helping the Haitian people. I'm proud to be a member of Badger Relief doing whatever we can and going wherever we are needed to help those in need. And efforts to help are far from over. .

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