Aid from Taiwan is starting to arrive in Haiti. Tzu Chi was planning to organize distributions in the Pernier area near capital Port-au-Prince on Friday, January 29; and in Tabarre three days later, on February 1. Getting aid into Haiti is still difficult. But Tzu Chi is making, short-, mid-, and long-term plans for the future recovery effort. A Tzu Chi volunteer presenting aid supply to the female pastor in-charge of the orphanage in Perneir.

Haitian volunteer Chanel reading out the letter of consolation from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.

Orphanage children praying piously for world peace.

It has been over two weeks since the earthquake, that flattened Port-au-Prince, and many people are still buried under the rubble. But volunteers in the Tzu Chi relief team said the situation on the streets is calm.

Looking at Port-au-Prince from above, everything seemed calm. Haiti - once the jewel of the Caribbean - has today been reduced to a pile of rubble. People dig with their hands through the wreckage, not giving up hope of recovering the past.

In this badly damaged area, there are countless collapsed homes. Seeing the heartbreaking sight of Haitians who have lost everything in such despair, the visiting volunteers only have praise for the survivors.

“We didn’t see any rioting, or any lawlessness. Now we’ve been in this place for around 20 minutes, we haven't seen anyone come to harass us. So my feeling is we should hurry up. They really need every aspect of our support,” said Tzu Chi volunteer Zhuang Xinghua.

All public places have been turned into emergency shelters, but the Tzu Chi relief team volunteers said they have not seen any violence or other disturbances.

At the General Hospital, which was completely destroyed, there are still over 100 nurses trapped under the rubble.

Outside the hospital, makeshift tents to treat patients can be seen everywhere. Over 1,000 medical workers from all over the world came to Haiti immediately after the quake to save lives.

“Four or five days after the earthquake, the situation here was bad, very bad,”  said hospital doctor Lesbelamse lmez, “but right now the patients can find good care, and they have American surgeons and French Medicins Du Monde and everybody [to treat them]. I think the situation here is not too bad.”

Distribution at Pernier orphanage

On 29 January 2010, the Tzu Chi relief team in Haiti went to an orphanage in the Pernier area near Port-au-Prince to distribute corn powder (Haitian’s main staple), soybean, cooking oil, and reusable utensils. The Foundation first provided assistance to the orphanage in January 2009.

When the children saw the Tzu Chi volunteers, they were excited and called out “Tzu Chi, Tzu Chi.” Before distributing the relief supplies, the volunteers read a letter from Dharma Master Cheng Yen, the founder of Tzu Chi Foundation, in French. (Click here to view the letter in English)

The volunteers then led the children and staff at the orphanage, which is left with only ten days’ worth of food, to pray for other quake survivors and for a peaceful world. Both the volunteers and the people at the orphanage had tears in their eyes as they prayed. The volunteers also taught the children a song called “The Spirit of Great Love,” cheering them on that as long as one has love in his heart, one will not be defeated by challenges facing him.

Lyrics of “The Spirit of Great Love”:
There is no one in the world that I don't love.
There is no one in the world that I don't trust.
There is no one in the world that I can't forgive.
All the sorrow, blame and worry, just let go.)

Upcoming distributions in next two weeks

The relief team will be holding a large-scale relief goods distribution on 1 Feb at the Institute for Human and Community Development (IHCD) orphanage. On 2 Feb, a small-scale distributions will be carried out at a local church (with approximately 150 people living in tents) and another orphanage. At these distributions, Tzu Chi will provide instant rice, instant corn powder, reusable utensils, blankets, etc.

Prior to 12 Feb, the Foundation will be holding a large-scale distribution and free medical clinic in Tabarre, a municipality of Port-au-Prince. The mayor of Tabarre will be meeting with Tzu Chi volunteers to discuss the details of the distribution.

Click here for updates on Tzu Chi’s relief to Haiti.