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Some Haitians feel as if it happened just days ago, the Rev. Kerwin Delicat, a priest based in the city of Léogâne, said as people prepared to mark six months since the January earthquake. Some progress is discernible and eventually there will be a return to normal life, but it's like something that just happened. Many residents still mourn loved ones. For some, trauma is less palpable than immediately after the quake, but others are still struggling to resume their lives. Christian Aid staff had to relocate after their offices were destroyed and they are impatient at the slow pace of some recovery efforts, saying they want the Haitian government to be more forthright in finding better and ultimately permanent, housing for the tens of thousands still in displacement camps and living in tents. It will take a long time for many families to restart a normal life because the consequences have been so huge. Pray: for the mercy of God to flow, for the kingdom of God to advance, and the powers of witchcraft and voodoo to be broken over the nation, so a new day for the Haitian people will arise. (Ps.28:2)
Prime Minister Garry Conille has resigned and existing reconstruction contracts will be honoured - but no new contracts can be signed. Only a tiny proportion of international donor money for Haiti Earthquake victims has gone to the government, largely because of corruption and unruliness; therefore 300,000 people still live in tent cities in Port-au-Prince. There has been a perverse incentive for some to remain in tents because of the high level of public services provided by international NGOs. These agencies provide basic sanitation, health and education services in the camps, but they are not set up to rebuild infrastructure for a major city. Providing public sanitation for example is the role of government. Christian Aid advocated international donors funding should go directly to the Haitian government and corruption could be allayed by careful monitoring.’
Pray: for political stability and discernment, for wise government management and distribution of donor funding. (Is.34:22)
One year on from the earthquake that devastated Haiti, the massive aid effort has yet to bring stability to the country as cholera, rape and despair take hold. Some $11bn (£7bn) worth of aid has been pledged to the country over the next 10 years, but much of that money has yet to arrive following concerns about government corruption and ongoing riots after November's disputed election. In the centre of Port-au-Prince, the presidential palace still lies in ruins. What was a large, green open space just beyond the palace grounds is nothing but a sea of tents. After all this time, the piles of rocks, wood and mangled metal that were once homes and offices still line the streets. Mountains of it fester between the homes that were spared, like rotten teeth. For many, the blame lies firmly at the door of the estimated 4,000 international aid agencies operating in the country. Pray: that the funding pledged by various nations and agencies be released. (Zec.7:9)
After the powerful earthquake that devastated much of Haiti, a priest has pleaded with people in the UK to remember the plight of Haitians. Saturday marked the three-year anniversary, but Father Francois Kawas says many thousands of people are still living in camps. Father Kawas is the founder of The Centre for Research, Reflection, Training and Social Action and was in the UK last week to meet representatives of the UK Government and partner aid agencies Christian Aid, Progressio and CAFOD. His latest visit was made to ‘help people in the UK not to forget Haiti’, he says. ‘Haiti still needs the solidarity of your people. It’s very important for us.’ Despite billions of dollars in donations to help get Haiti back on its feet, Father Kawas laments what he sees as the poor management and coordination of funds, and says that much of the money is not gettng into the hands of Haitians.
Pray: that the funds given will be released to meet the needs of those afflicted. Pray that corruption and poor management would not prevail. (Ps.10.14)
More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=9074&this=After_three_years_Haiti_still_needs_help
Nearly half of Port-au-Prince's three million residents have been living in tents since the January 12 earthquake, and at least 115 cases of cholera, including the death of one person, have been registered in Haiti's capital, the most significant warning sign yet that the epidemic has spread from outlying areas to threaten hundreds of thousands of people in the city's camps. Samples from patients in Port-au-Prince are being tested in a laboratory to confirm the presence of bacteria, which has killed at least 583 people in Haiti. If confirmed, the bacteria could imperil an estimated 2.5 to 3 million inhabitants. Pray: for hospital staff and health workers to be enabled and strengthened as they work to combat the spread of the disease. (Ps.28:2) More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/11/2010118225019323724.html
Health officials say the cholera bacteria now raging through Haiti is a very virulent strain matching those commonly found in South Asia, so rioting Haitians believe the cause of the Cholera epidemic in Haiti originated from Minustah peacekeepers from Nepal. Rumours have spread for weeks that latrine discharges at a Nepalese peacekeeper camp are to blame, even though the U.N. says the soldiers there have tested negative for cholera. With a presidential election on November 28th the U.N. sees more than just health concerns involved. Protests were not spontaneous because they all began at around 6 a.m. on Monday suggesting a level of politically motivated coordination by Haitians who oppose the election. ‘This was a clear message to boycott the election,’ said a government official. Nevertheless the riots have closed airports and roads, and are stopping much needed aid reaching people dying from a disease that can kill in 4 hours. Pray: for hospital staff, health workers, and aid organisations to be enabled and strengthened as they work to combat the spread of the disease. (Ps.28:2) More: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2031665,00.html
Last week, the Pan-American Health Organization issued a statement saying that 2,600 people were infected with cholera every week.(Oxfam said the number of deaths is lower than last year as people can get help faster.) Basic hygiene plays a crucial role in prevention, but in many poor communities, especially in the rural areas where the Baptist Haiti Mission serves, people don't have dependable access to supplies like bleach and other disinfectants. The Civil Protection Department called the situation critical and the Red Cross reopened a cholera treatment centre near Port-au-Prince. The Health organisation reported, ‘The situation in Port-au-Prince continues to deteriorate. They continue to receive new patients through the day. An estimate of 1,300 patients is currently admitted in units in Port-au-Prince who are operating at full capacity. The service for dead body management is now functioning between 6am and 9pm. Pray: that the resources of aid agencies would contain the disease and establish systems and structures to eradicate it. (Ps.103:3)
Christians in Guatemala were mourning on Monday, January 30, for a pastor who was shot and killed by suspected drug traffickers on his way to a regional meeting of church leaders in a violent border area near Mexico. 'Church of God' Pastor Neftali Leiva, a father of five daughters, was gunned down last week near the gathering, said his denomination's territorial administrative bishop, Jose Clara Vela. He added that the shooting was witnessed by another pastor. He was quoted as saying that an unknown assailant walked up to the victim without a word and shot him point blank several times. When the shooter saw the witness a short way down the street, he reportedly also fired three times in his direction. The pastor apparently felt the bullets go by and impact the trees behind him, but was unhurt. ‘God’s hand of protection covered me,’ added the unidentified pastor.
Pray: for all those who serve God in challenging places that they will be protected from harm. (Jn.17:12)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/20282-suspected-drug-traffickers-kill-pastor-in-guatemala
Guatemalan president Alvaro Colom has declared a ‘state of siege’ along the Mexican border, where at least 27 people were killed over the weekend in a ‘Mexico Zetas’ drug gang massacre. The state of emergency will restrict demonstrations and allow police to carry out raids at night, and try to track down the killers. The order finishes Tuesday. Police have captured one suspect and killed two others in an operation in which two policemen were wounded. Alvaro Colom said that Guatemala must confront the aggression which had infected the entire region. Authorities have identified 15 of the 27 migrant farm workers beheaded in the massacre, three children and two women were among the victims, the youngest was 13 years old. (See last weeks PA re. Mexico borders Drug/Human trafficking)
Pray: that this investigation will be completely lawful, protected from corruptive influence and ask Him for a season of justice and restoration for the area. (Ps.9:16)
More: http://english.aljazeera.net/video/americas/2011/05/2011517103516680111.html
The Australian parliament is about to have a federal debate on a bill allowing gay marriage. Meanwhile in the UK 300,000 people used an online poll telling a parliamentary inquiry what they think about two pieces of legislation to legalise same-sex marriage. The Scottish Government’s consultation on redefining marriage revealed widespread opposition. See this weeks British Isles article 7. Tokyo advocacy groups for Gay Rights responded positively to American President Barack Obama’s public announcement of support for same sex-marriage in the US. Asian gay rights issues have started slowly but surely moving into the public domain. see: Denmark, the first country to allow gay couples to enter into civil unions now allows homosexuals to have full wedding ceremonies at church. Eight out of the eleven countries with legalised same-sex marriage are situated in Europe. Fourteen European countries have legalised civil unions.
Pray: against a growing deluge of proposed concessions to redefining marriage.(Lev.18:22)