Haiti Solidarity Blog
The reconnaissance mission sent by the Scouts et Guides de France, supported by World Scouting, left Santo Domingo at 6:00am (local time) this morning. It is part of the International Federation of the Red Cross convoy. The convoy will meet up with the representatives of MINUSTAH (UN) at the border. Their arrival at the Port-au-Prince airport is expected at around 17:00pm. The mission's transportation is assured by a vehicle that has been by the Youth Ministry of the Dominican Republic, who has also sent a special envoy with them,who will serve as the link with the haitian Youth Ministry.
Upon arrival, the mission will link up with the representatives of Haitian Scouting and proceed to confirm partnerships with the UN agencies on site. The MINUSTAH representative in Jacmel has stated that “Scouts are the only efficient youth association that they can work with. This efficiency will be bolstered by the logistical materials being brought by the French Scout mission, the initial support being put at the disposal of the Haitian Scouts thanks to the donations received after one week. It is to be noted that the French Scout association has decided to cover the expenses for this particular mission, in order not to affect the integrity of the donations. On the same note, a secure means of transferring funds, is being put into place with the re-establishment of the Haitian banking system.
In the coming hours, the analysis of the immediate emergency needs will be confirmed and circulated to the National Scout Organizations, who have expressed the desire to assist in the collection of the necessary materials. In the next few days, the Scout coordination will also perform a post emergency analysis of the needs so as to establish an action plan for the reconstruction efforts.
During the last 2 days, the Dominican Scout Association has been working on the preparation of this mission, in direct relation with the Scouts et Guides de France and the World Scout Bureau. Its high level contacts with state officials and the United Nations system has allowed the objectives of the mission to be assured.
In Geneva, WOSM works to provide support through the natural partners of the Movement that are the United Nations agencies (OCHA, UNICEF,UNHCR) and the Red Cross, as well as continuing the international call for donations.
The two members of the Reconnaissance Mission arrived in Santo Domingo last night, where they were greeted by representatives of the Dominican Scout. Upon arrival, a meeting took place with the representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Youth Ministry and the French Embassy. The session established the support of the various participating parties.
The Education Minister, has arranged for a chauffeur and a car to be at the disposition of the Mission and to escort them to Haitian territory. The Mission includes, a logistician working with les Scouts et Guides de France, a journalist from french magazine, La Vie ( collaborator of the operation), a representative of the Dominican Scouts, department head for Education and department head for Youth of the Dominican Ministries. The vehicle will most probably team up with a Red Cross Convoy which will be going to Haiti on, Thursday January 21st.
The objectives of the mission were re-assessed and have now accounted for the assistance of the various partners and the immediate crisis at hand. Coordinating with the Ministries of Education and Youth of Haiti will be of high priority, so as to re-establish their education program in affiliation with the United Nations educational cluster.
The dominican scouts have offered their national office to function as the logistics base for the collection and transferal of equipment to Port-au-Prince. Apart from helping the Reconnaissance Mission, they will lay out the program designed for the youth and implement it in the refugee camps situated by the border.
This morning two members of the Reconaissance Mission for the International Scout Aid, left Paris, assisted by the Scouts et Guides de France. They will be welcomed this evening at 8:00pm local time by a team from the National Association of the Dominican Scouts, who were in contact yesterday with Luc Panissod, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
Upon their arrival in Santo Domingo the logisitics advisor Fréderic Amiel and the journalist Laurent Grzybowski, will have their first meeting with the Dominican Scouts, representatives from the French Embassy, UNICEF, and the Minister of Education of the Dominican Republic. The latter will probably put a vehicle at their disposal to ensure transportation of the team to Port-au-Prince. The contribution of the Dominican Scouts is of importance as their country will serve as a secondary base for the coordination of the international relief efforts. The team is also assisted by Rafael Julia, Spanish citizen residing in the country who works for the United Nations system in the Dominican Republic.
The objective of the mission, sent at the behest of the Haiti Scouts Association who have had a long tradition of cooperation with the French Scouts, is to evaluate the needs for the emergency aid, support the Haitian Scouts in their collaboration with the international humanitarian agencies, especially those belonging to United Nations system and to prepare the action plan for the next reconstruction phase.
An initial sum of 10'000 euros has been released. They come from donations that have been collected in the last few days. It will serve to answer the immediate needs of the Scouts of Haiti. Communication and first aid matierial will also be bought on the island, especially a water purifier, a radio communication system and motobikes to facilitate the transportation of the Scout leaders coordinating the efforts.
After the violent quake which struck Haiti, World Scouting is mobilising in order to help the 30,000 Scouts of Haïti so that they can come to the aid of the stricken population. In the name of World Scouting, a message of solidarity and compassion, was sent to Haitian Scouts, even though it is very difficult to get into contact with them for the moment. A volunteer cooperation specialist from “Scouts et Guides de France” (Scouts and Guides of France) is on site in Port-aux-Princes, to support the coordination of the international Scout aid.
A precise indication of what the needs are of the stricken families in terms of goods of first necessity, has been made possible thanks to the contacts, although limited, that have been made at this time. In fact, the 30,000 Haitian Scouts are essential relays between the emergency NGOs and the local population. Their action during the hurricane of 2008, has shown their capacity to act efficiently in operations of clearing, cleaning, decontamination and also by taking care of children that have been left to their own devices, as well as by building emergency camps.
