PDF

February 2O1O
This photograph was taken before the
earthquake of 12 January 2010.
Please help the people of Haiti rebuild their
homes, their communities, their lives.
HELP HAITI
donation hotline
3120 5000
online donations
www.oxfam.org.hk
HAITI
FACTS
after the earthquake
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
before the earthquake
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
Population
: 9 million
Population living on less than US$2 a day : 6.84 million (76%)
Population not using safe drinking water
: 3.78 million (42%)
Debt
: US$890 million
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births
: 48.8
Children underweight for age
: 22%
Probability of not surviving to age of forty : 18.5%
Adult literacy rate
: 38%
Adults living with HIV-AIDS
: about 120,000
Telephone subscribers
: 15.6 out of 100 people
Internet users
: 7 out of 100 people
CO2 emission rates (metric tons per capita): 0.2
Source: United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Development Programme
OXFAM
in HAITI
Oxfam is providing
Drinking water for about 400,000 people
Hygiene and sanitation services in 14 urban and rural locations
Latrines also provided for people with disabilities
Therapeutic activities with children
Emergency shelter
Cash-for-work, such as for clearing rubble and constructing latrines, began on
24 January
More than 60 tons of Oxfam supplies have been sent from Canada, England,
Panama and Spain
Information correct as of 25 January 2010
For updates, please visit Oxfam International website:
http://www.oxfam.org/en/emergencies/haiti-earthquake
Oxfam has been working in Haiti since 1978 on three main areas: sustainable livelihoods
(such as coffee cooperatives); disaster management (not just to prepare for earthquakes,
but also against floods and hurricanes) and access to education, water, health care and
electricity).
OXFAM in THE PRESS
Metro Hong Kong, 20 January 2010 (in Chinese): /www.metrohk.com.hk/index.php?cmd=detail&id=126453&search=1
The Standard, 22 January 2010 (in English):
www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=20&art_id=93476&sid=26769760&con_type=1
A collection of reports from Oxfam and others: http://haitiquake.posterous.com/
O.N.E February 2O1O
14
January
Two children in a makeshift shelter
/ Photo: Jorge Silva, Reuters, courtesy www.alertnet.org
16
January
Aid delivery on the way
/ Photo: Joe Raedle, courtesy of Getty Images
O.N.E February 2O1O
OXFAM
STARS
OXFAM
VOICES
Public figures supporting Oxfam’s response in Haiti:
Bono / Coldplay / Colin Firth /
Denise Ho / Djimon Hounsou /
Scarlett Johansson / Annie Lennox /
Chris Martin / Pearl Jam /
Pet Shop Boys / Radiohead /
Rosemary Vandenbroucke
and more…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXgmCkuuQtU
“THE UNITED NATIONS REGULARLY CALLS ON OXFAM”
Haiti's clean water supply and its drainage system have been damaged, and the risk is that diarrhoeal disease
will break out. Water in the damaged drainage system will attract mosquitoes, which can cause other infectious
diseases. Survivors are already weakened, and these diseases can be fatal.
I call on Hong Kong people to support Oxfam to carry out humanitarian responses in Haiti. The United
Nations regularly calls on Oxfam to coordinate water-sanitation work; Oxfam's expertise in this area is held in
high international regard.
Dr. Lo Wing-lok, Infectious Disease Specialist;
Association Member, Oxfam Hong Kong / in a media statement on 15 January
“I CALL ON HONG KONG PEOPLE”
I visited the affected areas of Sichuan Earthquake with Oxfam Hong Kong in 2008. I understand survivors of
earthquake need help from others, especially in water supply, sanitary facilities and temporary housing. Oxfam’s
relief work fulfill the current needs of the survivors in Haiti. The damage and scale of the Haiti Earthquake is large,
and the country’s poverty heightens the survivors’ vulnerability. I call on Hong Kong people to take immediate
action, supporting Oxfam’s relief efforts to help people in Haiti.
Denise Ho, singer and actress;
Oxfam Ambassador, Oxfam Hong Kong / in a media statement on 15 January
“A COUNTRY OF EXTREME POVERTY”
I visited Haiti with Oxfam a few years ago. It's a country of extreme poverty and brutal living conditions.
Most people in Port-au-Prince live in tin shacks. The earthquake that has struck Haiti will have turned the city
into an unimaginable hell.
Chris Martin, singer of Coldplay, in a media statement on 14 January;
He went to Haiti with Oxfam in 2002
“WE CAN TRANSMIT HOPE”
All of us in our staff, we’re all affected as the rest of the population, losing our houses, losing our family – in
my case, my mum… I buried my mother in our garden; and I know many other people have done the same…
As Oxfam staff, we can maintain hope and we can transmit hope, since we know as Oxfam we will have
some resources to help people…
It’s like we are starting from zero…There is no capacity within the government, because so many were
killed. Not only that, but important sections of the population are dead. We lost a lot of famous professionals
and experts, who were unique in their fields. They’ve died. Some prominent figures in the feminist movement
were also lost.
In spite of this, I think it can be a moment to see our need to work, to change direction and the direction of
others… It can be an opportunity and can be shared.
Yolette Etienne, on 18 January,
Oxfam Great Britain Country Director, Haiti
O.N.E February 2O1O
17
January
An open air Catholic mass
/ Photo: Jorge Silva, Reuters,
courtesy www.alertnet.org
18
January
Installing an Oxfam water tank
to hold 10,000 litres
/ Photo: Caroline Gluck, Oxfam
O.N.E February 2O1O
OTHER
VOICES
“THE WHOLE CITY WAS SINGING”
In my thirteen years of working in Haiti, not once before have I seen such massive destruction as we are
experiencing now. Nor have I seen such motivation, determination, compassion, and solidarity among people…
the city had fallen and was continuing to fall as a result of continuous aftershocks. The streets were full of people
sitting together. Everyone was sitting in the middle of the roads for fear that the houses would continue to
fall on them. They were singing. The whole city was singing. They were singing songs of solidarity. They were
singing songs of thanks and praise that they were still able to sing and to be together. These people have lost
everything. The city is now a city of refugees. But they are putting their voices together to be thankful.
Amber Munger, on 15 January 2010,
a community worker with the Haiti group, Konpay
“IN HAITI, NOBODY EVER REALLY DIES”
Today is a good day to remember that in Haiti, nobody ever really dies. The many thousands who've had the
breath crushed out of their bodies in the earthquake, and the thousands more who will not physically survive
the aftermath, will undergo instead a translation of state, according to the precepts of Haitian Vodou, some
form of which is practiced by much of the population. Spirits of the Haitian dead — sa nou pa we yo, those we
don’t see — do not depart as in other religions but remain extremely close to the living, invisible but tangible,
inhabiting a parallel universe on the other side of any mirror, beneath the surface of all water, just behind the
veil that divides us from our dreams.
Madison Smartt Bell, author of a trilogy on Haiti,
in The New York Times, 17 January 2010
“WE ARE UGLY, BUT WE ARE HERE”
There is a Haitian saying which might upset the aesthetic images of most women. Nou led, Nou la, it says.
We are ugly, but we are here. Like the modesty that is somewhat common in Haitian culture, this saying makes
a deeper claim for poor Haitian women than maintaining beauty, be it skin deep or otherwise. For most of us,
what is worth celebrating is the fact that we are here, that we against all the odds exist. To the women who
might greet each other with this saying when they meet along the countryside, the very essence of life lies in
survival. It is always worth reminding our sisters that we have lived yet another day to answer the roll call of an
often painful and very difficult life.
WHAT
YOU
CAN
DO
Edwidge Danticat, Haitian-born author,
in The Caribbean Writer, Volume 10, 1996
1 / Donate
Telephone hotline : (852) 3120 5000
Online donations : www.oxfam.org.hk
2 / Learn about Haiti
Go to HELP HAITI: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/
3 / Take action to cancel Haiti’s debt
www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/actions/haiti_drop_the_debt.html
4 / Fundraise for Haiti
Collect donations among friends, relatives, and colleagues and send to Oxfam
5 / JOIN EVENTS FOR HAITI
3 Feb / Hong Kong for Haiti – A Relief Benefit for the People of Haiti /
www.hongkongforhaiti.com /
11 Feb / Project C:CHANGE – 6 people from Hong Kong will climb
Mt. Kilimanjaro / http://twitter.com/projectcchange
12-28 Feb / Exhibition at Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong / www.fcchk.org /
HONG KONG TO HAITI:
The Hong Kong public has donated over HK$25 million to the effort, and counting...
As of 29 January, the Hong Kong SAR Government Disaster Relief Fund has contributed HK$8 million (US$1.03 million)
O.N.E February 2O1O
18
January
19
January
“All of us in our staff, we’re all affected as the rest of the population, losing our houses,
losing our family – in my case, my mum… I buried her in our garden…
As Oxfam staff, we only can maintain hope and we can transmit hope, since we know as
Oxfam we will have some resources to help people.”
- Yolette Etienne, Oxfam Country Director
/ Photo: Caroline Gluck, Oxfam
30 tons of Oxfam water and sanitation equipment leaving East Midlands Airport, England
/ Photos: Doug Marke, Page One Photography
O.N.E February 2O1O
Listening, Talking:
Key factors in rebuilding Haiti
By Roger Ricafort
November 2009 / Survivors of two typhoons
in the northern Philippines discuss their needs
with Oxfam Hong Kong.
Nori De Dios (second from right), a
humanitarian worker with Oxfam Hong Kong,
is currently based in the country, coordinating
various rehabilitation efforts.
Some may feel that it is too soon
involves a lot of talking and listening
will contribute a lot to ensuring
to talk about rebuilding Haiti when
among various agencies – government,
targeted and effective relief services.
massive rescue and relief work is still
non-governmental organisations,
An important element of people’s
underway. But to recover from such
and business. Without such efforts,
participation is that they see access to
a catastrophic disaster takes some
major areas of needs can be so easily
quality relief resources as a right, and
serious strategic thinking, based on a
overlooked. For example, when the
not simply a matter of charity.
robust understanding of the Haitian
Philippines was hit by a series of deadly
It is impor tant for suppor t
contex t – and this takes a lot of
typhoons in September and October
agencies to adhere to internationally-
listening and talking.
last year, the media coverage and
agreed relief standards, called SPHERE
So how do you rebuild a country
images predominantly focused on
standards, which lay out the guidelines
like Haiti? Long before it was battered
the dire situation in the capital Manila
and benchmarks for quality relief
by the worst earthquake in 200 years,
whereas the predicament faced by the
services – such as water requirements,
it was already a human disaster zone
less-developed northern part of the
food and medical entitlements, etc.
- being one of the poorest countries in
country was largely neglected.
But talking and listening alone have
the world. We should not forget the
Participation by those who are
never put a roof over people’s heads
images of Haitians scrambling for food
adversely affected by disasters in
or food on the table. Coordination,
and making do with mud-cakes during
the discussions and decision-making
consultation, talking and listening
the height of the food crisis less than
processes is likewise impor tant .
need to lead into effective planning
two years ago.
Support agencies need to actively
and swift action.
Coordination is extremely
listen to those whose lives have been
Effective planning and swift action
important in an emergency situation
turned upside down as they are best
in emergencies, as well as for longer-
and this requires the willingness
placed to know what they need. It is
term reconstruction, begin much
to share assessment and response
about doing aid with people rather
earlier, with disaster preparedness.
information, among others. This
than to people. Such participation
This involves preparing communities
to deal with disasters – in terms
of di s a s te r aware n e s s , di s a s te r
mobilisation plans, etc. For longerterm reconstruction, fundamental
decisions need to be taken early on
as to what life is going to be like for
communities - not just individuals. It
is no good, as happened in Aceh after
the 2005 tsunami, to say that everyone
will have a house, if you don’t also
think about building the roads and
infrastructure that make a town.
Effective coordination is
dependent upon good national and
sub-national disaster preparedness
and response policies and mechanisms.
Strong leadership of any aid effort
is likewise important. An agency,
preferably the national government
- but if not, then the UN, should be in
charge of the plan and assign tasks.
It should be strong enough to say
‘no’ to efforts that are not in the best
interest of the people affected. During
the drought in southern Africa in the
In Carrefour, one of the hardest-hit areas in the
Haiti earthquake, people set up their own tents
for their first emergency shelter.
early 2000s, governments did refuse
genetically modified (GM ) maize
Photo: Louis Belanger / Oxfam
O.N.E February 2O1O
seed as food aid. They insisted that
the seeds must be milled into flour
so as not to contaminate the nations’
maize crop.
Disasters will be with us, and
increasingly so, on account of climate
c ha n g e im p a c t s . O ve r th e p a s t
decade, the world has witnessed
Haiti
– Land of High Mountains
an upsurge of large-scale disasters.
Prehistory to 1500s
Civil Conflict 2001-2004
According to the Centre for Research
Ta no and other Amerindian peoples inhabit the
A r m e d a t t a ck s , a t te m p t s to ove r throw
on the Epidemiology of Disasters,
Caribbean, including what is now called Haiti,
government, National Palace seized, UN forces
the frequency of natural disasters
which derives from the Ta no name, Land of High
are sent in to help stabilise Haiti
grew by an average of 8.5 per cent in
Mountains; by 1550, many of the Taíno people
the period 2000 to 2007. The world’s
poorest countries and communities are
had been decimated
Natural Disasters 2004 -2005
Floods in 2004 and Hurricane Dennis in 2005 kill
increasingly under threat.
In light of this, the readiness to
Spain and the 1490s
respond to emergencies is of utmost
Christopher Columbus lands and Spain colonises
importance. Each response in an acute
the island, now called Haiti (the mountainous
emergency is a matter of life and death;
our ability to respond immediately
saves more lives. Oxfam Hong Kong is
western part) and the Dominican Republic (the
eastern part)
Democracy 2006
Rene Preval wins the first elections since Aristide
was overthrown, (Feb); a democratically-elected
thus strongly considering setting up an
government headed by Prime Minister Jacques-
emergency relief fund to strengthen
1697
our capacity to make timely decisions
Haiti is ceded by Spain to France
Edouard Alexis takes office (June)
and to contribute significantly to
humanitarian response.
thousands of people
Food Crisis 2008
1800s
Severe hunger leads to food riots (April);
efforts to help Haitians. Inevitably the
Haiti becomes independent and abolishes
Government cuts price of rice; World Bank and
focus is on the short-term relief effort;
slavery (1804); the former slave-turned-emperor
USA announce extra food aid (US$30m)
but Haiti’s long-term future is at stake.
Jean-Jacques Dessalines is assassinated, and
Our immediate response should make
Haiti is divided into a black-controlled north
We are one with the world in
it possible for Haiti to take initial steps
to address problems that underlie
poverty and vulnerability to disasters.
Haiti is already mired with USD 890
and a mulatto-ruled south (1806); Pierre Boyer
unifies Haiti, but excludes blacks from power
(1818-1843)
Four Tropical Storms 2008
A series of tropical storms and hurricanes hit
Haiti (August and September) - Oxfam assists
tens of thousands of people
million foreign debt and should not be
further burdened. Today’s aid-lifeline
USA 1910s to 40s
should not end up being tomorrow’s
USA invades Haiti (1915), withdraws troops
debt noose.
It is striking to see people in Port-
(1934), maintains fiscal control until 1947
themselves in what may look like
Duvaliers 1950s – 1980s
chaotic collection centres and rickety
Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier seizes power in
tarpaulin centres. But these are acts of
military coup (1956) and is succeeded by his son,
We just need to talk and listen to
them to understand. They are taking
World Bank and International Monetary Fund
cancel US$1.2bn of Haiti's debt (July) yet about
US$890 million remains
au-Prince having already organised
active citizens and not passive victims.
Debt Relief 2009
Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” (1971) who flees Haiti
among public discontent (1986)
Earthquake 2010
The country’s worst earthquake in over 200 years
hits Haiti on 12 January - Oxfam is assisting more
than 400,000 people
control of their lives and not just
sitting down twiddling their thumbs
Aristide 1990s and 2000s
awaiting international agencies’ aid
Jean-Bertrand Aristide elected president (1990),
efforts to get into gear. There would
ousted in coup (1991), returns to power (1994),
be far fewer survivors if they did.
Roger Ricafort is the Director of the
International Programmes Unit of Oxfam
Hong Kong. Oxfam Hong Kong has
programmes in China, South Asia, The
Mekong, Archipelagic Southeast Asia and
Southern Africa. This article was published in
The Standard on 22 January 2010.
Source: Oxfam
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/
loses power (1995), elected again (2000), and
then forced into exile (Feb 2004)
O.N.E February 2O1O
7
Every day, Oxfam Hong Kong
work s along side hundred s of
groups around the world, from
N
e
w
PartnerOrganisations
Oxfam Books
EARTH, AIR, FIRE, WATER
small NGOs to international bodies,
OX-Tales is a series of four paperback originals that highlight Oxfam’s
from government departments of
work for the world: Earth (from land rights to farming), Air (campaigning to
developing countries to community
climate change), Fire (supporting survivors of conflict) and Water (safe water
groups based in Hong Kong. Here
in emergencies).
are 7 ‘partner organisations’ that
OX-Tales features 38 authors – including Hanif Kureishi, Ian Rankin and
we are supporting for the first
Jeanette Winterson – who have donated their writing to Oxfam. In Hong
time.
Kong, the books are available at selected Dymocks, Metrobooks and Page One
bookshops.
MAINLAND CHINA
Gansu
•
Hui County Poverty Alleviation and Development Office, Gansu
Yunnan
•
•
•
Maternal and Child Health Center, Tengchong County
Yongde County Civil Affairs Bureau
Yongde County People's Government PHILIPPINES
•
•
Center for Emergency Aid and Rehabilitation
Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services
HONG KONG
•
Hong Kong Institute of Education / Department of Social Sciences
In this edition of O.N.E, we highlight the Hong Kong Institute of Education,
the largest provider of teacher education in Hong Kong. Oxfam Hong Kong has
commissioned the Institute to conduct research on how primary and secondary
school students use the Internet as part of their schooling.
It is common knowledge in Hong Kong that the Internet is an important
channel for learning, both at the primary and secondary school level. Access to
the Internet can be seen as a basic need, and a basic right, for students. However,
many low-income families do not have the resources to provide a computer
with Internet access for their children, who therefore struggle to complete their
schoolwork. This lack of access has the potential to widen the digital divide.
HKIED, as it is colloquially known, has a wide network with primary and
secondary schools. Experienced in participatory research, HKIED actively
cooperates with schools during the research process, as is the case in this
commissioned research. The research will be completed by March 2010. The
findings will be used to advocate for measures to ensure that the needs of
children from low-income families are addressed.
For more information, visit: www.oxfam.org.uk/books
MOKUNG
ONE
The current edition of MOKUNG magazine focuses
on Climate Change.
Oxfam News E-magazine is published at the beginning of every month, at
www.oxfam.org.hk/ONE.
In Chinese, MOKUNG means both 'infinity' and 'no
poverty' – there are so many things to be done to stop
poverty and its injustice.
To receive a copy in your inbox, please subscribe – it is FREE.
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/one/subscribe.html
Published by Oxfam in Traditional Chinese, MOKUNG
is available for free at various locations across Hong
Kong, by subscription for delivery to any Hong Kong
address for HK$20/year, and on-line at <www.oxfam.
org.hk>.
O.N.E (Oxfam News E-magazine) is published monthly by Oxfam Hong Kong, 17th
Floor, China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, Hong Kong. The publisher
does not necessarily endorse views expressed by contributors. For permission to
reprint articles, please contact us; normally, we grant permission provided the
source is clearly acknowledged. O.N.E is available free to all, in both an HTML and
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/?lang=big5
PDF version, and in Chinese and English.
Oxfam Hong Kong 17th Floor, 28 Marble Road, Northpoint, Hong Kong
www.oxfam.org.hk
Hong Kong
O.N.E is also on-line: www.oxfam.org.hk/one
Editor: Madeleine Marie Slavick ([email protected])