Croix des Bouquets and the golf course

Moon (the tiny dot) over golf course camp

Woman cooks outside her tent

Man raises arms in prayer

Mobile uploads- in Croix des Bouquets with satellite phone on roof of car, sending photos

January 27, 2010

Slow morning, everyone seems to be at a lower pace today. I head out with reporter Alex and videographer Warwick to Croix des Bouquets where the Haitian government said they will set up 400,000 tents and move displaced people out of Port-au-Prince. After searching about and many queries by Patrice, we find what looks like the entrance to a gated community. A lone 45 year-old man with 2 shot guns seems to be guarding the place. He lets us in, there are about 20 or so houses in various stages of completion, or uncompletion. A few look almost done, Spanish-ranch-style 1 story houses facing a giant empty field. No sign of tents, or government. Two workers seem to be at 1 house. Obviously private homes, may be finished in a year or so. We head back into town and find a group of Cuban doctors who have set up a small clinic. Cubans are identified by "Che" t-shirts. Lots of people lined up, most are coming for routine medical needs, not earthquake related. Down the road we see the town of Tabarre and a crowd at city hall. The US Army 82nd airborne is there having delivered a truckload of food, which the town mayor wants delivered at local neighborhood points, instead of right there where people are waiting. Frustrated soldiers are reduced to guarding against a rush of people. Very hot today, we head back to Port-au-Prince.
Everyday there is something that seems more overwhelming than the day before, if that’s possible. In the afternoon, I go with Patrice and driver Angelo (got his name wrong yesterday) to the Petion-ville golf course which is now a gigantic refugee camp. I thought the Champs de Mars is huge, but tents on the golf course seem to go on forever. It’s very hilly, which is similar to the terrain of Port-au-Prince. The makeshift tents seem even more crowded together than other camps I’ve seen. They’ve blocked off a big area for games for children. Patrice and I walk through the narrow passageways. An English teacher by profession, he sees a former student of his and talks to her for a while. The moon is high over the landscape at twilight, making for a nice scenic photo, from afar you can’t really see the misery.