Haiti's Burning

Massive uprisings,
shootings and fire blockades cut Haiti into isolated pieces.

Earthquake
rubble spews onto the street while people struggle to find clean water
and sanitation to protect them from the cholera epidemic. Now, political
frustrations over a recent failed election have fanned the flames of
frustration that have been burning in Haiti since the quake. Claims
of racketeering including ballot destruction, closures of voting places
and even murder run through the local media. Now there are literal flames.

We had to skirt
fire blockades of burning tires on motorcycles while taking supplies
to a local orphanage. Most aid workers fled Haiti with the increased
cholera threat, just when they are needed. The death toll now has risen
to over 2,000. Nearly 100,000 have been treated, and many more treatment
centers, doctors and aid workers are needed.

All supplies
are hard to come by. After days of store closures, Sunday was the first
day some stores opened. No bread, no meat, lines two hours long at the
banks and gas stations. All public transportation ceased.

We took advantage
of the break in demonstrations to get a first hand look into St. Pierre
tent city, where we heard reports of excessive force by some UN troops.
Two children and an elderly woman died after 5 hours of tear gas assault.
Nepalese UN troops have been identified as the carriers of the cholera
strain introduced to Haiti. Now in the shadow of St. Pierre church it
was other Nepalese troops who tried to block a protest march near the
election headquarters. At the corner of what used to be a flower market,
library and church, rocks were thrown at troops, one was badly injured.
The retaliation was relentless.

We interviewed
a half dozen residents and a community organizer with "Concern",
Joseph Alexandre for their report. "They were toying with us, shooting
the gas and plastic bullets at us, pausing then starting up again. This
went on for hours and hours. They surrounded the camp and shot without
regard into the center, where the children were. It was like the tear
gas was a toy for them."

A new young
mother named Jania invited me into her tent to see baby Jeffy -- born
a month early the day after Nigerian UN troops were able to convince
the Nepalese troops to halt the assault. Their efforts came too late
for some. Baby Jeffy wasn't supposed to see 2010. He was supposed
to be spared this cruel existence until after the dawn of the new year.

At least his
life was spared. Many children and babies had blood running from their
noses...other children did not make it at all.

Charcoal marks
and burn holes are reminders of the assault. Tents have burn holes,
bullets and gas canisters mark their random landings.

All of the
paintings that used to line the rock wall of the church plaza lay scorched
and mangled in a muddied mass next to the generator that ignited when
a red hot tear gas canister set it off. One charred painting peaked
out at me, just the eyes remaining. How much more burning can Haiti
take?

(photos: Leisa Faulkner)