PHOTO CREDIT: James Addis, World Vision
Laura Blank
World Vision
It had been two days since many of the children had any clean water to drink. The smell of dirty diapers filled the air, and as the rusted orange gate in front of the Bresma Orphanage rolled open, the eager eyes of more than one hundred children stared back at us. Their caretakers looked haggard and tired, but managed to smile weakly as we approached the orphanage with relief goods.
We had spent several hours driving around the maze of streets in this Port-au-Prince neighborhood, desperately trying to find the orphanage. With phone lines still down in most parts of the city, the only thing we had to go on was a text message from a woman in the United States sent 24 hours earlier, pleading for us to help these children.
“We are trying to get help for an orphanage in Port-au-Prince,” it read. “150 kids, almost all infants and toddlers, many with diarrhea. No food, no water…Fear losing smallest.”
I was surprised to get a message like this from a stranger, but her plea was heartbreaking and desperate enough that I couldn’t ignore it. The next day, a group of World Vision employees and I gathered food, water, and medical supplies for the children, then journeyed out to their home in Delmas, Port-au-Prince.
The orphanage was small – just four rooms, a courtyard, and a basement – but it was fairly clean. This little home that originally housed more than 60 children now held over 100, having taken in additional children after their orphanage was damaged in the quake.
As we approached the gates, a boy walked up to me almost instantly. He snuggled up to my legs and lifted his arms in the air, looking up in eager anticipation for a hug or someone to hold him. His feet were bare, and he wore a small pair of navy blue shorts and an old yellow t-shirt. I reached down, pulled him up to my hips, and held him as we walked into the orphanage.
Dozens of healthier children played outside in the courtyard. Their clothes were old and many of them didn’t have any shoes, but they smiled as they played. As we entered the tiny room off of the courtyard, it became clearer why this woman had so desperately sought relief for the orphanage from me, despite never meeting me.
Several small babies were tucked into chairs, vacant stares in their glassy eyes. They didn’t make a sound, but just sat there, quiet and listless. On a mat to my right, half a dozen small children in white t-shirts and diapers lay on the mat, arms curled up next to them, motionless. Their arms were thin and weak, and they barely managed to lift their heads up when our group entered. On the other side of the room, just next to the door, one little girl laid with her head on her arms, skinny legs tucked under her, completely still. She did not look well. Things got worse as we walked further into the orphanage.
Cries broke the darkness of this next room. It was nearly 5 p.m. in Haiti, and the sun had started to set. Without power, the orphanage started to grow darker and darker, but the children’s cries persisted. Many of them were sharing cribs with other children, and the sickest children, suffering from severe diarrhea, malnutrition, and dehydration, were lying in another crib closer to the window. Everywhere we went, children followed us, curious by the color of our skin, our soft hair, and the cameras that hung around our necks.
As I continued to hold the little boy in my arms, another boy, a few years older, stood on the table next to me, and started playing with my hair. I looked at him, and he smiled, pulled back a strand of hair and just looked back at me with contentment, despite the dismal conditions of his “home.”
One of the caregivers, Charitable Milfort, said the orphanage had been buying bottled water and food from the local markets, but skyrocketing prices were making it impossible for the orphanage to provide for all of the children.
She told us that the children – and the staff – hadn’t had any water to drink for more than 2 days. Food was running low, and the food they had wasn’t enough to feed every hungry mouth. They had no IVs left and no IV fluid to help rehydrate some of the weakest children, but they had been attempting to give them oral rehydration solution (ORS) made of water, sugar, and salt to try to strengthen their tiny bodies. Things were getting desperate.
After learning about the needs of the orphanage, our team unloaded the supplies from the back of the truck, including boxes of “meals ready to eat” (MREs) for the children. Each MRE contained protein like chicken, rice, bread, and a little dessert. Nearly 10 crates of water bottles followed, only a temporary solution to their problem. How would they care for all of these children? What would they do with the weakest children who needed serious medical care?
As we started to leave, the staff crowded around us, shaking our hands and kissing our cheeks gratefully. It was the first time I had seen Charitable smile as she looked at me and said, “Merci, merci beaucoup!”
I put down the little boy that I had held so tightly all afternoon, and I turned to leave. For some reason, I don’t remember what his face looked like, but I remember how sure he was of his longing for affection and how tightly he held onto my neck that afternoon.
The car was silent as we drove through the darkness to the World Vision compound. What will happen to him and the other children? I prayed as we made our way back. I hope that the food and water we provided is enough to nourish them. At least for one more day.
Editor's Note: Laura Blank is media relations manager at World Vision, a Christian humanitarian charity organization. World Vision works with children, families, and their communities worldwide to tackle the causes of poverty and injustice.
© 2010 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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I work at World Vision Canada and I cannot help but feel so helpless when I read this, my heart is breaking for these children. Please is there a way we can open our homes to these little ones even for just a precious few months by using temporary visas. I cannot get used to seeing children suffer. I have been watching Anderson and doing extra time at work to try and help but I want to do more. I pray that God opens a door for us to reach these precious children and help.
I am so proud of you laura. Your article brought tears to my eyes. We all love you and are praying for your safe return. God is doing amazing work through you. I miss my big sister! xoxo
Thank God for your work to provide water and food to these children.
What an incredible firsthand account! My heart goes out to those who are desperately trying to care for others during this horrific time in Haiti. I'm praying that the aid from World Vision and other organizations will be swift and far-reaching!
I watched Anderson Cooper let off a little steam last night and good for him!!! I live in a small town, in Quebec Canada, not far from Montreal which has a huge Haitian community – we see the agony here as people wait for news of loved ones – but the children – What in the name of God is stopping the relief efforts, doctors, etc,. from moving their derrières!!! Everyone needs to stop posturing and get their act together. I am so frustrated I'd like to punch something so I can't even begin to imagine what its like for those already there.
This is heart-breaking. Why isn't the relief getting there more quickly? So many people sending money. We should see more positive results.
Incredible! How difficult and rewarding the day must have been.
Anderson
It is so heartbreaking to hear these stories. How can we help? Will those children be available for adoption? I just saw a report that aid and supplies are not getting to the needed people. What is the hold-up? Being in the states I feel so helpless. I gave donations but am afraid it isn't enough. As the days go by will there be information about maybe adopting the children?
God Bless.
There is so much social separation on human lives that many forget the true of pain and suffering. Wyclef Jean has been at the front of promoting the rescue of Haiti for many years, and now with the earthquake many are coming to realize the voice of a “Great Leader”. It so sad that we have to endure tragedies and human suffering to conceal the truth about Haiti. To look back only serves at what went wrong. In moving forward, the world should direct its attention across borders, ethical perception, and disparity to understand “Human Suffering” can be controlled, and somewhat resolved. Wyclef deserves a humanitarian award, which will not resolve the issue in Haiti but at least bring focus to someone that can lead the world in helping this country.
One day at a time for children in need is never enough. It is an injustice that these children are left in such harsh circumstance.
How can we go about getting approved to open our homes and hearts to these precious children? I live in Miami and would take in as many of these children as they would allow. Is there a process in place of any kind? I have already donated money, but I want to help these children with basic necessities – shelter, water, food, baby formula, and hugs!
Please let me help! I will make it my mission to find some sort of normalcy for these precious lives! I just don't know where to start...
It is so heartbroken reading these sad stories over and over
Not sure if this is the correct way to do this but wanted someone to get this message. I am not going to try to list everyone as I will miss someone but CNN has the most amazing reporters on the air. They are clear, articulate and sensitve. Case in point is the fantastic reporting from Haiti. They are the reason I trust CNN for news so thank everyone for all that you do. CNN reporters are what reporting the news should be about. Thanks for all you do.
Thank you for sharing this story and thank you for doing what you did. I have tears in my eyes, wishing I could hold those babies, offer them breastmilk, water, gatorade, anything. All I can offer is prayers- many, many prayers. And I pray for you and the work you are doing and Anderson is doing and all the crew are doing.
They should begin to fly these children out of Haiti. There are many people here who would gladly take them into their homes, myself included. Can't the USA military do something?
Thanks so much for all of the coverage you are providing. I truly feel that the exposure of needs is helping the aid get to where it is needed. Is the military helping with construction like bridges and roads to help with aid distribbution? The Navy has a seabee command in Gulfport MS.