news.

as the news disseminates from a few sources here to the rest of the world, i've noticed a few things that i would not have understood had i not been living here for a little while. i wanted to share them with you.

you've been hearing a lot about the artibonite region. though, the region has not been confirmed as the official source of the outbreak, the first cases were confirmed there, specifically, Saint-Marc. it is the pink region below, and as you can see pretty expansive. then the outbreak trickled into PAP in the yellow region and several cases have been reported in Cap Haitien and Limbe, both located in the orange. we are in the green region and we feel pretty removed from everything at the moment.

the artibonite river, below, as you can see by the elevation indication, lies in an expansive valley.  the area is home to the country's 'ricebasket'.  some reports attribute the outbreak to recent rains that caused the flooding of the riverbed and/or workers in the field. 

from here

people are taking this very seriously.  we heard talk of the outbreak even in the remote cove we were in this weekend, on every tap tap ride we've been on, and from our friends back here in ferrier who have been very clear to warn us themselves. i was reminded how so many people are experts in the study and understanding of death.

people are smart and doing what they can. the bacteria in itself isn't deadly. not getting re-hydrated with clean water or treated if necessary is. 

it's frustrating for us to be here working with an organization that's focused on employing Haitians to work towards the long-term goals of clean water access, employment, and economic sustainability and for so many news sources to latch onto the story and sensationalize it in favor of the traditional narrative the media paints of Haiti: that the average Haitian has little awareness albeit intelligence amidst their situation and that once again, where would we be without the godsend NGO's?

don't get me wrong, i have seen and heard and read about the incredible issues that NGO's are addressing here, but are we not asked by the media to forget and forsake the inherent, weathered, and incredible wisdom and capacity of the Haitian people themselves?

you can read for years about the roots of the current Haitian situation, but it seems important more so now than ever to maintain within perspective who knows what here.

i don't know anything about how to survive and thrive without clean running water, internet access, and a Target Super Center for more than a week. if anyone is an expert on the Haitian experience, perhaps it's the Haitian people themselves.

i'm not fixing anything, here.  in fact, i feel more helpless now than ever.