The Shack

The Shack The story and thoughts behind one photo

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and as we remember was hit by a massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake just outside the capital, Port au Prince on January 12^th 2010.  Locals speak of the double devastation as the impact has spilled way beyond the capital and into the rural areas where there is little infrastructure and people live a subsistence life. 

Denis and Sylvania Desir remember it well.  Sylvania told me, “All of us got out while walking on dead people.  People were under the walls shouting, “Please save me!”, while the walls were falling, while walking on them.  We were so in trouble.”  Her husband Denis recalls, “I was upstairs in the house when the earthquake happened; all of us were in the house.”  Sylvania said, “I could not work out what it was, a very loud noise.  I tried to step out of the house but the noise was getting louder.  I went back and noticed my son – I took him and laid down while my husband was upstairs with the elder.  As I stood a piece of wall fell on us, my son was hit under his eye but not bad.” 

Before the earthquake Denis Desir remembers life being good.  “We had enough to take care of our family.”, now he says, “I see only death in front of me.”  They live in a shack, sleep on cardboard each night while the ants bite.      

© All Photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

This blog is a response to the needs I see.  My plan is to find grassroots projects that are addressing both the root causes and immediate needs of those living in extreme poverty.  I will pass on 100% of any gift given to help.

Checks should be made payable to ‘Community Partnership of Rabun’ marked ‘MyWorld/Haiti’ and sent to Community Partnership/MyWorld, 196 Ridgecrest Circle, Clayton, GA 30525, USA 

Thanks!   

© All Photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.