tinderbox ready to explode. I’m told that lead stories in major media

are of looting, violence and chaos. There could be nothing further

from the truth.
“I have traveled the entire city daily since my arrival.

The extent of damages is absolutely staggering. At

every step, at every bend is one horrific tragedy after

another; homes, businesses, schools and churches

leveled to nothing. Inside every mountain of rubble

there are people, most dead at this point. The smell

is overwhelming. On every street are people

– survivors — who have lost everything they have:

homes, parents, children, friends.

“NOT ONCE have we witnessed a single act of aggression or

violence.  To the contrary, we have witnessed neighbors helping

neighbors and friends helping friends and strangers.  We’ve seen

neighbors digging in rubble with their bare hands to find survivors.

We’ve seen traditional healers treating the injured; we’ve seen

dignified ceremonies for mass burials and residents patiently

waiting under boiling sun with nothing but their few remaining

belongings. A crippled city of two million awaits help, medicine,

food and water. Most haven’t received any.

“Haiti can be proud of its survivors. Their dignity and decency in the

face of this tragedy is itself staggering.”

David Belle, January 17th, 2010