Greetings! Many thanks for the most recent update from Haiti. Please continue to keep the Amateur Radio community abreast with further news.

Merci et bonne journée!

73
de James, VE2KHC
RAC Certified Emergency Coordinator (EC) – Vaudreuil-Soulanges ARES

After 5 days of several phone calls towards Haiti, finally someone was on the other hand and answered my desperate call minutes ago. It was our friend HH2JR, Jean-Robert himself in his house in Petionville. I have 2 phone numbers from him and I asked him if he was using his landline or cellphone, he answered that I reached him on his cell. According to him, his landline phone is not working for the moment. The house is ok but he is really concerned about it. He lost two people in his large family. Two other aftershocks happened again on sunday…

The main thing he told me was, French first before I forgot what he said then I’ll translate: ”Je vais bien dans les circonstances, je ne pensais jamais que vous réussiriez a me rejoindre. Merci de votre appel mon ami.” I asked him how is the situation now there?

(HH2JR: I am ok in the circumstances, I wasn’t expecting your call at all. Thank you very much for your call my friend).

And I told him about what we learned here in Canada and over the internet about the situation in Haiti. He replied to me: ”Ici, l’arnarchie s’est installée avec tous ces voyous qui se sont évadés des prisons. Des coups de feu sont entendus régulièrement et des personnes se sont faite descendre depuis que cela a débuté. Avez-vous entendu parlé de la rumeur que 2 humanitaires qui distribuaient des vivres ont été abattus?”

(HH2JR: Here, it’s the anarchy everywhere with all these prisoners who escaped from there jail. We hear guns shots regularly and people are killed since it started. He asked me:”Have you heard about the rumour that 2 humanitarians were shot while distributing rations?).

I said no, but I told him about one looter that was shot to the head by haitian Police and that he died. I asked and offered him if he was in need for any messages to be sent to relatives in the USA or anywhere in the World, he kindly said: ”no, thank you”.

But he had this message to the International community and for us radio amateurs. ”Soyez prêts et bien préparés lorsque vous viendrez ici distribuer l’aide, je veux dire qu’il y a tellement de voyous et de criminels qui vous descendront a la moindre occasion simplement pour survivre ou pire, juste pour voler vos choses. Vous devrez (troupes militaires) tirer les premier, être très alertes et réagir rapidement. Ils ne vous laisseront pas de chance. C’est la loi du plus fort ici en ce moment Steve, même ici a Pétionville, mais nous les surveillons de près puisque la police est totalement désorganisée. Nous nous organisons nous mêmes! Sachez tous, que lorsque vous viendrez, venez en grand nombre (troupes militaires et aide humanitaire), soyez bien armés (militaires) et préparer vous mentalement a éliminer certains malfaisants qui s’en prendront a vous ou préparer vous a leur tirez dans les jambes, pour ensuite pouvoir prendre le contrôle des choses et rétablir l’ordre dans la ville et la population.”

(HH2JR: Be aware and well prepared when you’ll come here for aid distribution, I mean there are so many looters and criminals that will kill you as soon as they can only to survive or, worst, just to rob you. You’ll (military troops) have to shot first, be aware and react quickly. They won’t give you a chance. Right now Steve, it is the survival of the fittest law here, even here in Petionville but we are keeping an eye on them carefully because our Police forces are totally disorganized. We do it by our own! I want that you all know that when you’ll come here (military troops and humanitarians), come numerous, but well armed (military) and be prepared mentally to eliminate some criminal interference that will attack you or be prepared to shot them in their legs, after that you’ll be able to take control of the city and the population. the order here will be established that way).

I asked him about the internet signal quality, he said to me that the network is in very bad shape and not reliable enough now. I asked him about his cell phone batteries, he told me that he is charging them with the help of his neighbour by 30 minutes sessions or so when it is possible.

He told me he ran out of gas, and that people are starting to fight for just few drops of it. He told me that among good people, the mutual aid is really strong. (NDLR It was already like that before the quake, but now it is multiplied by hundreds.)

After that, I told him I want to go there but that it is really complicated for safety purposes and many other reasons. He replied to me, that I must be prepared to come here only once I’ll be sure I can be safe and that the military and peacekeepers will have control everywhere.

He didn’t told me this, it is my own opinion, I think 5000 troops like stated by UN is not enough. I was there recently, I know the area and I think that 10000 to 15000 soldiers will be needed and far better for security of everyone. This number could be reduced in some weeks or months, but we should start with a lot of people to be sure to do what we want to do right and help the deserving. It is my own opinion -Steve-

The call lasted about 20 minutes or so and before ending, I told him I’ll try to call again and stay in touch. I gave him 2 cell phone numbers to try to obtain news from my girlfriend, relatives and friends. I have my fingers crossed that he can help me, he will remain ok, etc, etc.

Steve Toupin VE2TKH

Brian

Ariel said he is still ok, but still without power and telephone. He had to communicate via radio to speak to her.

I posted a YouTube video to get word out that he’s ok and his friends are emailing me for updates. This is the latest news I have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqaKzIkyBug

Brian (email address good on qrz.com)

VE2TKH