Mark Bonnell, an Air Movement Officer, departed early on Wednesday January 20, 2010 to join the WFP in coordinating the arrival of international relief at the Port-au-Prince airport.
Douglas Ravenstein joined UNICEF on Wednesday January 20, 2010, as an Information Manager to the water and sanitation (WASH) “cluster” in charge of overseeing the coordination of overall humanitarian assistance in the WASH area. Asked about the situation in field upon his arrival, “I could get to work quickly, but circumstances were crude and confusing. Given the nature of the disaster, and its unprecedented proportions, I think our work was remarkable in the first two weeks.” UNICEF’s target population are pregnant and lactating women and children, of which Ravenstein estimates the nutrition cluster has reached approximately 22,000 between January 31st and March 1st. Jennifer Bakody, a media specialist and public information officer, joined UNICEF on Thursday January 21, 2010 as a Communications Officer to ensure up to date coverage of UNICEF related activities, the management of information and feature stories. Take a look at Jennifer's work! Christina Torsein joined UNICEF on January 29, 2010, as a Child Protection Specialist, to work on a comprehensive child protection program with special attention to issues such as child exploitation, child abuse, child trafficking and access to education. “It took several weeks for the system to get up and running, but a call centre is now functioning in Port au Prince which takes calls from frontline workers who have contact with children separated from their children” Torsein explained. When asked about her main challenges in her current position; “I arrived two weeks after the earthquake and at that point, both the working and living conditions were very difficult. UNICEF's office had been destroyed during the earthquake and the "office" moved to the UN Logs Base. In the beginning there was very limited internet access, staff were huddled round tables with partners trying to work, and simple things such as communications and office conditions were trying. The realities of trying to co-ordinate activities and adequately respond to requests coming in particularly in the very beginning was very difficult.” Thomas Haythornthwaite joined the mission on January 31, 2010, as an Information Management Officer working within OCHA field locations to manage information whithin the UN agencies and partner organizations. Benoit Fournier was also deployed to Haiti to work with UNICEF Chief of Child Protection on Monday, February 1, 2010 on a comprehensive child protection program responding to the psychological and social needs of children and their families. Brenton McLeod joined the IOM as a Protection Officer/Camp Manager on Monday, February 15, 2010, to help ensure that protection issues - including the needs of vulnerable individuals - are properly addressed in camp coordination and management.
Isabelle Fortin, a Protection Officer and Camp Manager, departed to Haiti to work with the UNHCR and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday February 19, 2010, to coordinate and improve protection issues with consideration of gender and the needs of vulnerable individuals. Thuy Thach, also a Protection Officer and Camp Manager, was deployed on February 19, 2010 to work with the IOM in Haiti to Liaise with the Protection Cluster, OCHA and other partners to ensure the protection issues are properly addressed in the areas of camp coordination and camp management.
Yvon-Loup Jean, joined WFP as logistics Cluster officer for air cargo movement, responsible for all airlift cargo by helicopter. Jean’s expertise in military transport and logistics has been of great assistance in his duties: “My experience in the Canadian Air Force as a Transport Technician on the C130 Hercules, my knowledge gives a good confidence to the crews of the helicopters and I was able to put in place a loading system”. His duties within the Air Cargo Movement ended in April; he is now Warehouse Manager, in charge of supervising warehouse staff, storekeepers and tally clerks, and managing the receipt, storage, accounting and reporting of all commodities.
Luciano Hounkponou joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as a Protection Officer, to support the MINUSTAH Human Rights section, and to ensure liaison with international NGOs and grass-roots organizations to support partnership in the protection cluster and facilitate their access to funding.
These deployments were undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to CANADEM's RAP Fund: "Millions of people are struggling to overcome the impacts of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Through its contributions to vital United Nations partners such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF, the IFRC, and NGO partners, our government will help support Haitians as they rebuild their lives and communities," said Minister Oda in a January 19 press release. CIDA provided $500,000 in additional funds to CANADEM’s RAP FUND (rapid response to humanitarian disasters) to deploy 10 Canadian humanitarian experts to humanitarian partners.
Copyright UNICEF/Bakody
Media coverage:
"Amidst the rubble, Haiti celebrates International Women's Day" By Jennifer Bakody, media specialist and public information officer, UNICEF, 9 March 2010
"Haitian-American doctor cares for families evacuated to Dominican Republic" By Jennifer Bakody, media specialist and public information officer, UNICEF, 4 February 2010
"On both sides of the border, essential aid and safe water for Haitian families" By Jennifer Bakody, media specialist and public information officer, UNICEF, 29 Jan 2010.
“Government of Canada Increases Humanitarian Assistance for Haitians Affected by Devastating Earthquake” Source: Canadian International Development Agency 19 Jan 2010.
CANADEM wishes to acknowledge the support from Canadian Tire on 1636 Bank St (Ottawa), who has provided mission equipment to our deployed experts at 50% reduction in solidarity with the humanitarian efforts in Haiti.
Contact: Canadian Tire 1636 Bank St, Collins Ave, Ottawa, On K1V 7Y6 Tel. 613.731.2679
CANADEM also wishes to thank Mountain Equipment Co-op on 366 Richmond Road for providing a 10% reduction for equipment to our deployed experts.
Contact: Mountain Equipment Co-op, 366 Richmond Road, Ottawa On K2A 0E8 Tel. 613.729.2700, www.mec.ca