World Summit Youth Award

The World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) invites once again young designers, e-content creators,

writers and bloggers from around the world to enter their online-projects in an international

multimedia competition: using internet and mobiles to put the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) into Action!

View the rest of this announcement (pdf)

More info at this website: http://www.youthaward.org/

FROM EL DO WITH LOVE: Youth Ambassador for Natural Disasters Youth Summit (NDYS) Abraham Fergusson (left) El Dorado East Secondary School Principal Marcia Massiah (centre) and National Coordinator for International Education and Resource Network, Trinidad and Tobago (iEARNTnT) smile at the handing over ceremony on February 25th 2010 at the school's Samuel Ramoutar Hall (Photo taken by Kieth Telesford)

El Dorado East Secondary donated $10,500 to the relief effort in Haiti after they experienced a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on January 12.
At the handing over ceremony at the Samuel Ramoutar Hall Students were commended for their generosity and for bringing positivity to the school, the activity was described as “a breath of fresh air” after last year, the school was scrutinized after it is alleged that a group of students were preying on students from neighboring school EL Dorado West  Secondary. Principal Messiah said “it was important the nation knew that the school was a caring one” Staff members teachers and students mobilised for the plight of the people of Haiti were praised for their dedication, commitment and leadership qualities” she said.

Mrs. Gia Gaspard Taylor Global Facilitator of Natural Disasters Youth Summit, a project of International Education and Resource Network  Trinidad and Tobago (iEARNTnT) on receiving the cheque praised the Principal, Staff, teachers and students for the initiative taken to support the effort which covered three weeks period and commended the teachers for ensuring there was proper accountability and transparency at all times through the collection process, she said ” a special thank you for giving up your snack money to contribute towards this venture, it is greatly appreciated” she said, she further said the project is in collaboration with UNICEF, as a long term project.

Former student of the school who was instrumental by inviting the school participation in iEARNTnT and the Natural Disasters Youth Summit, Youth Ambassador Abe Fergusson, was please to be back at school to see some former teachers and students, congratulated them for their continued activity more so this initiative to boost the effort he is making as the Global Youth Facilitator of Natural Disasters Youth Summit, he stated “climate change and its effect on natural disasters appear be on the increase in the region and other parts or the world – we must therefore be prepared”.

He also stated when he contacted Ms. Kiem of UNICEF who visited this school on her visit to prepare the video on climate change in 2008 held in Indonesia, about this initiative she readily respond in the positive.

In response to a query submitted to UNICEF officials:

“You are absolutely right to expect assurances that the money you have raised is being used appropriately to best help the most people.”

Read the Response Letter

View a recent UNICEF Press Release on the topic

Bridgetown, Barbados, February 11, 2010 (CDEMA) – CARICOM sends a regional eight member team of health personnel to Haiti. The team of specialists from Barbados and Saint Lucia left for Haiti today to begin two weeks of voluntary service. These individuals will provide emergency and specialized health care to earthquake victims and compliment the work of teams from the Sub Regional Focal Point Jamaica.

Download the Full Press Release

Focus: Health

Children in Haiti hit by a massive earthquake risk long-term physical and psychological trauma unless they are treated quickly, as their bodies and minds are less resilient than those of adults

Up to two million children could be affected by the eatthquake – children under the age of 18 make up nearly half of Haiti’s 10 million population according to the UN children fund UNICEF

Many schools collapsed in the tremor when children would have been in schools; plus 4 billion live in and around the capital.

Many children have lost their parents and homes – it is with this in mind that the Natural Disasters Youth Summit Trinidad and Tobago NDYS, are calling on all to help the children and youth of Haiti.

Gia Gaspard Taylor
National Coordinator
International Education and Resource Network Trinidad and Tobago

Abe Fergusson
Global Facilitator Natural Disasters Youth Summit
Global Youth Facilitator – NDYS
National Award Holder (Advocacy 2008)
World Summit Youth Award (2009)

This report on the Democracy Now covers the sad news of the passing of Haitian political activist Myriam Merlet,  Chief of Staff of the Haitian Ministry of Women.  She died under the rubble of her home after it collapsed in the earthquake.

http://i3.democracynow.org/2010/1/19/haitian_feminist_leader_myriam_merlet_1953

Another earthquake 6.0 in Haiti – news just coming to hand  may be seen here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34928950/ns/world_news-haiti-earthquake

SIT REP #6
HAITI EARTHQUAKE
By CDEMA
Saturday, 16 Jan, 2010

MESSAGE: 7.0 HAITI EARTHQUAKE UPDATE #6 CARICOM advances efforts to provide health related support to Haiti. (As at 15:30 hrs, January 16, 2010)

THE EVENT:
Port-au Prince, the capital city of Haiti has been devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake which struck the island on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Damage has been of catastrophic proportions with almost 80 percent of the structures in the capital destroyed. There has been significant loss of life and it is estimated that approximately three (3) million people (or one third of the population) has been affected.

THE SITUATION:
Search and Rescue efforts are continuing but are reportedly hampered by inaccessibility to areas, lack of heavy duty equipment and limited fuel supplies. Communication on the ground remains very poor. All efforts are being made to restore communication as soon as possible.

ACCESSIBILITY:
Jamaica has offered the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston as a staging area for the deployment of relief assistance to Haiti. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assumed responsibility for facilitating access by air. Entities proposing flights into Haiti are encouraged to make contact with the Director of Civil Aviation in Jamaica.

The airport in Haiti is open for daytime operations and at this time entry is restricted to military and humanitarian flights. No possibility of any over-flights due to very limited staffing.

There is no fuel available at Port au Prince Toussaint L’Ouverture International Airport (MPTT). Once (if) the ground stop is released, aircraft filed for MTPP should plan at least one hour of holding fuel and enough extra fuel to get to a secondary airport after departing MTPP without refueling.

The Port is currently non-operational.

Main urban roads in Port au Prince (including the airport road) are being cleared by MINUSTAH and the Brazilian battalion. The road from Jacmel to Port au Prince is passable for “all terrain” vehicles (i.e. 4WD).  The road from Santo Domingo to Port au Prince is becoming congested as much cargo is already moving.

REGIONAL RESPONSE ACTIONS:
The Tactical Advance Party for CARICOM, previously called “The Regional Technical Assessment Team”, is confirmed to depart Barbados for Haiti on Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 6:30 AM. This team will harness information and establish logistical arrangement for delivery of the Region’s Health Sector intervention.
CDEMA convened a meeting today with the Minister of Health in Barbados, Honourable Donville Inniss and the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joy St. John as an input to strengthen the arrangements for CARICOM intervention in the health sector in Haiti.
As part of the CARICOM effort in Haiti, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has deployed 254 soldiers and 29 medical personnel to Haiti. Warehousing facilities have been established and they are receiving relief supplies. A base has been secured to accommodate the CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) contingent, which is expected to arrive in Haiti on Tuesday, 19 January 2010.

JDF personnel will work towards restoring cell phone communications and disseminate relief supplies. The Office for Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Jamaica has secured limited fuel supplies (air and sea) for search, rescue and relief operations to be carried out by JDF and CDRU.

CDEMA continues to communicate with the JDF and the Department of Civil Protection in Haiti following the initiation of contact on January 14, 2010. HAM Radio communication although limited, is being monitored with the support of the Barbados Amateur Radio Society.

PLEDGES:
Pledges continue to be received:

i.    Three volunteers from Grenada have offered support relief efforts in Haiti.
ii.    Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service is working through a Miami Fire Agency offer support to response teams and the Anguillan Red Cross has two accounts set up to receive donations for Haiti. Other forms of relief items are being sought from the general public.
iii.    The Government of Suriname has pledged an initial amount of USD 1 million, and military and police troops to assist in the security and relief efforts. There is a 40 ft container load with Blankets, water, stretchers ready to be shipped.  The Fire Department of Suriname also has a rescue unit and Hi-Jet Helicopters ready to be deployed.

CONTACT DETAILS: The CDEMA CU 24-hour contact number is             1(246) 425 0386         1(246) 425 0386

THE EVENT:

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake located 18.451°N, 72.445°W struck the island of Haiti on Tuesday January 12th, 2010 at about 5:53 PM Atlantic Standard Time (AST). According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck 15 km (10 miles) South West of Port-au-Prince at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).

PROGNOSIS:

Several aftershocks were experienced since the main event and the possibility of additional aftershocks exists.

THE SITUATION:

Haiti:

Preliminary information indicates that there has been major damage to buildings and infrastructure in Haiti including hospitals, government agencies and international organizations. Utilities including water, electricity and telephone services have been disrupted and communication remains a challenge.

Jamaica:

The quake was reportedly felt along the Eastern corridor, particularly the North East and South East coasts. Assessments are being conducted to determine if there has been any structural damage to buildings and infrastructure.

REGIONAL REPONSE:

1. CARICOM’s frontline response has commenced with assistance out of Jamaica, the sub regional focal point.
2. A Jamaica Defence Force vessel with technical, medical and military personnel and relief supplies is being deployed to Haiti today.
3. A high level team from Jamaica is scheduled to be deployed to Haiti on Thursday, including the Director General of ODPEM, Ronald Jackson and other government representatives to provide an initial overview of the situation on the ground.
4. A team comprising representatives of CDEMA, other regional partners, and donors is in preparation for deployment to Haiti by Friday, January 15, 2010 to assess the situation and inform the nature and scope of the region’s assistance.

Regionally, several Participating States have offered support in the form of military assistance, search and rescue teams, medical personnel, artisans and aircrafts. CDEMA is therefore in the process of collating and processing pledged assistance.

The Sub Regional Focal Point for Haiti is Jamaica who is being engaged to coordinate the response efforts on behalf of the affected member of the sub-region.

CONTACT DETAILS: The CDEMA CU 24-hour contact number is 1(246) 425 0386 You are subscribed to: Situation Reports – Public as: afef10@hotmail.com
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