January 17, 2010
After the Earthquake that hit near Port-au-Prince Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 we are happy to report that our school in Ouanaminthe Haiti was not affected by the quake. Please view the interactive google map below to see where the school is located in relation to Port-au-Prince and the epicenter of the quake.
Although the people of Ouanaminthe felt the quake it did not cause damage in the city. Unfortunately, the home of Emmanuel Almezy (our chauffeur, guide, body guard, money exchanger and concierge) in Port-au-Prince was destroyed. He was not there at the time but in Ouanaminthe with Mike (Co-founder and President of GNI) and Maria DeRiso assisting them with a team they brought into the country. Emmanuel's wife and two children as well as several other of our Haitian friends were at the house when it collapsed. We understand no one died but have no more information on whether there were injuries or where they are now. Emmanuel immediately attempted to return to Port-au-Prince to be with his family but was unsuccessful in entering from the north. We last heard from him on Thursday as he was in the Dominican Republic attempting to enter Port-au-Prince from the east. We have attempted numerous times to establish contact with him and others we know in the country but have been unsuccessful due to the damage done to the phone service.
Mike, Maria and the rest of the team returned safely to the United States on Friday January 15th via the Dominican Republic.
January 22, 2010
We have made contact with Emmanuel Almezy who is now in Port Au Prince with his family, Christian his uncle who owns the house and several others who live there and go to school in Port au Prince. Everyone is doing well. One of the young women was injured as she left the house but has been treated and will be fine. They are currently waiting for the banks to open so they can get the money we wired down to them so they can all go to Ouanaminthe.
The UN has informed us that they will not be delivering food to the school children until at least April or May but with the situation down there we realize that can change and it could be longer. For the time being the school has been closed to house some of the nearly two million homeless Haitians from Port au Prince and the surrounding areas. We are hoping to feed and help these people get back on their feet.
