News from Haiti: March 2007

Despite Violence at Cite Soleil Office, International Action Installs Chlorinator in Simon Pele

The IAWater team, with a substitute technician standing in for Bastin while he is recuperating, has completed evaluations of water reservoir sites in Jalousie, L'hopital Fermanthe, Monte Jolie, a school in Cite Soleil, and an orphanage in Kenscoff. The team also evaluated Hopital St. Catherine's, which is currently staffed by Medicins Sans Frontiers, to assess its feasibility as an installation site. The team will install a chlorinator on each of its two water tanks.

During the week of March 13th, the team installed chlorinators in Simon Pele, located across from Cite Soleil, which will serve 50,000 people. According to Knop, "The residents could not be happier. They said this is the first time they have had drinkable water in years." She continued, "The community of Cite Soleil is so excited about our work and I believe that our installations in City Soleil will be a great way to showcase International Action's clean water campaign as this is an are where everyone wants to work, but is afraid.

The office in Cite Soleil has been caught in gun battles between gangs and UN troops. One staff member was grazed by a bullet so the office shut down until the security situation improved. All chlorinators in storage were moved out of Cite Soleil and are safely stored in the Petitionville office. The office is currently being repaired.

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