Haiti Update

For the first time in several days, American Airlines resumed flights in and out of Port-au-Prince today. Unrest over Presidential election results continues but with much less intensity. North American foreign ministers are pressuring the Haitian government to recount the votes from the election in order to verify the results.

As for the Cholera outbreak, the official death toll now stands at 2,323. However, the recent violence has hampered relief efforts, and as a result, there is some indication the death toll may not be accurate. Please ask God to be with the people of Haiti and return the sense of calm which had been prevalent for the past several months.

In an effort to assure the Haitian people they have not been forgotten in their great time of need, Franklin Graham of Samaritans Purse along with Sarah Palin visited Haiti over the weekend. One of their stops was one of Samaritans Purse cholera treatment clinics in Cite Soleil, an extremely poverty stricken area of Port-au-Prince.

John Rodgers

Pray, Pray, Pray

The results of Haiti's highly contested presidential election were announced today setting off riots and protests all over Port-au-Prince. As a result, American Airlines canceled all flights for the next two days and now the PAP International Airport has been closed. The run-off election is set for January 16 to determine Haiti's next president.

Unfortunately, with the airport closed, it will be extremely difficult for aid workers to get into Haiti to help with the rebuilding efforts following the earthquake and to provide medical assistance with the Cholera epidemic. The latest counts indicate 2,120 people have died and over 93,000 have been infected.

John Rodgers

Death Toll Exceeds 1,700

The official death toll has now reached 1,721 and nearly 76,000 people have now contracted Cholera since the outbreak began last month. The U.N. has asked for $160 Million in aid over the next year to attempt to keep the Cholera from spreading at a rampant pace.

As for the Presidential election, 12 of the 18 candidates have asked for the election results to be thrown out amidst questionable activities, lack of ballots, polling places not open, etc. So far, there seems to be no indication the election results will be thrown out. The official results are not expected to be announced until December 7th at the earliest. If none of the candidates attains 50% plus one vote, a run-off will then take place.

John Rodgers

Remember Haiti this Thanksgiving

The death toll has now reached 1,523 from the Cholera epidemic. Of those lives lost, 140 of them have been in Port-au-Prince. Since the onset, nearly 28,000 people have been treated in hospitals for confirmed cases of Cholera. Some say the numbers are actually much higher due to those who never made it to a hospital or clinic for treatment and, therefore, have not been counted.

This Sunday, November 28 the presidential elections are scheduled to take place. There are 18 candidates in the running to replace sitting President Preval who is about to finish his two term limit.

Please pray for God's will to be done in all of the challenges facing the people of Haiti at this time.

John Rodgers

Cholera and Unrest

Cholera continues to spread with 18,500 people hospitalized since the onset of the outbreak. The death toll has risen to just over 1,100. Medical experts are expecting the cholera epidemic to take from several months to even a few years to run it's course in Haiti.

Tensions remain high with the presidential election scheduled for November 28th. Protests aimed at the United Nations have now spread to the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Please pray for the people of Haiti to remain calm.

John Rodgers