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

Death Toll Reaches 1,000

Several news reports now indicate the death toll from the Cholera outbreak has grown to just over 1,000. In addition, the total number of people hospitalized with Cholera since the outbreak began now stands at just under 17,000. Nearly $200 million has been committed to help with the outbreak with nearly $90 million being slated for permanent clean water distribution systems.

Tensions are high with reports of unrest in the north coast town of Cap-Haitien where demonstrators have began protesting against the U.N. The frustration with the U.N. is due to initial reports the Cholera outbreak came from a Nepalese U.N. camp's sewage system leaking into a river which provides drinking water for a large number of people in the surrounding valley. The U.N. camp has now been cleared from fault as the source of the outbreak.

Please pray for the people of Haiti to remain calm. Protests in Haiti have a history of getting out of hand. The last thing the country of Haiti needs at this time is to create a situation where the relief workers who are treating those who are sick find themselves in a dangerous situation and have to leave the country.

John Rodgers

Desperate Need for Housing

The latest news articles are now showing the death toll from the Cholera outbreak has now grown to over 800 with the total number of people infected at between 11,000 and 12,000. Approximately 200 cases have now been recorded in Cite Sole which is an extremely poor area between the airport and Carrefour.

With more than 1.2 million people still living in tent cities, the conditions are ideal for the continued rapid spread of the disease. It is difficult for me to understand why only approximately one fourth of the over $5 BILLION dollars raised for the rebuilding of Haiti has actually made it there to date! It seems to me $3.75 BILLION would build a significant amount of housing to get the people out of the conditions they are currently living in.

Most of the organizations which were building transitional housing have greatly reduced or stopped in anticipation of a mandated shift to permanent housing construction which was to have began in January, 2011. However, the meeting between the Haitian government and several other governments & relief organizations to discuss housing requirements has been postponed numerous times. The meeting is now slated for next March!

Please pray these funds will be released and suffering peoples need for shelter will be met quickly.

John Rodgers

Hurricane and Cholera Update

Hurricane Tomas brought far less damage than first feared. Approximate 30 people either lost their lives or are listed as missing. The city of Leagone which is located approximately 15 miles west of Joy House experienced significant flooding. This is the city where the mission church which the GPC team worked with is located.

As for the Cholera outbreak, the news is not good. The death toll is now approaching 600 with over 9,000 reported as being infected. The most distressing news emerged today - the first case of Cholera in Port-au-Prince! The infected child had not traveled to the area where the outbreak began nor been exposed to anyone from the affected area. The exposure to Cholera happened in the Tent City where the child lives!

Prior to the earthquake, sanitation was limited to non-existent. Since the earthquake, many latrines have been built but not enough to accommodate the 1.2 million people still living in tent cities. With the heavy rains from Hurricane Tomas, officials fear the sewage will spread the Cholera very rapidly through the city.

Please pray for the people of Haiti. Ask God to stop the spread of this terrible disease which could wipe out thousands of people in a very short amount of time.

Thanks for your prayers,
John Rodgers

Prayer for Haiti

Please pray fervently for the people of Haiti today. Just 10 months after the devastating earthquake in January, a Cholera outbreak has taken the lives of over 400 people and infected approximately 7,000.

As I write this update, Hurricane Tomas is beginning to pound Haiti with 85 mph winds and torrential rains. With well over 1 Million people living in tents and makeshift coverings, the potential for increased death and destruction seems eminent. The likelihood of massive mudslides and further widespread destruction is mind boggling.

The potential for the Cholera outbreak to spread as a result of the Hurricane and destruction it may cause is frightening. Please ask God to be with the people of Haiti and show Himself for who He is. Ask him to bring comfort and peace to those who have experienced more pain and suffering than most of us will experience in a lifetime.

John Rodgers