Port-au-Prince / E + 18 days

On Saturday we started noticing some damage to scattered homes on the "short-cut" over rough dirt roads from Pétionville into downtown Port-au-Prince. Once we arrived in Port-au-Prince, the devastation was clearly seen at a much larger scale.

The temporary headquarters of Fonkoze are located very close to this Port-au-Prince church.

Here, Anne Hastings directs a staff of 750 dedicated to rebuilding lives with personalized financial, educational, and health services. Many that have been displaced from their homes have also lost one or more family members. Mercy Corps will be providing adopting families with household assistance grants and cash-for-work programs for people in need of immediate income through a partnership with Fonkoze.

Port-au-Prince / E + 17 days

Departure from San Isidro air base in Dominican Republic via Blackhawk helicopter courtesy of US Treasury.

Following a 1.5 hour flight across most of Hispaniola, we arrived at the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince.