Went to Dezmond Fleury Orphanage where 23 boys and about 30 girls struggle to get by. Went in with goal of getting at least one of two wells on their site producing enough water for all the orphans. Found that one well capped with hand pump is completely dry. The other hand dug well was dug deeper in hopes of producing more water. In the meantime several team members met with Sri Lankan major running UN security camp next to ophanage. He agreed to continue to fill water tank in the boys side of the orphanage…every day. We have some expectations of the water specialist at the orphange that will be communicated tomorrow.
Team visited the site of S. Korean/UN encampment in search of a well pump (for cleaning a well) and information about well depths in the area. We met the commanding officer and were treated to an obligatory 10 min video presentation about Korea’s role in the disaster relief. A Korean operations man kindly answered our questions about wells in the area.
Team drove into downtown Leogane which was devastated by the quake. The streets were being cleared of rubble & debris.
At the Nasaline site the team found a broken hand pump. The village hand carried water to fill tanks installed by Edge Water Relief Team. (Tank was nearly full. Water was chlorinated last Sat.) Team had a great time repairing hand pump as dozens of kids and adults watched. Noted that well casing was split causing silt to be in the water. Team removed piece of riser pipe and pump rod so that cylinder pump is higher in the water thereby reducing the silt problem. Village is very happy to have water from hand pump for washing & purified water for drinking.
Team went to site of a government sponsored primary school. In front of the school is a hand pump that supplies water for 213 school kids and approximately 2000 nearby residents. Our work over the next two days will focus on this site.
Everybody on the team is well and very tired from working in the intense heat and humidity here. We’re grateful for all we’ve been able to do this first full day of work.
Gotta run for now. My index finger can only type so much.
Blessings, Bob Browning
Sent from my iPhone
