Off to Leogane

This afternoon i head to Leogane with HODR.

Leogane is some 20 miles west of Port au Prince and prior to the earthquake boasted a population of 50,000 people.

80% of the town was destroyed after the quake and more than 10,000 people died in the immediate aftermath. Most were buried in mass graves. Unlike Port au Prince there was no heavy equipment like cranes, bulldozers or other JCBs and aid has been that much slower getting into this devastated township.

It is often the repercussions of such catastrophes that lead to the real pain. With the demolition of the hospital, those injured were unable to get even the most basic medication like bandages, antibiotics and tetanus vaccinations to stop the spread of infections from open wounds.

It is here that I am to be based for the next couple of weeks. In what capacity as yet I am unclear, but i´m pretty much prepared to do anything possible that will help this impoverished and bereaved community.

For more information on the immediate aftermath of the quake in Leogane there is a short article from the Wall Street Journal you can access by clicking here.

Power and water supplies are very limited, but i´ll twitter and blog when i can