Air handling & Respect

Martedì, 09 Feb 2010

Written by Michael Kalkman

Air handling is completely different than what I'm used to. In Amsterdam we know what is coming in, when it’s landing and where it needs to go. An when things go wrong we know who to contact . Over here I need to follow the incoming flights and make sure all paperwork is ok.

So all day I’m on the phone with organisations like OXFAM, IOM, WHO, UNICEF, NRC, and off course WFP but also al lot of other organisations from all kind of different countries. I really need to look at what time it is where I’m calling to and then try to find the right person and explain them what they need to send.

But a lot of flights are coming in announced on time and with the right paperwork.

The colleagues I’m working with are a strange kind of species; some of them have been here for more than 21 days, working 14 hours each day seven days a week. They have not been near the swimming pool (it’s on the other site of the hotel) or been in the bar.

Hanrik Hanson (head of operations) even told me he could not do without the stress anymore, and I believe him on his word. He is really on top of things and knows what is goings on! 
Not only he but the whole crew over here has got my respect they are really pushing the limits.

Let me just give you some updates!

• WFP has now reached around 1.9 million people since the earthquake struck.
• More than 1.1 million people were reached in the past eight days through the fixed distribution sites set up across Port-au-Prince.
• By Monday, we expect to cross the halfway mark in our goal of reaching two million people in the capital alone.
• Using a coupon system, WFP is aiming to deliver a 25kg rice ration to at least two million people across the city over a two-week period.
• In the town of Leogane, west of the capital and close to the centre of the earthquake, WFP has provided food aid to 80,000 people.
• In Jacmel, south of the capital, we are providing hot meals at 40 different sites and we are focusing efforts on helping people in hard-to-reach areas outside the capital.
• A wide-ranging assessment is now beginning in order to provide information for more targeted distributions once this scale-up is completed.

  Just to give you an idea!

  Greetings Michael