Schools Were to Officially Open Oct. 4

Article 22 of the Haitian Constitution recognizes the right of every citizen to decent education. To that end, the State has declared schools in the earthquake affected areas must reopen on October 4. However, residents are left wondering how they will manage.

L’Ecole Nationale in Dikiyon

A team of Konbit Jounalis Lib journalists traveling around the South spoke to residents about the reopening of schools. (Full story HERE) Their queries found that the Ministry of Education’s findings are probably accurate that around 300,000 children have no building in which to congregate. At the same time, the residents share that little has been done to address this issue. And, as one citizen of Les Anglais put it, “As the saying goes, we can't talk about bathing water if we don't have drinking water.” In other words, first things first.

That saying is especially salient these days as drinking water and bathing water are in fact lacking in many earthquake affected areas. This is due not only to the loss of houses with running water, but also due to the pipes carrying water becoming disconnected and cisterns cracking when the earth shook. The lack of drinking water and bathing water has contributed to an outbreak of skin rashes in the towns around Camp Perrin. This circumstance in turn led to protests last week during which residents blocked the road and demanded the attention of NGO’s and the State. (Read more about that HERE.)

Additionally, many families who are camping out under tarps or in repurposed kitchens still lack adequate shelter from the rain. In short, many people in earthquake affected areas are desperate for water and shelter. For them, returning to school remains a distant goal.

People moved down from the mountains to Camp Martin near Duchity to be visible to NGO’s and the State.