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Eagles Deliver Water to Thirsty Haitians For more information, contact: John Torres, Senior Public Relations Manager
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti--At first glance, they look like just four bikers flying by, then pulling to the roadside. As their two motorbikes come to a stop, the pair on each bike quickly set down a large yellow box and erect a table between the two bikes. A small crowd hurriedly gathers around them. As you get closer, you see why. Truth is, these bikers are integral to providing vital clean water to communities and displaced person camps throughout earthquake ravaged Port-au-Prince. The yellow box they carry, quickly unpacks into an ingenious water purification system, called a Trekker, specially powered, amazingly, by a motorbike. The Trekkers, portable yellow briefcases filled with a pump and tubes, can serve water to 330 people in an eight-hour day. Beginning Friday, January 22, ADRA hired and dispersed 20 motorbike drivers around the city to areas where water is available, but undrinkable. Once they’re set up, they begin dispersing purified water into containers brought by those living nearby. The motorbike drivers, who’ve named their team “Les Aigles” (The Eagles) – because they’re light and can fly by jammed traffic or crumbled roads -- also hand out water purification tablets during their day-long shift. In return, drivers are given food, a small salary, and reimbursement for their fuel. Because of the project’s low cost and the possibility of wide distribution throughout the earthquake-affected areas, ADRA expects to expand the project to 30 trekkers.
Walix, father of four young girls, was anxious for food and eager to be part of the ADRA Eagles team. The top of his house caved in during the recent earthquake forcing he and his family to sleep on the streets. They have other scars, too. A wall of their home fell on his sister, who lives with him, one child sustained injuries to her head, and another to her leg. But all have survived, which Walix thanks God for. Ironically, Walix doesn’t even have water at home for his family, yet he’s committed to driving around and providing water for his fellow Haitians. He’d never heard of ADRA before this earthquake, but now, when asked what ADRA means to him, he replied, “Do you see where ADRA is?” pointing to the bib he and his team wear. “ADRA is on my heart.” His partner at the water site, Joseph, shares a similar story. He, his wife and three small children are now living on the ground close to their completely flattened home. His family has all survived, but his brother suffered a broken arm when one of the walls of his home fell. He decided to be an ADRA Eagle because he had heard that “ADRA always helps the poor people. I saw people here in a difficult situation,” he continued. “They have no water. They needed help!” And he enjoys being that help. “The people are so happy to get water. They say ‘thank you’ and ‘the water tastes very good!’” The technology for the Trekker’s unique water purification systems is provided by GlobalMedic, ADRA’s partner organization in providing water supplies throughout Port-au-Prince in response to the recent earthquake. GlobalMedic team members also trained the Eagles and scout the locations for Trekker placement each day. Now,
more than a week after the initial earthquake, Haitians are still desperate for
many basic needs. Your support for
Haiti does things like hiring Eagles like Joseph and Walix, who, in turn, are flying
around their city providing clean drinking water to the thirsty people of
Port-au-Prince. If you would like to support ADRA’s relief efforts, give to the Haiti Earthquake Response Fund at www.adra.org/haiti, or by phone at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372). To donate through a mobile phone, text the word "ADRA" to 85944, reply "YES" and donate a one-time $10 gift to ADRA's Haiti response. Follow ADRA on Twitter and Facebook to get the latest information as it happens. ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity. For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org. Author: Michelle L. Oetman, Communications Coordinator for ADRA International currently on the ground in Haiti. |
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