So that’s it, it’s over, finished, done… well for me anyway. Life still continues on for those most affected by Hurricane Ike and they don’t just get to fly away.
It’s been a ‘good-un’ though, as they say where I’m from. Really felt we’ve had an impact and the TCI newspapers are now full of all the hard work the Red Cross volunteers have been doing. Which was one of the reasons I was here. I’ve had photos on the front page and articles in all the main newspapers every week as well as a two-page spread yesterday. Quite a buzz to see yourself in print… can’t wait to show the kids.
Normally I get to walk/fly away from these sorts of jobs full of regret for what more we could have done, but for once, I actually think the needs assessment was better than anyone could have hoped for. Considering we only had ten days on Grand Turk, we actually managed to really get to the bottom of a whole heap of complex problems, some of them even the local officials didn’t really know about.
In the last few days, Linda, the new director of the TCI Red Cross branch and I have had meeting after meeting with civil servants, permanent secretaries and even the governor to help inform them all about the increasingly difficult situation for the families living without adequate shelter in Grand Turk. It’s been a really useful few days and we are really hopeful that we may now have the government approval that we need to go ahead with a cash-for-work programme.
The cash, if the programme is agreed, will help support people as they rebuild their structures. The Red Cross is also hoping to get government approval to support people with cash-for-work to construct much needed sanitation. Other possible activities are still at the discussion stage. It’s just the first step, but it could make all the difference to those struggling to get by.
And for once I feel really good about what I’ve been able to contribute. Really unfurled the wings and totally ready to fly… |
