Three truck loads of clothes and supplies were collected in our small town outside of Santiago. They were driven to Jimani on Thursday accompanied by the Defensia Civil.
Upon reaching the disaster area we were directed by the Policia to a 'Distribution Centre" that had been set up. The building is so full that they are pilling up bags and boxes of supplies around the building. If it rains again everything will de ruined. The army has armed guards around the building protecting their horde. The only distributing being done is to the army and police for themselves. Each box or bag is inspected and the best supplies are being taken by the authorities. Not even the leftovers are being distributed to the ones that the aid was intended for. There is food that is now going bad with people who have lost everything less than 100 yards away.
After sizing up the situation before unloading we wisely made an excuse that we were waiting for more of their group and took a drive around the area. In front of the fire station sat a large number of the disaster victims. They said that no aid had been provided by the authorities to this point and they can see the trucks rolling in all week with the things they need to survive.
We quickly distributed everything we had directly to the people for whom it was intended right on the the street and got out of town.
In fifteen years of living , visiting and traveling around this country, I have seen alot of good and bad . My biggest regret is that I hadn't taken a camera to record what is going on in Jimani.
As reported in Hoy, mejia called the solidarity of the Dominican people ?amazing,? and spoke of how they, along with the government, private institutions and the international community, had come to the relief of Jimani.
The 'solidarity of the Dominican people' who have little more than the victims, giving what they can in small towns around the country is unbelievable. The heartless greed and corruption of the Dominican Police, Army and Government is even more unbelievable.
There are large drives to collect money and supplies in Dominican communities in Miami, New York, Toronto etc. The Police and Army are waiting to receive your clothes and whatever else you would like to give them.
mejia only wants the cash ( no pesos, dollars only please)
Upon reaching the disaster area we were directed by the Policia to a 'Distribution Centre" that had been set up. The building is so full that they are pilling up bags and boxes of supplies around the building. If it rains again everything will de ruined. The army has armed guards around the building protecting their horde. The only distributing being done is to the army and police for themselves. Each box or bag is inspected and the best supplies are being taken by the authorities. Not even the leftovers are being distributed to the ones that the aid was intended for. There is food that is now going bad with people who have lost everything less than 100 yards away.
After sizing up the situation before unloading we wisely made an excuse that we were waiting for more of their group and took a drive around the area. In front of the fire station sat a large number of the disaster victims. They said that no aid had been provided by the authorities to this point and they can see the trucks rolling in all week with the things they need to survive.
We quickly distributed everything we had directly to the people for whom it was intended right on the the street and got out of town.
In fifteen years of living , visiting and traveling around this country, I have seen alot of good and bad . My biggest regret is that I hadn't taken a camera to record what is going on in Jimani.
As reported in Hoy, mejia called the solidarity of the Dominican people ?amazing,? and spoke of how they, along with the government, private institutions and the international community, had come to the relief of Jimani.
The 'solidarity of the Dominican people' who have little more than the victims, giving what they can in small towns around the country is unbelievable. The heartless greed and corruption of the Dominican Police, Army and Government is even more unbelievable.
There are large drives to collect money and supplies in Dominican communities in Miami, New York, Toronto etc. The Police and Army are waiting to receive your clothes and whatever else you would like to give them.
mejia only wants the cash ( no pesos, dollars only please)
