Blue Waters Site 2 update
Hi there
Below is the update on Blue Waters . As for most of the other sites , things have not changed that much . I think one of the things I get most despondent about is that sometimes it feels as if we could just reprint the reports that that we wrote in June, July and August and just amend the date.
One good thing over the weekend was that one of the ex-resident from Soetwater, Israel , prepared a traditional Ethiopian meal for the 18 Ethiopians in Blue Waters to enable then to celebrate a belated Ethiopian New Year on Saturday evening. It was a small highlight but something that made a big difference to the guys.
After a very long discussion the 3 remaining residents of Soetwater were persuaded to move to Blue Waters on Sunday . I have assured them that the repatriation, registration, all the other formalities WILL be done now that they are at Blue Waters. I hope I am not made out to be a liar again.
Tracey
Blue Waters C Rapid Assessment Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 September 2008
I haven’t confirmed numbers with Marti but will do in the day. I brought the last 3 residents from Soetwater to Blue Waters today. There were 3 men who had been refusing to move. One of the men seems to be mentally disturbed and I think that we should try and get him medical attention as soon as possible .
SHELTER
There are still a few large marquee tents which people have either divided by means of partitions or been very inventive and erected the UNHCT tents inside the big tents. The UNHCR tents leak in the rain and several of them can be seen strewn around the site. Justin who is 9 commented that it was much better at Soetwater and that these new tents were crazy . He wanted his big tent back. The major benefit of the smaller tents is that people have some privacy at least. They are too low to stand up in tough so I suspect that people are going to neck pain. Just from visiting mine is stiff. Because of the inclement weather people spend almost all their time in the tents .
There is a tent which has been erected to use as a church.
WATER & SANITATION
The toilets are spread out around the camp. They are demarcated with a gender sign but am not sure if this is adhered to. The fixed ablution block is in quite a bad state, Because there is only cold water and it is a fair distance from most of the tents people are not really using them. The portable ablution block has not met with much favour .Some people reported not showering since they moved to Blue Waters (3 weeks ago)
Woman walk to the guardhouse to fetch warn water in buckets . They also fetch boiled water from there to make baby bottles.
The basins at the standpipes do seem to work quite well and it does mean that there are at least hand washing facilities now.
FOOD
The quantity of food delivered seems to be diminishing. Although people continue to complain about the quality of the food I think that have almost become resigned to the idea that that is what they will continue to get. It is the question I have the most difficult time asking as people initial had an expectation I think that if they complained enough things would change. Their resignation is indicative of a general sense of despondency.
There is not enough baby formula or cereal and mothers are still complaining about that and about the lack of facilities to make baby bottles. Many families are using 2 plate electric stoves to cook for themselves.
HEALTH
Mary, an elderly Congolese woman is very, very ill and was taken to Jooste over the weekend. Another volunteer who is a nurse had been visiting her last week and her prognosis is not good. We are going to arrange a roster and try and get people to be able to visit her in hospital. I don’t think she will be returning the camp.
There is a clinic on Monday, Wednesday and Friday . The First Aid Kit was put to good use when someone cut their foot whiles I was there . Marti seems be very competent in attending to minor medical emergencies. I am concerned about one small boy’s skin condition, he was white patches all over his head and the areas behind his ears have become infected I am encouraging his mom to take him to the clinic again.
EDUCATION
Al of the children expect the Somalians are being transported to school. Ingrid has done an amazing job of ensuring that all the kids have gone back. On Thursday the container (donated by Breadline Africa) was opened which has been kitted out as a school. It will be mostly used by Somalia children and pre-school children of other nationalities in the morning and as a place to do homework by the other children in the afternoon. Ingrid has been trying to get a teacher to help with a madressa via the MJC.
There does not seem to have been any progress with regard to reintegration or repatriation. The disastrous meeting with the JRLC which was held last Tuesday was indicative of the stalemate which seems to have been reached.
Here was a lot of tension today as 2 Somalians had been shot in Delft , 1 was killed and the other is still in hospital . It was reported to me that he had reintegrated from Blue Waters. I will get more information on this during the week. When people hear of these incidents though it is very difficult for them to take the agreement signed by NAFCOC and the Somalia Traders association seriously .
The body of Fahaar, who drowned last weekend has still not been recovered.
Generally the mood in the camp is quite low although quiet. This site is very exposed to the sea and the wind and rain over the past weeks has been very bad. People are really just trying to stay warm and dry at the moment.