UAE | General
Worried Haiti expat awaits word about kin
Angie has tried to be part of the humanitarian relief team that has gone to Haiti to distribute medicine, medical staff and food, but was disappointed when she was told by the authorities to "stay put".
- By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 January 23, 2010
- Image Credit: AP
- A member of the MA1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team holds a child who was injured in last week's massive earthquake in Port-au-Prince.
Dubai: "I do not have any idea about my mum, my grandmother or my cousins. I have not been in touch with them and am so worried, I wish there was something I could do," Angie, a Haitian national who lives in Dubai, told Gulf News.
The 27-year-old manager is searching for other Haitians living in the UAE and the Gulf region, in hopes of some support after the last two earthquakes tore the country apart.
"In the five years that I have lived here, I have not come across any other person from Haiti. I feel like I have to be there, to be part of the rescuers. I want to contribute and there is no better way than by being useful as a volunteer."
Angie has tried to be part of the humanitarian relief team that has gone to Haiti to distribute medicine, medical staff and food, but was disappointed when she was told by the authorities to "stay put".
"My husband's father, brother and sister all passed away as a result of the earthquake. Thank God my brothers and sisters live in the US, but my mother, aunties, grandmother and cousins are still there [in Haiti] and I am so worried that I have not heard any news from them yet."
Angie, whose husband and son live in the US, said she feels the need to connect with other Haitians in the UAE. "Our son, who is 13 years old, has no idea what happened and asks about his grandfather every day. But we don't have the heart to tell him what happened."
Do you know anyone who was in Haiti during the earthquake? Is enough being done to support Haitians? How have you helped?
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