15 January 2010: Posted by Plan's Stuart Coles en route to Port-au-Prince in Haiti.

Communication in its every sense is proving to be the essential issue in Haiti.

While tens of thousands of people await, trapped, injured, dying – help is on its way – but speed is the issue. 

Our Air France flight is packed with aid teams from across the globe – doctors, technicians, firemen, communications specialists – from France, Germany, the UK and quake-prone countries like Mexico, Italy, Turkey. All ready and desperate to get to Port-au-Prince and help. They are given rounds of applause from the crew and tourists on the flight as we touch down.



But their job is anything but easy.

Massive barriers

In Santo Domingo, we catch up with one of Plan’s disaster specialists, Dr Unni Krishnan, who left the UK day before us, the day the quake struck.



Cancelled flights, the levelling of UN and other organisation buildings and infrastructure has created a massive barrier through which this vital pipeline of aid must flow.

Frustration can easily mount on all sides faced with such difficulties.

I spend the flight talking to a German surgeon who expresses near anger at the ‘disaster waiting to happen’ that is Port-au-Prince building regulations and the house of cards that came down upon its inhabitants.



He is a Handel-loving, chess fanatic – just the kind of calm presence you need in these kinds of situations, but he, like all of us, does’t know how and when he will reach the target zone.

Reaching the vulnerable

We discuss children – I explain Plan’s need and niche in trying to reach the most vulnerable quickly and keep them protected. He nods his understanding, we both know the situation is grave.



We wait among teams of Italian sniffer dog teams, literally straining at the leash to get going. Our Plan colleagues in the Dominican Republic and others from the region – disaster response experts, communications and water and sanitation will now set off to join the growing convoy that is reportedly queuing up at the border. 



Meanwhile our staff in Haiti are working flat-out, reaching the most in need. Pushing aside their own traumas and losses, pain and fear to do their professional best.



Plan has a respected 30 year history in Haiti – but it will need much more help, money and resources in this most desperate of hours.