08.22.15 Update on the green boat men. Good new

Went to visit the men with some fresh local vegetables. They are happy as they have food - the immigration office brought them food as well. Thank you to the US Navy Seabees for the funds for the food for today.

We thought we were all set with the food/work program that was to start on Monday, but there may be a wrinkle in that. I think we still need permission from national and I don't think any one has asked them again lately.

But I did speak to one of the chiefs and he will start the ball rolling to possibly get the men settled in a village until placement somewhere can be made. The idea is one man per village and he will help with basic work and be fed in return. This idea has been floated for a while but now it is being brought to the chiefs. Thank you Cyril for agreeing to help. He said he will b e in touch iwht me on Monday after he contacts the office.

The wheels turn slowly but perhaps they are turning in the right direction. We still need donations.
The men remain healthy, the nurse from PH went to see them yesterday as a part of the health review and had no problems to report.

And a friend Ashley is writing an article on the policies of FSM on immigration and hope that this will increase awreness of their plight. They are telling me their stories - in my humble opinion, this is really human trafficking. The men were made the promise of a legal immigration to another country so they had no idea that these agents were frauds. They told me they were shown pictures of yachts like for cruises that would take them to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and they were shocked to see the small little green boat. And some men asked to be released and were refused. I wonder what was the real destination - the agents made money and someone was going to receive them or where they just going to be left stranded somewhere? We all know Yap was not the final destination.

Keep them in your prayers - please. Help increase the awareness and plight of the men by whatever connections you have. Please do not forget them. And we will continue to work here to be certain they are treated humanely, with kindness and respect.

08.08.15 Smiles all around and Green Boat Men Fund

The food and books were delivered and the men were delighted. They will have a feast tonight. They invited us to join them.

One of the things I am trying to do is make this more sustainable. So we changed RocketHub funding site to be named "Green Boat Men Fund" and can use any money donated to buy food and essential items. Donations are made by credit card or PayPal. If you have access to the internet, you can access the fund and PayPal is a secure way to make a donation.

We have new Peace Corps Response Volunteers and I introduced two of them to the men, so there will be a nice baton pass to look after them. And Father John will be here, so we have continuity and some form of oversight.

08.08.16 My sincerre thank you .............................

My deep and sincere thank you to Mrs Paula G., Chris S. and Betsy, who have donated to help  the green boat men. The men now have food for the mind, food for the body, essentials for cleanliness and Father John provides food for the soul. I was so very surprised to see such generosity and I know the men will appreciate everything. I had been there this morning before the PC office delivered my boxes, but everything will be taken there this afternoon. I opened every box and I know they will enjoy the pasta meal. And the books are really interesting. I saw some of the men reading this morning so I know the books will be used well.

And my sincere thank you to Mrs. Marsha S., who made a very useful donation for  the women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I will give the package to a PH nurse who will know how to distribute. The women will be appreciative. It is not easy for them here once they are diagnosed and this gift helps them.

I am very touched by the kindness and generosity of Paula, Chris, Marsha and Betsy. With you, Yap is a richer and healthier place and you have demonstrated what we all know - Americans are kind and generous people.

Thank you all so very much. This is like Christmas - in August!

I posted a similar picture yesterday, but if they knew that books and food and supplies were coming they all would have been waving.

 

 

 

 

08.02.15 Update on the green boat asy;um seekers

Wish I had more good news to share. The men are still healthy but I think the governance issues are a major problem. They have only rice for food today - so the food issue has not been solved. In addition - someone - perhaps the AG office - have written new rules under the guise of security regulations. The distinct impression is that they don't want anyone to monitor the condition of the men.

Here are the new security regulations verbatim [my comments or explanations in brackets]:

Effectively immediately below regulations to be strictly enforced by those performing security for the Indian and Nepal green boat crews:

1. Not allowed to watch TV anytime
2. Not allowed to sit or gathering near the YFA [Yap Fisheries Authority] security rope at anytime. Confined to YFTI koyeng only [that is where they stay]. 
3. Not allowed to use cell-phone.
4. Not allowed to talk to outsiders only those authorize by the Office of Attorney General. [I was told that the AG office did not want Father John or me to be allowed to visit the men. We were both allowed admission this morning. This indicates to me and Father John that they do not want any one to monitor the situation. Remember, IOM was not going to provide the men with food for a week because of budgetary issues.]
5. Should go straight to restroom and straight back to YFTI, no stopping or talking to anybody.
6. Requesting to go to Yap memorial hospital is not permitted unless approved by IOM first. [Apparently IOM staff are not qualified physicians. too.] Medical personnel have their own schedule to visit YFTI. [No physician from the hospital comes here to see the men on any schedule.]
7. Washing of laundry is permitted only on Tuesday and Friday. (Evening shower time).
8. Curfew time is 10:00 PM, no movement on the dock after curfew. 

So these are the new security rules. Father John called the US Embassy two weeks ago when they had no food and the embassy official  said it was up to FSM government to take care of the men. FSM government in Pohnpei said it is up to Yap State. So it is just round and round in circles.

The hospital director said that the financial issues for medical care are between IOM and DHS, not DHS and the men. So she said that if anyone is sick, the hospital will take care of them. I do believe there are rules for humanitarian treatment, aren't there?

The men need someone who can advocate for them on a higher level than me. I can report what I see and hear and make IOM mad that they have to deal with this, but I don't  have the legal connections to do anything more substantial. I did bring them food today - fresh local vegetables. I am going to try to contact the AP. Maybe someone will be interested.

And I met the commanding officer of the US Navy Seabees in the grocery store and simply told them the men have no food. I worked with the last medic and and they took supplies. This is a new team. The commander said he contacted Guam and are awaiting a decision. HOW HARD IS TO BUY SOME FOOD AND DROP OFF AT THE DOCK?  Really.  Some locals have donated food, including a nurse from Public Health, but others are largely indifferent to their plight.