04.19.15 Asylum seekers

Yesterday I went to visit the men from the green boat. They are still doing well. I took Shorty to visit as dogs do have a positive effect on many people. It did work. And they showed me their own puppy - a starving stray dog about two pounds soaking wet. They are doctoring him with rice and baths! They did not name him yet, so I suggested "Hope". Now I know that is a girls name, but I  think hope is all we have to offer them. They jumped on the name and started calling him Hope as I  was leaving. I did not have the camera but will go back with some food and take a picture of this little puppy. They made a makeshift collar for him and a leash. I will bring htem a puppy collar soon.

But we cannot minimize or ignore this serious issue. As I saw the much needed aid being delivered to those affected by Typhoon Maysak, I could not help but think about the dire straits of these young men who paid $7500 for a better life. This  money probably amounted to all they and their families had worked hard to save. They are safe, fed and have bathroom facilities and clean water, but this situation is far from ideal. And they have been here since November 2014. Does it really take this long to find them a place to live?

Several of us are deeply affected by the lack of evident progress. We hear comments like "they are spoiled" - really eating rice and salt is being spoiled? They had yet another outbreak of scabies and I am mocked everytime I ask for hygiene items like soap, shampoo and toothpaste. Comments are made that they should just jump into the sea if they want a bath - but some of these men do not swim. And I doubt anyone would be happy living as they do - their boat was sunk from lack of fuel to keep the pump running and that is where some slept, they now live under a tarp or under an roofed but open men's house.

If any of you who read this blog have any connections to human rights lawyers or any one else that may help, please ask them to get involved. Thank you.

04.17.15 Fais

Fais. What can I say. As much as I enjoy Ulithi, I really like Fais. It has warm and lovely people and a beautiful shore line which is treacherous to navigate and cliffs to climb to enjoy a spectacular view. It is also as hot as the dickens. And they continue with the nu-nu tradition (leis) which I also enjoy. A garland of sweet smelling flowers is such a treat.

This island  had sustained less damage, but is poorer than the Ulithi atoll. They remain in reasonable good health and I ate very well here. We had rice, pork, tuna caught that morning marinated in soy and a spice, and luncheon meat and sweet potatoes. They also prepare a drink of pounded coconut that is refreshing in this heat.

The water tanks were donated by the EU as a separate project. They must still be installed to a smaller tank (? I was told) and rain gutters are to be placed that will connect with this system. Hope I get to see the finished product, but this step was a long time in coming.

Sunrise near Fais.

Large water containers. I am always amazed at the resilience and resourcefulness of some people and places. The Micronesians, just like others that I have known, do not complain and simply get back to work. These containers are heavy yet the men just lifted them from the water and carried them to where they needed to be placed. And they still walked really fast when they carried the containers.

 

 

Melissa and Carlos.

Baptist Church from Yap volunteering on each island. They brought three chainsaws. This helped a lot. The islanders would have one very difficult time using a machete on these large trees.

Fresh tuna. Lunch.

Trees starting to turn green. This is a breadfruit that survived.

 

Clay showing his pictures. He came on the boat with us. As he is a local, he helped with everything.

Eli and Joshua cooling off before we head back to the ship. Yes, I was in there in all of my clothes. We were wet from just the boat ride, so why not?

 A pet bird.

Solar panel goes for $300.00.

Madeleina. She is a school teacher who helps me and makes sure I get fed and enough to drink. She is lovely.

 

04.17.15 health surveillance and recovery efforts: Mogmog, Fedrai (Ulithi atoll)

Mogmog is a very traditional island and Yapese men are required to wear a thu and women are required to wear a lavalava. Both genders are topless. With the destruction of the homes and pubic buildings, the ban on clothes has been lifted and both men and women are wearing shirts and hats for protection from the sun. In addition, the men now have nice heavy clothes to protect their hands from injury.
This was a good visit for us - they have a doctor here - Dr. Arthur, who is a very kind and helpful person. It was a pleasure to meet him.

Fedrai permits any type of clothes, women are very likely to wear a lavalava with a shirt, the men have mixed attire. Fedrai has no health assistant and the people depend on Dr. Arthur (Mogmog) or Mark (Falalop) for help with their medical needs. Dr. Arthur asked me to check on some, so I did.

Here are a few pictures from Mogmog:

The man on the left is Will, a Peace Corps volunteer teaching on Fais. He is helping with off loading the ship of supplies. Notice men with hats, shirts, gloves and one with a bandage on his ankle.

A Micronesian living in Hawaii who came home to help with the relief effort. He forgot his shirt and is really sunburned front and back. A very nice man whom I enjoyed a brief conversation. He used up all ofhis vacation time to help as well as all sick leave.

Hats and gloves and shirts are very helpful.

Melissa and Carlos setting up the tetanus shot dispensary. Yes, on the beach, under a coconut tree. In the shade and a breeze.

Love the hat, shades and thu. Modern and traditional.

Her home was destroyed but she still has a big smile.

Unharmed shrine.

Tetanus protection. He just received his injection.

 

 

Sun protection.

Cute little girl.

Couldn't resist looking for the puppies.

Americans are by nature very, very generous. There are donations on every island from Americans. These boxes include hygiene supplies. Wish USAID could provide some supplies to the asylum seekers - the menin the green boat. The best contributions are monetary so the needed supplies canbe purchased and delivered.

Fedrai:

Neighboring island to Fedrai. See the damaged trees. It is uninhabited.

Clarissa, a Peace Corps volunteer. She teaches in Fedrai and will stay there as her home is functional and the school is in session. Exccept, of course, when the ship comes to  shore.

It is not easy in a lavalava.

 Healthy and cute baby.

Men unloading the motor boat from the ship.

She is doing well and has her teddy bear. The children do not appear  tobe traumatized by the typhoon, but we will have to see what happens during the next storm. That  may be more telling. Right now, they are playing and doing normal childhood activities.

Trevor, my little buddy. He is my tour guide and helped dispense candies to the small children. When I gave Dixon (next picture) a task (distributing mosquito repellant) Trevor looked disappointed, so I had  to think fast. He was quite happy  as a tour guide and they both have givenme some very beautiful shells.

Clarissa, one of her students and Dixon, who wants to be a doctor. Hope he studies hards and makes the effort. Not an easy goal coming from the islands, but it is achievable.

Pink shirt and grass skirt, this young girl is hauling some supplies home.

 

 

Albert received his tetanus shot. Love Carlos with his head gear.

 

The Church was mostly undamaged. Roof remains intact.