It’s probably the closest thing I’ve experienced to a war zone, says Sharon Ambler, a staff member of Youth With A Mission, Tyler. Sharon, who is a Registered Respiratory Therapist, had lived in Haiti with her husband for seven years. She returned to the nation as part of a MercyWorks first response team, arriving only six days after the horrific earthquake devastated Haiti.

Soon after the earthquake, a group of Dominican pastors backed by Youth With A Mission set up a clinic in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. Sharon says, “The best way to describe what we saw when we first reached the clinic, was controlled chaos. A few people overrun with tons of patients needing medical attention. When we got there with more medical staff and supplies they were thrilled.”

The clinic was housed in what used to be the National Police Headquarters, directly opposite the National Palace. Much of the building was destroyed when the earthquake hit, leaving just a few rooms. Paint was peeling off the walls and the team used what had been the police chief’s desk as a surgical table, while medical supplies were kept under a tarpaulin outside. However, as Sharon says, “It was a strategic place for the clinic to be located, as all the people were living right outside in a tent city.”

During the initial week following the disaster, a young boy came into the main clinic. He didn’t appear physically injured, but was withdrawn, almost catatonic. Sharon, who speaks Haitian Creole, was asked to find out what was wrong. With no emotion the boy said, “I was at school. The earthquake happened. They sent us all home. It was my birthday and my mom was home making my birthday dinner. She had asked me what I wanted that morning. When I arrived home, they had my mom in a car taking her to the hospital and she died on the way, she never made it.”

The boy looked up at Sharon and said, “Now it’s just my older brother, my two little sisters and myself. I can’t sleep, my head and my stomach hurt all the time, and my heart races, I just want my mom back.” At this point his brother stepped over and explained what he knew of that day. “I was at the house when the earthquake happened. We were inside and I yelled at my mom to get out of the house. We ran out as the house was collapsing, and then a block hit my mom.” He had to dig his way out and then he dug her out. He got her into a vehicle to go to the hospital, but she died.

In the early days after the earthquake the staff of the small clinic saw 200-250 patients a day. After two weeks numbers were up to 500 patients per day. In the six weeks following the disaster MercyWorks sent one team every week. Matt Krol, leader of the second MercyWorks medical team, said, “I was able to tangibly help more people on this trip, than I ever have before. We had the right people, (medical personnel) at the right time, to meet the need and we were able to do it on mass.”

When Matt’s team arrived on January 27, they joined the end of the initial emergency response period. People were still coming to the clinic with crushed limbs and with dislocated shoulders. Some patients who had not seen a doctor were limping into the clinic with broken legs. Matt’s team then split up into four different mobile clinics and treated 13,000 people in ten days, because they were going to areas where people hadn’t received medical attention.

To date the death toll from the January 12 earthquake stands at 217,000. Haiti’s interior minister Paul Bien-Aime provided the updated figure, discounting reports that the toll had reached as high as 230,000. "There are people who put forth the figure of 230,000 but we have counted a bit more than 217,000. These are verified figures," said Mr Bien-Aime. (ABC news online)

It is difficult though to be certain of any definite numbers, as many bodies will never be recovered. Thousands of people were buried under homes and buildings as they collapsed.

MercyWorks plans to continue sending teams to Haiti throughout 2010. In partnership with Clearview Church in Mt. Sylvan, Texas MercyWorks sent a container filled with provisions to help set up a Medical Clinic and Refugee Camp in St. Marc. Director Debbie Lascelles says, “We are committed to seeing the foundations of Haiti rebuilt and will stay as long as it takes.” Although the initial need for emergency response has subsided, there will continue to be a need for medical personnel, as well as people skilled in construction and other logistical areas.

The relocation of two million people is a huge task and Haiti will need long-term assistance. Many hundreds of homes, hospitals, businesses and churches as well as vital community infrastructure will take years to rebuild.

For more information about volunteering, praying, and giving, visit www.mercyworks.org or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it