Last night without warning, the U.N. ordered all Haitian hospital workers who have slept on base with us to leave. This is not just rude – it is dangerous. We run surgeries 24/7, all without a Central Supply operation that stockpiles surgical instruments. Our scrub techs are here without letup to make sure we have sterile instruments on hand when they are needed. It’s specialized work and I don’t know how to do it. I’d be surprised if any of the nurses here did.
So now the scrub techs are being ordered out. Insane. Not a chance.
For now I have moved a bunch of supplies around and our three scrub techs are somehow fitting themselves into a two-person tent. Tomorrow, one of the logistics guys is going to set up a Shelter Box for them as part of the hospital encampment.
The predominant UN force here is from the Brazilian army. They seem to hate the Haitians. They have been known to provoke riots to justify their presence. Many Haitians believe that last year U.N. troops fired at people attending the funeral of a pro-Aristide priest who Had been assassinated.
You’d think in the face of all this carnage and misery there would be some let-up, wouldn’t you?
You’d think.
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