UNITED SIKHS AID Medical Team lands in Haiti with Medical supplies

Langgar (hot meals) for victims continue in Haiti

"It is truly amazing to see the energy and spirit that the entire Sikh community has shown to this cause. We have so many volunteers ready to go to Haiti, to help wherever they can. Even after hearing of the hardships and dangers, they are as determined as ever. The entire Sikh community is in fact dedicated to this cause and we've all come together with UNITED SIKHS and have started making a difference to the people of Haiti" said Bikramjit Singh Sandhar, President of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey, BC.

Port-au-Prince: A seven-member UNITED SIKHS Medical Team arrived in Port-au-Prince on 2nd February and has setup a rehabilitation camp at a nearby makeshift hospital.  The team includes 5 doctors, a physical therapist and occupational therapist from Chicago, New York and Toronto. More doctors will be to join them from Seattle and Chicago next week.

The team had barely settled in after an arduous journey when they started working with the victims of the quake, some with horrific injuries.  The makeshift hospital required rehabilitation therapists and doctors and our team is trying their best to fill the void.  The team arrived with medical supplies donated mainly by well wishers from Chicago.

Meanwhile, UNITED SIKHS volunteers continue to serve langgar (community hot-meal) to thousands of earthquake survivors. Despite being overwhelmed by the calamity, the volunteers did not waste any time in cooking, packing and distributing hot-meals. UNITED SIKHS AID volunteers served in three different locations, escorted in certain areas by the Haitian Police. Due to lack of food and other basic amenities, the survivors get desperate and our volunteers witnessed situations where poor Haitians fought each other for meals

"Charles is a little boy who is 8 years old and he comes to our camp regularly.  He is let in by the United Nations Military Police who do not usually allow children into the area that we are located in.  The Military Police let him in because they know that we are here to take care of him and to feed him.  Today we bathed him and brushed his teeth as well which he was really eager for.  After his bath, he even requested that we tie a dastar (turban) on him which he happily showcased to everyone he could find!  He also regularly participates in singing the keertan ( devotional songs) that is playing in the camp which we all find really inspirational.  He is getting very close to and comfortable with us and all of us will be sad to let him go when we leave from here" said Japnaam Singh, UNITED SIKHS Aid volunteer.

"It is truly amazing to see the energy and spirit that the entire Sikh community has to this cause. We have so many volunteers ready to go to Haiti, to help wherever they can. Even after hearing of the hardships and dangers, they are as determined as ever. The entire Sikh community is in fact dedicated to this cause and we've all come together with UNITED SIKHS and have started making a difference to the people of Haiti" said Bikramjit Singh Sandhar, President of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey, BC.

"We will not leave Haiti behind and do our best to provide as much humanitarian aid as we possibly can. We know Haitians are strong and resilient people and with global support we expect them to bounce back even stronger, " said Kuldip Singh, President UNITED SIKHS, USA.

Volunteer teams visited survivors in make shift camps. One such survivor was in tears while looking at a completely destroyed house on the outskirts of Port-Au-Prince. Choking with emotion, she said that she had lost all her family in the afternoon of the deadly earthquake and is yet to recover the bodies.

Two teams totaling 10 volunteers are flying from California, Toronto and Surrey to join the UNITED SIKHS AID team in Haiti on Thursday. The First two teams of five were back after two weeks of Langgar seva.

Your donation of any amount could help save lives by providing food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support to people in need.

Issued by:
Harpreet Kaur
Director
UNITED SIKHS
Email: sikhaid@unitedsikhs.org
Ph: 1-905-672-2245 ( Canada)
1-888-243-1690 (USA)
1-646-688-3525 (USA)
+44 8701993328 (UK) 

You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the UNITED SIKHS, which will provide immediate relief and support to those in need. Call 1-905-672-2245 or 1-888-243-1690 for more information. Contribute to UNITED SIKHS through local chapter in your country https://unitedsikhs.org/contact-us/ . Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting https://unitedsikhs.org/donate/ . If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.