....January 14, 10:20 PM
 
 
   
Queens Haitians Hold Their Breath

By Brian M. Rafferty

With lines of communication down across Haiti and thousands of expatriates sitting on pins and needles in Queens and in the rest of New York City, elected officials and community groups are doing what they can to pitch in and help following Tuesday’s catastrophic earthquake.

For Elsie Saint Louis Accilien, the last few days have been unbearable. As executive director of Haitian-Americans United for Progress in Cambria Heights, she said her office has had to field hundreds of calls from local residents unable to get in touch with friends and family back in their homeland. As a Haitian who just came back from the annual New Years and Haitian Independence celebration, Accilien is clearly distraught.

A Haitian woman in Port-au-Prince reacts to the devastation around her.
Photo/American Red Cross


“We are not hearing much from the island,” Accilien said. “We have been receiving calls and giving out whatever information we have. We need to make sure that we are giving proper direction and information to the community.”

Accilien echoed Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who on Tuesday stood with the Haitian Community of Crown Heights to encourage that donations of cash be at the top of the list for those looking to aid Haiti.

“The proper thing is for people to donate to the international agencies that already have the infrastructure in place,” Accilien said. The mayor’s primary suggestion was the American Red Cross.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the effects of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake were still being measured. The death toll was expected to far exceed 100,000. Massive parts of the nation’s infrastructure – from government offices to schools, hospitals, churches and roads, were completely destroyed. There were more homes collapsed than left standing in the capital of Port-au-Prince.

“The damage is phenomenal,” Accilien said. “Everything, every piece of infrastructure, has been damaged.”

Accilien sounded hopeful when describing the fate of the millions on the island – including the estimated 45,000 Americans thought to be present during the quake.

“Just because the lines of communication are down doesn’t mean that people are not there,” Accilien said. She asks that as people find out through other sources about villages, towns or even streets where people have news – good or bad – to pass it along to her agency, which will act as a clearing house to help share the information. HAUP’s phone number is (718) 527-3776.

Haitians in Queens set up a local communication network as they witnessed the devastation of thier homeland and were cut off from their loved ones.
“We pray and hope that this has been the bulk of it, that we can start looking toward recovery,” Accilien said. HAUP serves about 15,000 clients a year, providing educational, cultural and networking opportunities to give Haitian immigrants – and newcomers from other countries – help they need to adjust to life in the United States.

In the meantime, local officials are stepping up to the plate to try to arrange aid. Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) will accept material donations at his new District Office, 234-26 Merrick Blvd., Laurelton. He will accept non-perishable food items, medical equipment and any other necessary supplies to be sent to Haiti once the lines of delivery can be re-established.

In the meantime, the U.S. State Dept. has set up a hotline for anybody seeking information about family in Haiti: (888) 407-4747. People can also call 311 in New York City to find out other ways to help aid in the relief effort.

Reach Editor Brian M. Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 122.