About the author
Kerstin is an ex logistics manager turned Red Cross executive volunteer. She loves horses, anything with chocolate in it and trees.
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This area was heavily affected by the last Hurricane named ‘Richard’ and the situation is getting worse with every single rain and storm.
The Belize Red Cross in cooperation with several city ministries and the city council came together and met with representatives of the community. Target is to evaluate the current vulnerabilities/threads on the one hand and the capacities that can be used NOW (=before a disaster) to improve the area and minimize the risk of death and major demolition.
During the first two days of training we collected experiences from community representatives about the major problems (e.g. drainage/floods). The city council and ministries advised on the possible help they can provide for the area e.g. a garbage truck. Yes, this area is not served with a garbage truck, so all waste and garbage is literally going to the peoples yard, the neighbor’s yard, the street and -when we add a little wheather to it- into the ditches and the nearby creek where it is stuck and can not escape (=overflow).
The next day, we went to the area itself to conduct surveys with the actual residents e.g. to learn about the history of the area, do a census, do direct and technical observation, create a community profile (e.g. possible modes of transporation, diseases, infrastructure etc.).
The main problem in the area is water. Houses are built in a swamp and so it is not a surprise that water that floods the streets, the yards, the sewage tanks (of those houses that have one… nope, not every house has a bathroom. ‘It‘ goes into a plastic bag into the bushes….., houses and so on. You can imagine the colour and smell of that water/area -and we’ve been there on a not-so-hot-day!).
Sure it raises the question, why do people built houses in a swamp in the first place? Well, direct the question to Belize Government that is not able to enforce a building code. People keep building houses wherever ground is free.
By the way… A bridge built from pallets is called ‘London Bridge’ here
(I picked a picture that shows the whole thing… Most of them are half under water) =)
Needless to say that this area is highly attractive to some dangerous animals, too. Streetdogs, of course. But you regulary hear a *SPLASH* when a snake/gecko/crocodile enters the water (=flooded yard). And Mosquitos (=Dengue and Malaria is a question of time only), of course. Even when you are on one of the dry streets (yes, they have them), the closer you get to the water(ocean/port) the more ants you will face. Not just one or two colonies. No, the street AND the houses are full of millions and millions of ants! If somebody is interested to do a case study on how fascinating it is that millions of ants in the same place always now their route and never crash into each other.. this is the place to go!
But there are (relatively) good news, too: Most houses do have electricity and water. The streets are somewhat free of water because they were built on higher grounds (nonetheless, with a few inches of rain, they are gone). People use the next health center which is not nearby but with 12 blocks in walking distance. There is a bus stopping and even some taxis go into the area.
During the last day, we discussed our findings and analysed them. We shared our experiences and the common understanding is, that not all problems can be solved but there is good potential to start with.One of the interesting observations is, that the people living in ‘these’ conditions, still appreciate what they have and hardly complain.