One-and-a-half months later, we still find ourselves fighting with customs agents and other government officials as we try to get our container full of medical supplies to the people of Haiti.  We have been told that we are lacking certain paperwork and the Civil Defense Ministry, who is in charge of clearing any donations coming into Haiti, has informed us that there is a 3-month backlog of containers awaiting approval.  Moreover, the costs associated with holding the container at the port have risen to over $6,000 and they continue to climb each day.  These medical supplies were a donation from Direct Relief and we do not have enough funds to buy new medications in case they expire or we are unable to use them.  Hundreds of thousands of Haitians are needlessly suffering as they succumb to infections and diseases that can be cured/prevented with the very same supplies that are being held in our container.   The Ministry of Finance was supposed to grant us a permit but has since decided to withdraw their offer and refuses to receive any new documents since they are in the process of moving their office.  We have been receiving help from the Minisetere des Hatiens Vivant a L´etrange M.H.A.V.E. (Ministry of Ex-Patriated Haitians) but as of right now we are running out of options and our backs are against the wall.  We have been told that some of the blame for this delay has been placed on corrupt activities that are taking place at the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  We fully understand that Haitian officials want to curb this activity, yet at the same time we feel that it is unfair for us to be penalized on the basis of other people´s illegal actions.  MOSCTHA has years of experience when it comes to supplying direct aid to Haiti and we have always followed all international laws/ regulations.  Furthermore, while we lose both funds and person-time in combating this issue, the Haitian people are paying a far higher price; their lives.

Our truck full with medical supplies being held at the main port in Port Au Prince

Edison Suero and Patrick Cherubin Directors working to get the container out of Haitian customs