Steve VE2TKH reports of the moment he realised his girlfriend in Haiti was safe!
I received an important phone call minutes ago with details on the condition of all my 28 or so friends. They are ok, it is a miracle!!
Here is my article i published on an amateur radio dedicated website. Thanks God, you realized my prayers of last december and this week! Steve Toupin
Monday January 18th 2009, 03:21UTC
I was so surprised to receive a phone call from my lovely Andromaque directly from her cell phone minutes ago. She told me that she is ok, and everybody is ok!! Wow, a miracle!
Their home is still standing, they sleep outside and only go during day time for a quick shower in the bathroom. I told her to remain like this and keep avoiding long visits inside the building. They are tired and it is difficult to sleep for them she told me.
I asked why she can now call me with the cell phone? She answered me that her campany Digicel gave 200 gouds credits to all its customers to allow them free calls (NDLR other companies are Voila and Haitel).
She told me they are in STRONG need of water and food!! But, sometimes the people from the Belgium consulate that are very close to them, are coming with few food and water.
I gave her infos about the international help gathering at PAP Intl airport and that they have big problems with the security concerns and to use the roads from the airport to the city. I also told her about the bad shape of their port for ships that are waiting anchored before delivering their help.
I also told her to spread the word to others about these facts I informed her, but she told me that they all already know that because the radio station, at least one, is still broadcasting.
I suggested that some good hearted haitians can do something to help international aid to reach them, but she told me that the situation is really bad and getting worst every hour that is passing by and even if they want to do so, the vilains will block them. She had the same bad news for me as Jean-Robert HH2JR had 5.5 hours ago when I reached him on his cell too. I mean about the criminality rising all around.
I was telling her the story of the HI hams that are now in Jimani and suddently we lost the communication. We lost it not because of bad conditions of equipment there due to the earthquake (in fact it was far better than when we used to talk last fall before I visited her, it was crystal clear communication), but because of her money credits from Digicel gift were empty. I won’t complain here as it was the best news I ever received from a phone call in all my life. Unfortunately, I tried to call back and it was not working.
