Beach resident in Haiti when earthquake struck.
World Vision aid worker Crystal Penner was in Haiti the day of the devastating earthquake.
Courtesy photo
World Vision aid worker Crystal Penner struggled to find the right words to explain the devastation she's witnessed since a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12.
"It's quite something to be here. It's a lot to take in," she said Tuesday afternoon from Port-au-Prince, the island nation's capital city.
"The devastation is quite huge. Everyone who lives in Port-au-Prince has been affected in some way."
A Beach resident for three years, Penner works for World Vision Canada's humanitarian team.
Typically, she's based in Canada writing proposals to obtain government funding and coordinating information from countries experiencing crisis situations or natural disasters.
But on Saturday, Jan. 9, Penner and a few colleagues travelled to Haiti to conduct workshops for some of the international Christian relief, development and advocacy organization's staff members.
Ironically, the team was in the midst of conducting an emergency preparedness workshop for World Vision Haiti workers when the powerful earthquake struck.
Penner, who was in Haiti's central plateau region about three hours away from the most affected area, was immediately called to action.
"I got pulled in to working with World Vision on the emergency response. It's the first time I've been involved from Day 1 in an emergency like this," she shared.
Using her expertise, Penner is currently conducting needs assessments as well as coordinating the distribution of aid. She's also doing some hands-on relief work helping the thousands of displaced Haitians with their day-to-day needs.
"Natural disasters really have no discrimination. They attack everyone in their path," she said, adding only two people's homes survived the quake out of the group of World Vision Haiti staff members she's been working with.
Penner said most people in Port-au-Prince are sleeping outside; many still terrified aftershocks could strike.
She said makeshift displaced persons camps have been set up throughout the city in parks, sports fields, any open areas.
"Port-au-Prince is a hilly city with not many open areas except the airport. A lot of people are camped out near there," Penner said.
"Some streets are even cordoned off because people are sleeping there."
Penner said another major challenge relief agencies face is a lack of fuel for vehicles to both distribute supplies as well as reach affected areas to help people.
"Fuel is really expensive and they're running out. There are huge queues."
Despite all the devastation, Penner said she's seen the resilience of the Haitian people, many of whom have lost multiple family members as a result of the earthquake.
"You see little signs of hope. (People) are trying to carry on," she said, adding she's touched by the amazing outpouring of financial aid so far.
"People are generous and that is amazing to see. It reaffirms my resolve to work in this field."
Penner, who expects to be working in Haiti until mid-February or longer if needed, said it's important people continue to give as it will take several years before Haiti gets back on its feet.
"(World Vision) will not leave once this is over. We will continue to work with the people of Haiti. We've been here for three decades," said Penner, expressing her personal gratitude to everyone who donated to Haiti's relief efforts.