So this week again our Camp Manager and her team were reminded that the heroes can quickly become the enemy. It's a natural part of the cycle of disaster recovery and one that is not limited by culture, language or cause of emergency.In Sri Lanka following the Tsunami (2004) we saw this reversal of fortunes after about 4 weeks. In Whittlesea (Australia) after the Black Saturday bushfires (2009) we saw it begin a little earlier, after about 2 weeks. Here, in Place de la Paix, Haiti (the IDP camp comprising about 20,000 people that The Salvation Army manages) the tide of emotions manifest through blame and anger, celebration and joy has ebbed and flowed over the life of the camp. But this week it got nasty again and took a few by surprise.
It often starts because survivors know, or believe, that there are resources available, but they remain hungry, cold, wet or sick. They hear that the material they need is on the dock, but isn't being released. They see reports claiming that the government has the promise of millions of dollars (and euros etc) but it isn't coming. And the only people that they can see, the only people that they can get to are the rescuers - the only people that continue to be present with them are the relief agents - they have been there from the beginning. So who else can a survivor vent their frustrations on, who else will listen - the people that make the big decisions aren't around, and seem to be deaf and blind to the reality.
So when the frustrations, anger and yelling comes, and it will, remember that's what you signed up for (that's why you get the emblazoned vest with all the pockets). It's hard not to take it personally, but you know what: it's not about you. You have to cop it, you have to manage it, but remember why you're here and like someone else said "do it for the least, the hungry, the tired, the cold, the naked, and after they've yelled, do it again" (my paraphrase) and by these acts they will know who represent.
