Last week one of our Partners in Camp development decided to distribute some materials to the IDPs in Place de la Paix. They did most things right: they had our committee distribute the vouchers to about 1,800 familes; they contacted the UN Security and arranged escorts and security for the day. They got there early on the day; the area was secure, the route in and out was clear and their station was set up. Soon after 'orderly' distribution began: each family was to receive 12 bars of soap worth about 80 Gourdes (that's about USD 2.00).It became obvious very soon after the distribution commenced that the 'orderly' part of the event was under threat. There were raised voices in teh crowd, and that was very quickly followed by some scuffles: and then it happened, some began throwing rocks at the NGO personnel and the UN Military Escort. When the first rock hit a Brazilian UN Soldier on his blue helmet you could tell that this was not going to be a fair fight!
The UN Militia quickly surrounded the NGO personnel and escorted them to their vehicles and down the cleared exit route as the first shots rang out. Firing into the air the crowd very quickly got the message - the distribution was over. (No one was hurt.)So what happened? Allegedly (no doubt actually) certain 'business men' approached a number of IDPs and offered to buy their vouchers for between $5 and $7 each. Some had bought 10 or more vouchers - unfortunately they didn't know, and didn't think to ask, what the distribution items were. When they discovered that their gamble had cost them, they were, shall we say, unhappy.
Lessons to Learn: As The Salvation Army has always said: Gambling is not a good habit to get into. (Especially not if you take your losses out on heavily armed Brazilian soldiers after their team has lost the World Cup - Not Happy, Jan!) And, maybe you should get yourself a blue helmet!
