So. End of the third day back in Haiti.

I was out for only two weeks: a nanosecond in long-term development terms. But time enough for a total sea-change in the emergency response world.

In the time I was away the UN logs base has been completely rearranged. The by now famous OSOCC tent had not even been pitched when I left: Now it’s the new NGO hang-out, and the gazebo with WFP logos all over and pup-tents all around feels downright secluded. Some cluster meetings are now being held in containers rather than tents and there’s a new graded, graveled car park where there had previously been a jumble of pre-fab offices.

“Store Blue” still has an okay selection of slightly over-priced wines and packaged foods. Good to know that some things stay the same.

* * *

There are other changes, too.

The expanse of grey buildings in Cite Soleil and Carrefour that you see from the airplane window during final approach is now heavily checkered with blue tarpaulins. Specific small mountains of rubble that I remember from last time have now been totally cleared away. Those brigades of yellow USAID T-shirt wearing laborers are now farther out, up[...]

[Published in AidBlogs - Read the original article]