-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [katrinaresponse] Hartford FNB in New Orleans Update 2 Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 18:42:26 +0000 From: Laura K Rozza <lkerith at hotmail.com>
**Please forward widely** Hartford Food Not Bombs (including Dave Rozza and Ross Harmon) has been working tirelessly with other volunteers to get food and supplies to folks affected by Katrina both inside and outside of New Orleans. They have delivered food to several poor neighborhoods in rural areas such as Slidell, areas of Mississippi, outside Covington and other places along the way.
These are the areas that FEMA and the Red Cross (more below) have not reached and some of these people had not seen any signs of help until FNB bus. Veterans for Peace are stationed at Camp Casey 3 and they have been supplying FNB with some of the supplies they need to distribute to the victims. They are currently using Camp Casey 3 at a staging area for their efforts but plan to move the operation inside Algiers, a poor neighborhood where there are about 2000 people who refuse to evacuate (see below).
Algiers is under marshal law and although many “officials” are present, they are doing nothing to help the people of this neighborhood. Food Not Bombs plans to set up a permanent kitchen in a local mosque so that when the volunteers leave, the residents can continue to use it for community meals.
Tucson, Arizona Food Not Bombs met up with Hartford which was a welcomed relief and together they are now able to extend their resources to more folks in need. Hartford and Tucson are the only FNB chapters down here as of last night but hopefully some others are on their way. Here are some things going on that they want people to know about:
• The Red Cross has been dangerously incompetent. For those who evacuated, the Red Cross is separating families into different shelters.
In the Red Cross shelters that FNB visited, the food is terrible and conditions are horrendous. The people who chose not to evacuate are in much better shape largely thanks to grassroots efforts. In Algiers, there are reports that the Red Cross are turning away much needed volunteers and having other volunteers arrested for bringing medical supplies to the Wellness Clinic (the Wellness Clinic was set up by Mayday DC, some action medics and other groups).
• Some rogue members of the military have taken supplies from FEMA and gave them to the Wellness Clinic and other grassroots folks because they knew it would get to those in need more effectively.
• FNB was able to rescue two dogs from the lower garden district, one of which had a bad eye infection. They’ve adopted them until they can get them back to their owners (they have tags with names and addresses so hopefully they’ll get back with their families soon).
• Food Not Bombs and Indy Media is desparately needed down there. If you can come help, please call Ross at 860-930-2467. This is a long term effort but a little help goes a long way. We must not forget about these victims!
• On the bright side, there is a strong spirit of community and mutual aid. People are very happy to be alive despite all they have lost.
if you have questions, i'm in contact with them often so i may be able to get them answered. in solidarity, Laura