A delegation of Regina residents returned from Haiti Tuesday after spending several weeks helping with the earthquake relief effort.
Those that returned last night were members of the Western Canadian Relief for Haiti group. They were greeted at the Regina International Airport by family and friends.
The group left in late February with the goal of helping Haitians sustain themselves in the long-term. They fed kids, set up clinics, facilitated water and helped clean wounds suffered in the earthquake. Some people they helped had not seen anyone who could give them aid since the tragedy.
After the hard work the group did in the country, they still realize the work is far from over.
“It’s good to be back to see the family,” said participant Carlos Petit-Homme. “They miss me, but it’s with mixed feelings because these people, I know they count on us and they can’t wait for us to get back.”
Roland Lafrance says he saw a lot that will stick with him for a long time.
“Millions of people, no electricity going through there at night,” Lafrance said. “Fires everywhere, buildings, smells, the noise. To me that will stick in my mind for a while. It was chaotic.”
Petit-Homme and Lafrance are looking to go back in June and take people with certain skills along, such as dentists and nurses.
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