Published: Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 5:00pm

'A hell of a challenge' in Haiti volunteer Brian Fagan warned by GOAL

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Brian Fagan

"It's the worst place they've ever been," is what Brian Fagan's colleagues already in Haiti were telling the Mullingar man before his departure - on Sunday last - to join them in the relief effort in the earthquake disaster zone.

"If it's worse than some of the places I have been already, then it has to be pretty appalling," says Fagan, who has done extensive work with the charity Goal in various disaster locations around the world, including in Sri Lanka after the tsunami, and in Afghanistan during that country's horrendous famine just after the millennium.

It's again at Goal's request that Brian is on his travels, and it was, he admits, a shock to be told by the charity that he should bring his own food with him.

"That's the first time I have ever got that sort of message," he told the Westmeath Examiner, adding that it was a clear indication of how difficult things will be during his three weeks in the disaster zone.

Goal is also equipping its volunteers with satellite phones - something that indicates strongly that the charity's workers out there have already been finding communications difficult.

What has been the subject of much comment in the Haiti situation is the fact that there doesn't seem to be any overall body coordinating the relief effort, which is complicating the effort in Haiti. "Generally what happens is the UN will go in and divide the country into sections, and, say, 'Goal is here, 'Concern is there, and you are the coordinating NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) in that area'. That doesn't seem to have been done in Haiti," he notes.

Brian's special skills are in the logistical field. "The other workers decide what they need, and it's my job to get it for them," he says.

How that will work out in Haiti he would, he said, only know when he got there. Normally it involves a lot of negotiation, and a lot of work sourcing what's needed.

That's why what is most needed from people at home anxious to help Haiti is money - not any other sort of aid.

"We just wouldn't be able to get it out there," he points out.Anyone who does want to make donations can do so directly to Goal (GOAL PO Box 19, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, telephone 01-2809 779 or visit www.goal.ie) - or they can leave it into the charity shop "Brian's Treasure Chest" that Brian and a team of volunteer staff run in the former Kilroy's premises at Austin Friars Street.

While in years past, Brian was often away for long stretches at a time, he admits that since the birth 22 months ago of his baby daughter Hannah to Brian's partner Catriona Dunican, he finds leaving that bit tougher. That said, he has just recently returned from two weeks in the Ukraine where he was involved in election monitoring through the organisation OSCE; and last year, he was in Burkina Faso in Africa for a period, with an international service organisation that looks after disabled people.

"I like the work that I do. 'Looking forward to it' mightn't be the best way to put how I feel about heading to Haiti, but it is a hell of a challenge."