Suffering continues a year after the earthquake.
Haiti and the Year of Sorrow
by Pascal Robert | TheLoop21
As the only nation created from a successful revolt of African Slaves, Haiti has been a beacon of light for oppressed people around the world. Ironically that same proud history of struggle through its valiant fight for liberty from the French in 1804 resulted in policies brought forth by its neighbors, many of whom were still steeped in slavery and colonialism, that mired Haiti in a cycle of poverty, political oppression, and periods of great suffering over its 200-year history.
In the face of such a history of turmoil, nothing has had the devastating affect on the lives of the Haitian people like the horrific earthquake that struck the country on Jan. 12, 2010. The category 7.0 colossus leveled the capital, Port-au-Prince, and devastated the towns of Jacmel and Leogane. In the end, nearly 300,00 Haitians lost their lives while the images of children with bodies lodged under pounds of rubble were broadcast to televisions around the world. The suffering of the Haitian people was put on display for all the world to see. The level of human devastation and misery felt by Haitians in the wake of the earthquake became a nightly spectacle that seared the hearts of people in almost every corner of the globe. Tears were shed by those who had little knowledge of Haitians and their proud history or the suffering they endured because of that history.
The resilience shown by the Haitian people in the face of this disaster was inspirational. The will to live among many of the earthquake's victims was evidenced by stories of individuals who had survived several days under debris, without water or food, to surprisingly be discovered by rescuers alive when all hopes of survival should have been lost.
Americans and the international community responded with a generosity and an outpouring of support demonstrated in those rare moments when humanity works under the guidance of its better angels. Celebrities, athletes and entertainers heard the cries of Haitian children dismembered by the earthquake loosing arms ands legs in often the most harsh, makeshift medical facilities. All together, Americans raised more than $1.4 billion in charitable donations. The international community pledged more than $10 billion to help Haiti just two months after the earthquake.
Though these efforts and pledges illustrated how people can often show the best intentions after such massive human devastation, the practical realities of planning and implementation combined with bureaucracy and sometimes mismanagement have denied the survivors of Haiti's earthquake the resources needed to adequately help them and their country get back on a trajectory toward any semblance of normalcy.
While more than 1 million Haitians languish in inadequate makeshift tents that have grown into whole towns and villages of displaced individuals, less than 12 percent of the temporary post-earthquake housing needed to protect them from hurricanes, massive rains and the indignities of often living without any latrines have been built since the earthquake. Because the earthquake damaged the main prison in the Capital of Port-Au-Prince, thousands of hardened criminals have taken to these tent cities and turned their innocent suffering fellow countrymen into prey.
Read Full Essay @ theLoop21
Haiti and the Year of Sorrow
by Pascal Robert | TheLoop21
As the only nation created from a successful revolt of African Slaves, Haiti has been a beacon of light for oppressed people around the world. Ironically that same proud history of struggle through its valiant fight for liberty from the French in 1804 resulted in policies brought forth by its neighbors, many of whom were still steeped in slavery and colonialism, that mired Haiti in a cycle of poverty, political oppression, and periods of great suffering over its 200-year history.
In the face of such a history of turmoil, nothing has had the devastating affect on the lives of the Haitian people like the horrific earthquake that struck the country on Jan. 12, 2010. The category 7.0 colossus leveled the capital, Port-au-Prince, and devastated the towns of Jacmel and Leogane. In the end, nearly 300,00 Haitians lost their lives while the images of children with bodies lodged under pounds of rubble were broadcast to televisions around the world. The suffering of the Haitian people was put on display for all the world to see. The level of human devastation and misery felt by Haitians in the wake of the earthquake became a nightly spectacle that seared the hearts of people in almost every corner of the globe. Tears were shed by those who had little knowledge of Haitians and their proud history or the suffering they endured because of that history.
The resilience shown by the Haitian people in the face of this disaster was inspirational. The will to live among many of the earthquake's victims was evidenced by stories of individuals who had survived several days under debris, without water or food, to surprisingly be discovered by rescuers alive when all hopes of survival should have been lost.
Americans and the international community responded with a generosity and an outpouring of support demonstrated in those rare moments when humanity works under the guidance of its better angels. Celebrities, athletes and entertainers heard the cries of Haitian children dismembered by the earthquake loosing arms ands legs in often the most harsh, makeshift medical facilities. All together, Americans raised more than $1.4 billion in charitable donations. The international community pledged more than $10 billion to help Haiti just two months after the earthquake.
Though these efforts and pledges illustrated how people can often show the best intentions after such massive human devastation, the practical realities of planning and implementation combined with bureaucracy and sometimes mismanagement have denied the survivors of Haiti's earthquake the resources needed to adequately help them and their country get back on a trajectory toward any semblance of normalcy.
While more than 1 million Haitians languish in inadequate makeshift tents that have grown into whole towns and villages of displaced individuals, less than 12 percent of the temporary post-earthquake housing needed to protect them from hurricanes, massive rains and the indignities of often living without any latrines have been built since the earthquake. Because the earthquake damaged the main prison in the Capital of Port-Au-Prince, thousands of hardened criminals have taken to these tent cities and turned their innocent suffering fellow countrymen into prey.
Read Full Essay @ theLoop21
No comments:
Post a Comment