An Experience Like No Other...

This post is dedicated to the people of Haiti, and to all those who have lost loved ones, or who have family members in the country.

This past Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake, measuring 7.0 on the richter scale, hit one of the world's poorest and disadvantaged countries in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti. The country's capital, Port Au Prince, was nearly destroyed, ruining the Presidential palace, major hotels, hospitals, and other infrastructure; resulting in a serious loss of life, exceeding as many as 100 000 people and counting(CNN).

The magnitude of this natural disaster is still incomprehensible to me. The images of people trapped under piles of concrete and debris, or the numerous amounts of wounded Haitians laying in the streets awaiting medical attention, or the piles of dead people at every corner, being disposed of in mass graves sites by the hundreds, is truly upsetting. It is nothing short of tragic. And the question remains, why Haiti?

An earthquake of this caliber has not affected the country in over 200 years, but many natural disasters have plagued the country and its citizens in recent years. Deforestation has led to many devastating floods from tropical storms and hurricanes. Hurricane Jeanne hit the country in 2004, and resulted in a death toll of 3000+. However, if some of you can recall, the 2008 hurricane season brought a total of four hurricanes (Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike) which affected over 800 000 people, destroyed well over 100 000 homes, and wiped out 70% of crops (Jeffery Masters, Weather Underground, 2010). It seems cruel and unfair for an event like this to take place when the country is still trying to recover from these past events.

As mentioned before, Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of the population living beneath the poverty line, and 54% living in abject poverty (CIA). Along with relentless natural disasters, Haiti has had a history of political upheaval, unstable governments, corruption, and even worse economic conditions. The lack of resources has left Haitian government officials and authorities discombobulated, and unable to respond efficiently to the citizens needs during this time of desperation. As time passes, and the people living in the streets and parks become more hungry, more dehydrated, and less tolerable to the circumstances, an explosion of lawlessness may be imminent.

This continues to be my worst fear. As the days go by and I watch the updated reports on television, I am continually asking myself, “What is going to happen to all of these displaced people?” There is literally no where for them to go, they have little to no belongings, and chaos will ensue if they do not receive food and water. Looting has already become a problem, as well as tricks to lure people away from their belongings so others can take them. Let's not forget, the state prison was also destroyed by the earthquake, allowing the convicts to escape. If order is not established immediately, and the people of Haiti do not stick together during this time, then riots and civil unrest will destroy what's left of the country, resulting in a situation similar to “Lord of the Flies”.

This is where global citizenship plays an imperative role. The response from countries, governments, and citizens around the world has been tremendous. The ability for people from various parts of the world to come together and raise money to help the country is great to see. Millions of dollars has been raised by Canada alone, which the government promises to match, and there has been promises from president Obama to send 100 million in relief funds. It is important to remember that aid money must be donated to the right people, and given to charitable organizations, and not corrupt government officials who may squander the funds and not use it towards helping the citizens. It is also important for this money to be managed appropriately, so that it can be invested in the future reconstruction of the country's infrastructure and homes.

In my opinion, everything seems to be going at a slow pace. I don't know if it's me, or if the response seems slower because it is Haiti and not the United States, or if this is actually how things should be progressing. I just want everyone to be taken care of right now, so this nightmare can end. Sending vaccines and medication, food and water, shelter and blankets - those things, in my opinion, need to be the main focus. The money is obviously critical for reestablishing the country, but basic human necessities need to addressed first, in order to maintain the peace.

As an outsider looking in, it is very easy for me to say these things. The truth of the matter is, I have no idea what these people are going through. I have not gone more than 24 hours without food, never mind almost 3 days. Living in a park, sleeping on the streets with next to nothing, living with wounds and not being able to get medical attention immediately, is simply unknown to me. I cannot imagine having to live through such a catastrophe, and the courage the people in Haiti have shown is admirable.

Tragedies like this really make you aware of how interconnected we are as a human race. This earthquake could have occurred anywhere, and affected people who have family in Jamaica, Trinidad, Cambodia, India, Serbia; the list is endless. Unfortunately, it is when disaster strikes that we begin to truly acknowledge the people living in developing nations. But again, as global citizens, we have a duty to respond to these unpredictable events, and to help out in whatever way we can, because you never know when, or if, you will be in need of that same help.