ONE year after the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti, the country is still in tatters and not much progress has been made to improve living conditions despite the promise of a massive international aid response. More than 200,000 people died in the earthquake, more than 300,000 were injured, homes lost exceeded 250,000  and some 1.5 million people were displaced. Losses were estimated at US$14M.
From all reports, the situation in Haiti is still grave and the promised foreign aid is not reaching the country.
One report said “reconstruction is moving at a snail’s pace, millions of people are still without a permanent home, a cholera epidemic has killed thousands, and the recent first round of the presidential election is under investigation for fraud.”
Only an estimated five percent of the capital’s rubble has been cleared, many streets are still blocked by debris and makeshift camps in and around Port-au-Prince house more than a million people, the report added.
The cholera outbreak in November which killed 3,500 people, added fuel to fire magnifying an already terrible situation and complicating aid efforts as it caused confusion as to where to focus help.
However, the aid workers have to be given the utmost commendation because they are trying to help against tremendous odds.
What is clear is that the international aid efforts have to increase both in volume and intensity.
While some countries have responded generously, many have still not provided the kind of assistance in accord with their resources and economic prosperity.
Cuba stands out among those helping the Haitians. It has mounted the largest medical brigade currently in Haiti and during the cholera outbreak provided extraordinary service to help stem the killer disease.
It stands out not only because of the huge medical assistance it is providing, but against the backdrop of being a poor country itself having to struggle for survival against a more than five-decade economic embargo imposed by the world’s wealthiest country as punishment for not conforming to the western ideology.
What is mind boggling with respect to the Haitian tragedy is that massive financial and human resources are being expended on useless wars across the world which, if diverted to Haiti, could make a huge difference.
In addition, the world spends US$600 billion on the military annually and of this amount, one country alone accounts for US$400 billion. All of this is happening in the midst of millions of men, women and children mired in immeasurable suffering and poverty.
This is most insensitive and cruel.
It begs the question: Can humans really be so cruel to their fellow human beings and why? Beasts certainly are not so cruel to their fellow beasts.
It is ironic that if only a trifling amount of what is spent on arms and the military, the suffering and poverty of not only Haiti but the entire world could be eradicated.
But unfortunately, this is a world in which the rich and powerful countries believe that profits and global power come before people and therefore the eradication of poverty and suffering has to take backseat because it could encroach on profits and power.
Until this selfish and greedy attitude is eradicated, it is difficult to envisage a world without poverty and suffering.