OT - What Really Counts -Think of Haiti - Page 1

I cannot get Haiti out of my mind. What a catastrophe!! The number of dead surely will be astounding. The injuries for so many will be horrible and will change the lives of the injured people forever. The destruction there as we are now beginning to see is unfathomable. Though I have never been there, I have studied the history of the country and have Haitian friends. It is perhaps the poorest nation on earth, and certainly the poorest in this part of the world. The reasons for that poverty are mired in the history. None the less, just think, for one moment, what would have been the damage if this magnitude a quake would have hit a populated city in the U.S. We are lucky to have construction standards that might have helped in such a quake, and our resources to quickly respond are far beyond those of the Haitian government. Yet we would be devastated if such an event were to occur. The fact is that Haiti is a very different place and, of course, no appropriate construction standards exist even though the island is on a well-known fault.

While we all live our own lives, let us keep all those who are suffering in Haiti in our thoughts and prayers. There are many, many aid organizations there, including Doctors without Borders (I have a friend with that group who is presently missing), the Salvation Army, The American Red Cross and many Christian charity organizations. If you are able, sending a small donation to any one of the major charities involved there would help. Lists of such organizations are on all the major web new sites.

The Dominican Republic felt the tremor, but is okay. Not much damage done, and no reported deaths or injuries.

I sponsor a little girl through Plan Canada (formerly known as Foster Parent's Plan). I hope she and her family are all right. I made an emergency donation through their website.  They have been around since 1937, and are very reputable:

www.planusa.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/1188742

Red Cross is a good place to make donations, too:

http://www.redcross.org/

Please pray for the SAR Dog Teams that help. It will be very very dangerous. We do local SAR, can't imagine what Haiti will be like. Tornado's, lost people, and hurricanes are tough enough.

The effects of the quake were negligible on the Dominican Republic which does, indeed, share the same Island. The fault line is to the west of the city of Port au Prince, and the DR is on the eastern and southern part of the island.  The DR is also an extremely poor nation, but has enjoyed a bit more stability both economically and politically, throughout the years. From accounts I have heard from the DR, there is no damage and the quake was barely even felt in the country.

I just donated a small amount to the Episcopal Relief and Development fund, but there are many, many other funds out there in terrible need. Based on the devastation I see in the videos now coming in and my emergency response background, I would seriously not be surprised if really several hundred thousand people are dead. They may be the lucky ones in the coming weeks. There are few resources at present to treat injuries which in such disasters are often horrific. Providing food, water, shelter etc., alone, for a city of almost 2 million people will be a huge challenge in and of itself in the coming months. Should bad weather come along, it will make things even worse. I don't think most people understand just what a challenge it will be to manage this crisis of epic proportions. I wish it were otherwise and I could go help in person. We are all part of the human family and in such a time as this, each and every one of us has a responsibility to do something, however small it may seem. I hope many of the generous people here will do just that.

Tuffscuffle,

Yes, we should also keep all the rescuers in mind as well. Aftershocks will continue, perhaps for weeks or months. They can make the unstable buildings collapse even more. Looking at the huge slabs of unreinforced concrete that are everywhere, and knowing that there are few heavy equipment pieces in the area itself, and knowing how long it will take to get disaster SAR teams in suggests most of the efforts past this weekend will end up simply being recovery efforts, at best. Rescue will only be possible in the next few days, at the most. The US Navy Hospital ship Comfort may be sent. Crew is being recalled as we write. But to get it supplied and underway will take days too. Not a terribly hopeful scenario. It does remind us that all of us should be prepared and self-sufficient for at least two weeks. We may end up in such a situation as well someday, even in this great country of ours.

 Here is a list in case someone does not have time to look. There are many others who also will be active and need assistance. You can "google" the name and find their website. Most of them already have a main page with Haiti as a major subject on that page and a variety of methods to make donations.

• International Medical Corps
• Direct Relief International
• World Vision
• International Relief Teams
• Yéle Haiti
• American Red Cross
• Operation USA
• CARE
• Catholic Relief Services
• World Food Programme
• World Concern
• Save the Children
• UNICEF USA
• Mercy Corps
• Operation Blessing International
• Shelterbox
• Americares
• Operation USA
• Doctors Without Borders
• Medical Teams International
• The International Committee of the Red Cross
• The Salvation Army
* Episcopal Relief and Development Fund

 I don't think most people understand just what a challenge it will be to manage this crisis of epic proportion


Just for starters, the air traffic control tower of the island's only international airport was destroyed, making it difficult for emergency aid to be sent by plane.

The 5-story U.N. building was levelled, and many of the peacekeeping staff killed.
The president's palace was destroyed, but fortunately he and his family survived.
The president has asked the U.S. to send a hospital ship, as they did after the hurricane in 2008. Hopefuly, they will be able to do so. At least one hospital has been destroyed. 

 This is a catastrophe of historic proportions for Haiti.  I've been following the news and blogs since I heard the news.  Someone interviewed a missionary who reported that there were about 1,000 hospital beds in the entire country and one of the hospitals collapsed.  I wish I could do more than donate money and pray for those poor people.

Micky

Three Jordanians from the UN force got killed plus few badly wounded, I saw some families here in bad grief, god bless the souls of their brave sons.

Ibrahim