Haiti, a small, impoverished Caribbean nation, is slowly coming to terms with the calamitous earthquake of January 12, which measured 7.0 on the Richter scale and was followed by several powerful aftershocks. The toll on human life is estimated at 45,000-50,000 by the Red Cross. With reports of hundreds of bodies piled high outside mortuaries and hospitals, and survivors sleeping among the dead for a fourth successive night, rescue efforts face a big challenge. Most heart-rending is the plight of children, who comprise over 40 per cent of the population of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Haitian President René Préval described the loss of life and the near-total infrastructural damage as “unimaginable,” adding that parliament, the national palace, the tax office, schools, hospitals, and the main prison had collapsed. The damage was heightened by the fact that the quake struck the densely populated area around the capital, comprising nearly three million people in rudimentary slum dwellings that entirely lacked earthquake-resistant construction.
The response of the international community to the terrible humanitarian crisis has been empathetic: the United States has promised $100m, 3,500 troops, and 2,200 marines to help with relief efforts; Britain has pledged £6.15m; France, Spain, and China have joined the effort, sending funds, supplies, and manpower. India must do its part, coming up with a generous assistance package. Yet there are severe problems in reaching aid to the people. While relief efforts are focussed on the immediate tasks of rescuing trapped survivors and providing them with the basics, the post-disaster agenda in the months ahead will be about helping them piece together their shattered lives. The recovery plan must also address the larger challenge of institution-building in one of the most misgoverned and politically volatile nations in the western hemisphere. External, especially U.S., involvement must not exacerbate instability in the coup-laden, dictatorship-prone politics of Haiti. If this troubled nation is to cope better with natural disasters — an imperative given its proximity to the Pacific Ring of Fire -- democracy and responsive governance must take root. Only then will it be possible to lift Haitians out of crippling poverty and rebuild the country’s wrecked infrastructure. In particular, it is vital that future housing construction is in line with best practice in earthquake-proofing -- for example using the lessons on retrofitting structures that came out of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake -- and Haiti’s institutional capacity for disaster response is upgraded.
Comments:
This is very devastating. This earthquake has taken so many lives. So we pray for those who are hurt and those who are under the rubble. That is all we can do. For me this is all I can do. If I had the money I would help.
It is unfortunate that Haiti, one of the poorest nations of the world has been devasted by a major earthquake0. Government of India's announcement of USD 50 lakh as an aid is highly appreciated. It's the time for the private sector(in India), known for its riches, to come forward and pour in more aid to this country.
Haiti which was suffering with many economic, social problems was beaten badly by nature. I hope the present focus of the International community persists and guides the nation out of the present crisis and also helps it in getting on to the fast run for development. If possible contributions from individuals and private firms can be collected by famous national dailies to help Haiti's victims.
It was distressing to read the editorial without finding any reference to India's contribution to the relief efforts being carried out by UN agencies and other nations. The least the editorial could have done is to urge the Government of India to also send a team from India for extending the much needed relief work. Besides the relief work it would have extended, India would have also gained more in terms of experience for addressing similar calamities which may strike this country also in future. If China could do it, why can't India? Moreover, this is not the time to talk about measures to be adopted for addressing the political issues of Haiti. I feel this is adding insult to injury!
This is going to be the news in all such natural-disaster-prone areas all over the World. Even after knowing about this, if the local authorities/governments do not take steps to arrest loss of human lives and property, there should be a justified mechanism to assess their preparedness and if found guilty, they all should be booked and the violators punished to prevent loss of innocent lives especially of children in future. They should be held morally responsible. Even in such disasters, to some considerable extent, the economically so developed, developing nations hold a share, especially those not observing the environmental rules and regulations.
China immediately pledged help to the earthquake victims of Haiti and sent a team to help out the people of Haiti. What did India do? Nothing. No wonder India is way behind China on the global stage.