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NY Times News Article
One of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, Haiti in recent years has struggled with problems ranging from near-constant political upheaval, health crises, severe environmental degradation and an annual barrage of hurricanes.
On Jan. 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck Haiti, reducing much of its capital to rubble. It was the worst earthquake in the region in more than 200 years, with an untold number-- estimates range from 50,000 to 200,000-- feared dead. The devastation created serious obstacles to those attempting to deliver promised foreign aid.
Huge swaths of the capital, Port-au-Prince, lay in ruins, and thousands of people were trapped in the rubble of government buildings, foreign aid offices and shantytowns. Schools, hospitals and a prison collapsed.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told NBC's "Today" program that 3 million people - about a third of Haiti's population - had been affected by the quake, and that "there will be tens of thousands of casualties - we don't have any exact numbers."
Haiti occupies an area roughly the size of Maryland on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Nearly all of the 8.7 million residents are of African descent and speak Creole and French. The capital is Port-au-Prince.
The country is, by a significant margin, the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, with four out of five people living in poverty and more than half in abject poverty. Deforestation and over-farming have left much of Haiti eroded and barren, undermining subsistence farming efforts, driving up food prices and leaving the country even more vulnerable to natural disasters. Its long history of political instability and corruption has added to the turmoil.
During the 18th century the western portion of Hispaniola, called Saint-Domingue, was one of the richest colonies in the French empire, known for its lucrative sugarcane and coffee plantations. (The rest of the island was controlled by Spain.) In 1791 the African slave population revolted, eventually winning independence from Napoleon Bonaparte's France and becoming the second country in the Americas to free itself from colonial rule and the world's first black republic. The country was renamed Haiti.
Haiti's history has been marked by many periods of profound political disarray, including frequent changes of governments, military coups and, beginning in 1915, a two-decade occupation by the United States. The most infamous of Haiti's leaders was François Duvalier, known as Papa Doc, who was elected president in 1957, beginning a long rule known for corruption and human rights abuses that left Haiti increasingly isolated. His son Jean-Claude Duvalier controlled the country from 1971 until he fled in 1986, leading to another period of alternating civilian and military rule.
Despite bouts of optimism in recent years brought on by the implementation of a new constitution and the first peaceful transfer of power between two elected presidents in the nation's history, Haiti's politics remain as tumultuous as ever.
In 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide took power after winning 67 percent of the vote in a presidential election, but was overthrown shortly after taking office in a violent coup leading to a three year period of military rule that ended only after the intervention of a United Nations force led by the United States. While the 1995 election of Rene Preval, a prominent political ally of Mr. Aristide, was widely praised, subsequent elections were plagued with allegations of fraud, including the 2000 restoration of Mr. Aristide to his old post.
Over the following years violence spread throughout the country as the government cracked down on opposition party leaders, holding power in part with the aid of extra-legal gangs. In February 2004, after groups opposed to the Aristide government seized control of cities and towns throughout Haiti and closed in on the capital, Mr. Aristide resigned and fled to South Africa. U.S.-led armed forces under the authority of the United Nations Security Council were sent to Port-au-Prince to stabilize the situation and to oversee the installation of an interim government. The United Nations has spent some $5 billion on peacekeeping operations since 2004.
In 2006, Mr. Preval was again elected president amidst allegations of impropriety.
Since 2008, the situation has worsened dramatically, with the nation staggering beneath the double whammy of food riots, government instability and a series of hurricanes that killed hundreds and battered the economy.
Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike and Tropical Storm Fay landed within the space of a month in August and September 2008. Nationally, damages came to a total of $900 million, or nearly 15 percent of the gross domestic product. The national toll was 800 dead, down from 2004 when 3,000 perished.
Haiti needs jobs, a particular challenge in the current economic climate. Haitians often seek work in the United States, but that safety valve has been squeezed given the recession. With some 900,000 youths expected to come into the job market in the next five years, dismal prospects are the main threat to stability.
O n January 12th YouthHealth USA was shocked by what has now become of Haiti. It is known that there is help on the way to help the people of Haiti. But as an organization that has helped thousands of children over come there anger and rebellion. We cannot sit back and watch as the children of Haiti suffer from there recent earth quake and many after shocks in magnitudes as high as 7. These numbers are the highest it has ever been in over 200 years and has caused 3,000,000 million Haitians to become effected, 230,000 are expected deceased and well over 350,000 have been injured and need the support of YouthHealth USA and fellow Americans.
Make your contribution today and help feed, clothe and give medical supplies to the injured and homeless Hatian men woman and children.
The people of the United States, the European Commission, Canada, Spain, The Netherlands, Brazil, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Sweden and China have pledged over $60 million dollars to help aid those effected by the Haiti Disaster. But sadly, what has been given is still not enough. The demand for food water and medical supplies is increasing by the second and YouthHealth USA is now becoming apart of the Haiti Disaster Relief to help aid the children and families in Haiti.
"The demand for food water and medical supplies may be high. But what about there mental state of mind?"
The nation of Haiti has always been one of the poorest countries in the world, as well as one of the least developed. And what has occurred has only damaged them not only physically but mentally as well. Michael Bolden and the YouthHealth USA team has been on call 24/7 talking to the people of Haiti and our fellow Americans that are currently over seas aiding those effected by Haiti. "The demand for food water and medical supplies may be high. But what about there mental state of mind?" Says Aaron Russell CTO of YouthHealth USA. "People are having suicidal thoughts, imagine going to Haiti and hearing the sound of a family stuck under thousands of pounds of rubble. Spending hours trying to help the family escape death and save there lives. And finally becoming to tired and worn out yourself. Taking a 3 hour nap to regain energy to save these family's. Waking up to no more screaming. It takes a huge toll on the human mind to witness such tragedy" states Michael Bolden, Executive Director of YouthHealth USA.
Before the Haiti Disaster that occurred last week, the people of Haiti and there government had adopted a long term plan to build a more modern efficient country for the first time in 200 years. To help over come all the suppression and neglect the country has endured. Now the 7.3 magnitude earthquake has destroyed the hope and lowered the spirits of those residing on Haiti.
The United States has now decided to help Haiti over come there loss and help them with a new more efficient development plan to recover what they have lost. But they cant do it alone, we are in a crisis our selves with budget cuts, families struggling. But those of you out there who are capable of helping. You can make a difference. Every dollar is appreciated by the people of Haiti to help them out in their crisis.
Facts:
50% of the Haiti population is under the age of 18.
3,000,000 people were effected
230,000 died
350,000 injured
250,000 Residentals buildings gone
30,000 Commercial buildings colapsed
First and foremost, the children and families of Haiti are in dire need of food, water, medical supplies and emotional support. To help Haiti and save men woman and children that have been effected by this disaster please make your contribution today. Every dollar counts when it comes to families that now have nothing left.
Parents have lost their children, children have lost their parents. So please, help make a difference in the lives of those effected by the worst earthquake and aftershocks in over 200 years.
February 8th, 2010 UPDATE:
YouthHealth USA was apart of helping the Katrina disaster. Therefore our greatest attention has been directed to the Haiti disaster.
YouthHealth USA has decided that, for every donation, for every wristband sent to someone who donated, someone effected by the Haiti disaster will receive a duplicate wristband. To show them that there are others out there that care about them. We have also noticed that the cause of some Haitians becoming deathly ill is due to the fact that they cannot find insulin, and medical attention. There for we have come up with multiple ways to get communication devices on the grounds. We are in the process of talking to the companies that will supply us with the devices at a low cost to help the Haitians.
Other efforts are being made to get help on the grounds. Your contribution can save lives!
