We all know that over a million people were homeless in Haiti after the earthquake in January, which also killed 250-300 thousand. Many of us made donations. But what have we been doing since then? I admit I've done nothing.
A disaster like this has a massive immediate response around the world, but it scary to see how fast compassion fades. It has only been months sice the capital Port-au-Prince was destroyed. The global relief effort meant numerous nations and volontary groups sent help. But did we fix the country? Except from the obvious fact that nothing can bring back what Haiti has lost, did we give all we can?
There are huge camps around Port-au-Prince where homeless people live in tents, with terrible sanitary conditions. Many aid organizations have warned about how fast diseases might spread in these camps, where clean water is a rarity. And now here it is, the second disaster. A cholera epidemic is spreading in Haiti, killing 135 people so far. 1500 others are sick, and waiting in the streets outside the hospitals for help. And this is the situation now, before the epidemic has reached the camps around the capital.
Why is this happening? Because the resources aren't enough. Cholera is an easily treated disease, and all that's needed are hospital beds, rehydration salts and in some cases antibiotics.
Considering everybody knows about the situation in Haiti, I find this unacceptable. We have to help out more. We CAN help out alot more.
No comments:
Post a Comment