It's been just a few days, that a 7.0 earthquake devastated a million lives in seconds. The poorest nation in world's Western Hemisphere, Haiti is now in ruins.
This blog is not meant to criticize but to guide and request everyone to help the Haitians at this most critical time of crisis in centuries and also how we can be better prepared for any similar catastrophe in future. This is a time when every blogger or writer should write about ways to contribute to the relief efforts, every new way can bring in help not only for Haiti but also help the international relief organizations to prepare themselves in a better manner for future, ensuring a quicker response. Though we may not be directly impacted by this but it's our brothers and sisters who are in pain and turmoil and crying out for help. It's difficult to ignore them even if we try to!
The PM of Haiti says death toll may exceed 1 lakh with people still buried around the Capital Port-Au-Prince and waiting for someone to rescue them out of the debris. While the Haitians are digging through the rubble to get as many of their people out, all other nations are yet to decide how they are going to help. Celibrities, corporates, non-profit outfits and governments from various nations have come forward with their contributions but all they have done is assure money and items. Help is coming - but it's coming too late for some of those still buried and shouting for help ("Amwe! Amwe!" in Creole, meaning "Help me").
U.N. has taken responsibility for co-ordinating the rescue efforts with teams from various nations. But is there any chance of survival of those who are buried for more than 3 days. Time has already run out for most of them and it's just the few lucky ones who may be able to get out and see the light. Within four days, 700 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne will be in the quake zone. By Tuesday, three more U.S. Navy ships carrying 2,200 Marines and heavy equipment will join them. By Saturday, about 5,000 to 6,000 men and women dedicated to supporting the relief effort will be in Haiti, military officials say.
A third of Haiti's 9 million people may be in need of aid. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the World Food Program was providing high-energy biscuits and ready-to-eat meals to around 8,000 people "several times a day." "It's not possible to fly anything into Port-au-Prince right now. The airport is completely congested," spokesman Paul Conneally told The Associated Press by phone from the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo.
Why despite of all our advances and achievements in technology and with Scientists having long warned about a major earthquake in Haiti, no major steps were taken to plan and mobilize resources for a faster response?
Why is it that every time a major calamity like this happens, despite of our political establishments, agreemens and treaties, we are unable to offer help and save those buried for days?
The U.N. seems to be doing the best job right now even though it has been hardly hit by the earthquake with it's own U.N. Chief Representative Hedi Annabi and 150 others missing from their headquarters.
But still 'hope' is something we all need to stick to and expect U.N. and all member nations to come up with a plan which makes it possible to fly in trained personnel, advanced machinery and useful resources within 24 hours without any political/transportational hassles. A better planning would've surely helped in saving many more lives.
The first and best way to contribute is to donate money to any of the following organizations who are working day and night to mobilize resources in Haiti and help in every way possible.
The American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/
The United Nations World Food Program
http://www.wfp.org/
The Salvation Army
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
Action Against Hunger
http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/
Project HOPE
http://www.projecthope.org/
Partners in Health
http://www.pih.org/
Mercy Corps
http://www.mercycorps.org/
Doctors without Borders
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
The second way is to send an SMS (Text "Haiti") to 90999 (only in U.S.) to donate $10 (billed to your phone)
The third way is to pray for the dead to Rest In Peace and their families and other survivors to have strength to re-build their lives and infuse every heart with the ever-enduring human resilience.
It's the second biggest devastation I've witnessed in my life after the 2004 Tsunami and with scientists predicting even worse calamities in future, the best we can do is to pray with all our heart that nothing like this happens again and even if it happens, we are better prepared to save our people.
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