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Spencer Platt / Getty Images
Johanne Giles, 5, stands in front of the shack she has shared with her family since the earthquake rocked Haiti.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
A man walks past a camp for people displaced by an earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
A man sells drinks in a street market in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
Garbage litters a canal on March 5, 2012 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Two years after the 7.0 magnitude quake that killed an estimated 316,000 people, much of Haiti is still in a crisis situation with tens of thousands living in tent camps in and around Port-au-Prince.
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A woman living in a "safe house" for families victimized by sexual assault hands up water from a well on March 5, 2012 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
A young sexual assault victim stands in a home with her family after they were relocated from a camp with the help of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on March 5, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
A growing problem in the tent camps has been sexual victimization of women. Sexual assaults have risen to epidemic levels in the temporary housing where an estimated 500,000 Haitians who lost their homes in the earthquake still live in crammed conditions.
Currently the UNHCR is helping hundreds of sexual assault victims and their families through safe houses, counseling and income assistance programs that seek to give the woman and their families a new start in life. However, donor money to support these programs is beginning to dry up and Haitians are growing increasingly angry with the slow pace of reconstruction.
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Time for the newest desaster, OK sending food asap. Don't let the kids play in that nasty water. Send all men to work early in morning. Tidy up those tints, rake out gutters outside of tints, despose of all debris collected. Oyeah build out houses and stock with dry leaves or sears catalog, to be continued. prayers to the kids there. PS, redcross will send more vacines.
I feel for the people of Haiti, I really do. But I also look at the mess in Japan. The people of Japan have worked to clean up their messes, rebuild what they can, and look after one another. They still have a long way to go, but Japan doesn't look like a garbage dump. Why is it that the people of Haiti can't do the same? With all the money pumped into Haiti, (and very little to Japan), I would think they would be doing a little better. Recovery comes from within. We can help some; but the people in need should come up to the plate, too.
You make it sound so easy. Just 'step up to the plate'. There are thousands of people still homless and sick. Hard to 'step up' when your children are hungry and dying. Haiti is a very poor country with a very corrupt government. Haiti was a 'dump' as you call it before the quake. Tourism is their biggest industry, but who actually WANTS to go to Haiti? Japan is one the richest nations in the world. Autos, electronics and other exports are in very high demand. The government and people started cleanup immediatly after the tsunami. Haiti's cleanup has been hampered by fraud and corruption by outsiders making a fast buck and the government has been slow to doll out aid to help it's people.
Once again, Rusty, I'll say it: Step up to the plate. You've proved my point when you talk about the corruption, fraud and problems. That's part of stepping up to the plate--doing the right thing. Am I saying one group over another--not at all. It takes all to make it work. BTW, the Japanese are still "underwater" on their mortgages for homes and property that no longer exist. Financially, many are just as poor as the Haitians.
And no, I won't go to Haiti, tourist or not. Why? Because it's too dangerous. Would I go to Japan (if the opportunity presented itself)? Of course. Why? Because it's NOT too dangerous. This is more of a a social problem than an economic one. The Haitians need to get control over their lives and country in a way that is good for all.
The problem is that Haitians don't have control of their own country. They keep saying they give them millions; That might be true. But, how about you give the money and you send you own people to collect it afterward. I am saying that because they usually send the help to the people through non profit organization managed by foreigners mostly coming from the provider.
They are countries that are willing to give effective help to Haiti; Haitian people are not allowed to accept help from them. That's the biggest problem of that country.
Zapper, I am not going to bash you like I do others who say why can't the Haitians help themselves. This is because you said you feel for them and I thank you for that. What people don't understand is Japan had a government that did aided in the cleaning. Just like we have whenever there is disaster (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc...) In Haiti, and God knows why, the people do not get that aid. When I say the people, I mean the citizens of Haiti. People like you and me.
They live in an impoverished country. Before the earthquake, many lived in shacks, had no job, no electricity or running water, very little food etc... This is because the gov't did not take care of their citizens and provide them with these necessities. Now an earthquake happens and takes away little of what they had. How are the people/ citizens (remember people like you and me) going to clean up and start over when they had nothing to begin with.
It is not the people who are lazy. The people want to come up to the plate. The people want to have jobs, houses, everyday living things like electricity and running water. Believe you me when I tell you they do. But how can they when they did not have the previous government aiding them? It's the same scenario for other impoverished countries.
God Bless
how many time we will help the haiti , fi their self they don't to help them what for to help them . its a lot of country are need to help but they not waiting a help from american government help, they stand to live & peace in their country . but haiti every time we have desaster they need to help them ? how about the desaster in america 911 event is haiti government sent any help even human help ? they are live lazy to the rest of their life they will die lazy . one or two help is enough for them not every time. god said , "help your self & i will help you".
Haiti has been an independent nation since 1804. When it was a colony of France it was the richest colony of France. Yes, it takes time for a country to get its act together, but two hundred and eight years? It's the poorest country in the western hemisphere by the way.
I lived there for four years. Believe me it's hopeless and the reason it's hopeless is that the Haitians can't get their act together to fix the place.