Haiti: Where is the aid?

What was once the world’s premier exemplar of freedom and liberation from the confines of capitalist government is now a nation that must look to the world for assistance in rebuilding a fragmented society demolished by the tremor of a single earthquake.

But who or what is to blame for the current situation—the many Haitian citizens whose decaying bodies will serve as a reminder of the aid that arrived too late or not at all? Is it the faulty Haitian government, the collapsed infrastructure that blocks the roads, or the over-packed airport that inhibits various aid groups, such as the American Red Cross, from coming to their assistance? This unthinkable situation is one that continues to perplex many as a relief effort is organized and a country in turmoil is rebuilt. Even when aid is delivered, there is still no significant means of relief.

The Red Cross estimates that nearly 3.5 million Haitian citizens have been affected by the earthquake. Internationally, Haitian relief is a top priority. Many nations, including China, Iceland, and the United States, continue to offer their assistance in pulling bodies, sometimes alive, out of the rubble and attempting to provide “order” to a country that has no stable governing body. But much of the aid is concentrated only in certain areas of Port-au-Prince. The underlying root of the uneven distribution of food and medical supplies may be that those assisting in the aftermath of the disaster do not have the priorities they claim to have. The World Food Programme, for example, was scheduled to land in Haiti last Thursday. However, the plane carrying water, food, and medical supplies was forced to land on Saturday to decrease air traffic so that troops arriving in Haiti could provide order in this time of chaos.

Those living in Carrefour, Leogane, Petit–Goave, Jacmel, La Gonave, and other provinces, miles from the capital, thus continue to question if aid has truly arrived in a timely and efficient manner. On just one road, thousands of Haitians line the streets waiting for their daily ration of stale biscuits and two bottles of water. Only two miles away, there is a famished family who remains in constant belief that the individuals who were lucky enough to eat today were simply at the right place at the right time. While the people of Haiti become increasingly dissatisfied with the current situation, it is apparent that their anger and frustrations will only lead to future troubles—looting, violence, starvation, and even more preventable deaths.

Even on the streets of Port-au-Prince—at the center of the relief effort—many turn to looting in order to provide food and water for their families. As they search frantically in the rubble of damaged supermarkets for sustenance, fights break out, gun blasts fill the air, and gang activity spreads throughout. Many Haitians living in the United States wonder if this is the same Haiti they left many years ago, and some of them are losing all hope in this nation, which still has so much potential. “They must have priorities” are the words of my mom, who believes that improvements can only come through a structured governing body or at least an organized society.

The United States has already begun to make strides towards building a better Haiti. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stopped by Port-au-Prince on Saturday to meet with current President René Préval to offer her support. She even brought water, food, and American relief workers. President Barack Obama and former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have also pledged to make effective relief efforts. President Obama remarked, “as the death toll of Haiti grows, the American response, both public and private, must grow with it” as he commenced to embark on a campaign that will raise money for Haiti’s future.
The United States Agency for International Development has just begun to clear roads for 14 food and water centers. As I write this article, the Red Cross and organizations such as Yéle Haiti are still in the process of raising money and other goods. In churches and schools worldwide, people are packing countless suitcases and boxes of material that will be sent to the needy of Haiti. On Jan. 22, 2010, Columbia UNICEF will have its first meeting of the semester. They are hoping to partner with other groups on campus to organize another relief effort. As Columbia students, we must play a crucial role in this crisis by offering our assistance. Before we can commence to change the country of Haiti and save the Haitian people, it is imperative to consider our priorities. Before donating, we must question where and to whom our money and goods are going.

As citizens of the world, we must do our part to ensure that our neighbors in Haiti are receiving the aid they need. The current state of Haiti will continue to remain stagnant if aid is not properly distributed. There is no doubt that aid is and will continue to pour into Haiti. However, we must ensure that the aid we provide goes to everyone in need and not just a segment of the population.

The author is a Barnard College sophomore. She is a member of the Charles Drew Pre-Medical Society Organizational Committee and a Double Discovery Center tutor.