The quake devastation in Haiti is so overwhelming and incomprehensible I can only take the TV news coverage in small bits. During the first hours of coverage, I compared the scenes with my own experiences, but quickly began to realize this earthquake was beyond comparison.
Scenes of destruction affecting 3 million people and projected numbers of fatalities didn’t really sink in as I watched people roaming the streets until the first responders began to report great numbers of dead just being left lying on the streets.
Cries of anguish, screams for help and frantic searches for loved ones are stretching into days of repetition while teams of search and rescue work as best they can without heavy equipment. Doctors are reduced to ‘civil war’ or ‘jungle’ medicine, having run out of medicines and lacking facilities for treating the seriously injured.
Thirst and hunger add to the frustration of waiting for aid. Security is beginning to be a concern as looting and pockets of violence occur as stronger persons use force to take what they want.
Ex-presidents Clinton and Bush are heading a long term relief fund similar to the one held for Tsunami victims several years ago. People around the globe are making donations of money and sending personnel to meet the immediate needs of Haitians.
In the meantime work is progressing although at a snails pace because roads have to be cleared as well as the airport and the fuel port have to be constructed for planes and ships before the needed aid items get to the people.
Stories of miraculous rescue are being reported; moments of joy in the midst of chaos.
Haiti needs as many such stories as possible.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment