Lemming Tracks: Haiti, Cholera, and an Oopsie

So far, cholera has killed upwards of 4,000 folks in Haiti.

The United Nations sponsored a study, to find out how the disease got started in the island nation.

Turns out, U.N. peacekeepers started the plague - but it's not their fault.

This almost makes sense, and the Lemming will be back after this excerpt:

"U.N.-Sponsored Report on Haiti's Cholera Outbreak Points to U.N. Itself as Culprit"
George Russell, FoxNews.com (May 5, 2011)

"A United Nations-sponsored report into the causes of a deadly cholera outbreak that ravaged Haiti in the wake of its disastrous 2010 earthquake has discovered a culprit -- the U.N. itself.

"The 32-page report, prepared by an independent panel of medical experts at the behest of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, clearly states that the source of the epidemic was most likely a camp for U.N. peacekeepers in Haiti, whose human waste was dumped by independent contractors into an unsecured pit that was susceptible to flooding in heavy rainfall.

"That conclusion, the report notes, mirrors 'a commonly held belief in Haiti' virtually from the moment the outbreak began.

"But the report buries that central finding under a welter of circumstances that caused investigators to conclude that the outbreak, which is ongoing, 'was not the fault of, or deliberate action of, a group or individual.'..."

Before anything else: the important point, in the Lemming's opinion, is that folks are still getting cholera in Haiti.

No pressure, but it's also the Lemming's opinion that Haitians could use some help. There's a none-too-well-updated list of charities in January, 2010, post. Some of the links should still be valid, though - particularly for the higher-profile charities.

Just a thought.

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'It's Not Our Fault,' or 'Accidents Happen'

Now, about the assertion that starting a plague in Haiti "was not the fault of, or deliberate action of, a group or individual."

So much depends on what the word "fault" is supposed to mean. Let's look at a dictionary:

• Fault (noun)
  1. A wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
  2. An imperfection in an object or machine
  3. The quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection
  4. A crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
  5. Equipment failure attributable to some defect in a circuit
  6. Responsibility for a bad situation or event
  7. In sports, a serve that is illegal
• Fault (verb)
  1. Put or pin the blame on
  (Princeton's WordNet)

It seems to the Lemming that there's "fault" involved, in the sense of the bad judgment or ignorance or inattention that resulted in human waste being dumped into Haiti's water (noun, #1). But maybe, legally, the contractor who did the dumping isn't responsible (noun, #6). As for fault as a verb - like the Lemming said, maybe it's not illegal to poison the water in Haiti.

It's also possible that the contractor didn't know that it's a bad idea to dump human waste where it can get into streams and rivers. Particularly where floods are likely.

Possible - but the Lemming has no idea how likely it is that the folks involved knew what they were doing.

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Bottom Line: People Died

"...As the report also notes, military contingents from Bangladesh and Nepal were among members of the United Nations Stabilization Force in Haiti (known by its French-language acronym of MINUSTAH) stationed at U.N. peacekeeping camp Mirebalais, close to the initial outbreak. An additional contingent of 60 Bangladesh police officers was also stationed at Mirebalais between September and October 2010.

"None of the U.N. personnel were recorded as cholera cases, but the bacteria, which is usually spread through water, can exist in small numbers in the human digestive tract until it hits a rapid-breeding environment.

"According to the report, the MINUSTAH camp at Mirebalais was just such an environment. Water piping around the main toilet and showering area of the camp was 'haphazard,' with 'significant potential for cross-contamination through leakage from broken pipes and poor pipe connections.' Some of the pipes ran over a drainage ditch that fed into a tributary of the Artibonite River, Haiti's largest, which subsequently became the main artery of the water-borne epidemic.

"In addition, sewage from the camp, along with two other MINUSTAH facilities, was trucked by a contractor to an open and unfenced septic pit, in an area that was susceptible to flooding and overflow in wet weather that enters the same river tributary system...."
(FoxNews.com)

Maybe there was no other possible way to get rid of the tainted water. Maybe it was impossible to set up adequate waste collection and disposal.

The report isn't particularly light reading, but the Lemming's seen worse:

• "Final Report of the Independent Panel of Experts on the Cholera Outbreak in Haiti"Dr. Alejando Cravioto (Chair), International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease
  Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and others (undated)
  From www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/haiti/UN-cholera-report-final.pdf, found May 6, 2011

The report gives what seem to be common-sense recommendations for preventing another debacle like this. Maybe the United Nations will implement them.

Then again, maybe not.

Implementing the report's recommendations, from training health workers to investing in "piped, treated drinking water supplies and improved sanitation in Haiti," and using vaccines (Final Report) - all cost money. Besides, 'we've never done that before' seems to be a fairly common response to new ideas.

Still, if the United Nations and related outfits don't get their act together - the next time they try to help, more people will almost certainly die.

Back to that article - for the last time in this post.

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Oops

"...The cholera epidemic, which is still ongoing, has killed some 4,500 Haitians through severe diarrhea and dehydration since its outbreak in October 2010. There had been no previous cholera outbreak in Haiti for nearly a century. The report confirms that the specific cholera bacteria involved in the Haitian epidemic are a variant first detected in Bangladesh in 2002, which is even more toxic than other cholera strains found in South Asia...."
(FoxNews.com)

Almost a century and no cholera outbreak in Haiti. That's a pretty good record. Particularly considering the island nation's economic status. Not that being wealthy is a guarantee against health problems and daft management. And that's almost another topic.

The Lemming has opined before, about blaming the victim, the United Nations, and whether there are too many Africans:

• "Japan, Good Taste, Common Sense, and a Duck"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (March 15, 2011)
• "Lemming Tracks: Sudan, Africa, Independence, Unity, and Getting a Grip"
  (January 6, 2011)
• "H1N1 Pandemic Over, But the Bug Lingers On"
  (August 11, 2010)
• "Sustainable African Development: And Swift's Modest Proposal"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (May 6, 2010)

About Haiti and cholera, the Lemming hopes that folks trying to help Haitians will be much more careful - so that their assistance won't be quite so lethal.

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More:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

The Lemming's take on Haiti, Voodoo, charity, and common sense:

• "Archbishop: 'Let's Not Forget Haiti' - Works for Me"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (June 9, 2010)
• "Haiti: Voodoo, Pat Robertson, and the Catholic Church"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (January 16, 2010)

More:

• "U.N. Forces Introduced Cholera to Haiti, Panel Concludes"
  Martin Enserink, ScienceInsider (May 5, 2011)
• "HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING"
  BY FARHAN HAQ, ACTING DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
  United Nations (May 6, 2011)
• "Final Report of the Independent Panel of Experts on the Cholera Outbreak in Haiti" (.pdf)
  Alejando Cravioto (Chair) and others, United Nations (undated)

Cholera in Florida: Naples isn't Haiti

"First cholera case in Florida found in Naples area"
SunSentinel.com (November 17, 2010)

"A Naples-area woman has been confirmed as the first Floridian to contract cholera after visiting Haiti, and other potential cases in other areas also are being tested, state health officials said Wednesday.

"But Department of Health doctors said the woman's infection poses virtually no risk to the public in Florida because U.S. sewer and water systems eliminate the bacteria from drinking water, which is primarily how it spreads.

" 'We don't anticipate we will see any transmission as a result of exposure in Haiti in Florida or anywhere else in the U.S. - because our water and sanitiation system minimizes the risk,' said Dr. Thomas Torok, a disease investigator with the health department.

"The only real risk to Floridians would occur if they had direct contact with bodily fluids from an infected person, including if the patient worked in a job with public contact, cholera experts said. The woman does not work in such a job.

"State health officials declined to say how many other illnesses they are investigating as potential cholera cases, or where those cases have developed. Potential cases in South Florida would not be a surprise, given number of residents here who travel to Haiti...."

It's also no surprise, to the Lemming, that this cholera case in Florida isn't seen as much of a threat to public health.

Florida isn't Haiti.

The climate's similar: but not the culture and society. This isn't a 'superior/inferior' thing: just a recognition that one place has a water treatment and delivery system that delivers clean water that's been disinfected; the other doesn't. January's earthquake didn't help Haiti's ability to keep folks healthy. At all.

There's background on the last 6,000 or so years of development in public water delivery systems here:

• "The History of Drinking Water Treatment" (EPA 816-F-00-006)
  United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (February, 2000)

Back to Haiti and Florida. There's a lot of traffic between Haiti and Florida, which explains how this case happened:

"...The infected woman, from Collier County, contracted the disease after a trip to visit relatives in the Artibonite River region of Haiti, where that country's recent outbreak began and has been strongest, Torok said. Haiti's cholera epidemic has killed about 1,100 and hospitalized more than 18,000...."

Meanwhile, back in Haiti, folks living there have quite a lot on their hands: a cholera outbreak; rebuilding from a hurricane; rebuilding that the hurricane interrupted, from January's earthquake; and a national election coming up.

Like the Lemming's said before: money isn't everything, but it sure helps get supplies and people to where they're needed. There's more about that, in the "More" post.

Related posts:

• "Haiti, Cholera, A Thousand Dead, Link to Charities List"
  (November 16, 2010)
• "Haiti: Cholera, Hurricane, But Otherwise in Rough Shape"
  (November 6, 2010)

More:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

The Lemming's take on Haiti, Voodo, charity, and common sense:

• "Archbishop: 'Let's Not Forget Haiti' - Works for Me"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (June 9, 2010)
• "Haiti: Voodoo, Pat Robertson, and the Catholic Church"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (January 16, 2010)

Haiti, Cholera, A Thousand Dead, Link to Charities List

"Over 1,000 Haitians Dead From Cholera"
Americas, Voice of America (November 16, 2010)

"The death toll from Haiti's cholera epidemic has passed 1,000.

"Health officials made the announcement Tuesday, reporting an official figure of 1,034 deaths as of Sunday.

"The authorities said more than 16,700 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak was first reported late last month.

"Angry protesters have accused United Nations peacekeepers from Nepal of bringing the waterborne disease to their Caribbean nation.

"Violent protests against U.N. peacekeepers erupted Monday, with at least two people killed in clashes between demonstrators and the U.N. workers.

"The U.N. mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, dismissed the demonstrations as 'politically motivated,' ahead of the November 28 presidential and legislative elections.

"The U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator in Haiti, Nigel Fisher, told reporters Monday that cholera has been detected in every province...."

Politically motivated riots or not: folks living in Haiti are not having a good year. At all.

So far:

• Major earthquake
• Near-miss from hurricane
• Cholera outbreak

The good news is that there isn't all that much left of 2010 left. Also that there are Haitians who aren't attacking folks from Nepal. And quite a few other folks are trying to help.

List of Charities

Maybe you saw this before: a list of charities I put together back in January, 2010. I haven't checked every URL, but the ones I did - worked. One more thing: It's a good idea to make sure that the outfit you're giving money to is legit. You can do that to your own satisfaction better than I could.

Okay. Here's a link to that list of charities:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

That page also has lists of posts in this, and other, blogs about Haiti.

Related posts:

• "Haiti, Cholera: Yes, It's in Port-au-Prince"
  (November 11, 2010)
• "Haiti, Cholera: It's In the Capital"
  (November 9, 2010)
• "Haiti: Cholera, Hurricane, But Otherwise in Rough Shape"
  (November 6, 2010)

Haiti, Cholera: Yes, It's in Port-au-Prince

"Haiti - Epidemic : 73 cases of cholera confirmed in Port-au-Prince, 1 dead"
Haitilibre.com (November 11, 2010)

"Since October 21, cholera in Haiti, made at least 583 victims reported officially.

"9,123 people infected with Vibrio cholerae type O1 are hospitalized. The cholera epidemic is now considered as 'a national security issue,' said on Tuesday Gabriel Thimothé, the Director General of Haitian Ministry of Health.

"According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, the five regions, the Artibonite, Center, North, Northwest and West of Haiti and the capital, are now affected by cholera...."

So far this year, Haiti's had a major earthquake that destroyed buildings and killed people, a near-miss by a hurricane that did about the same thing on a smaller scale, and a cholera outbreak that wasn't helped by the hurricane.

Aside from that, the Haitian economy is in bad shape and their country's infrastructure - roads, water systems, power, and so forth - is in even worse shape than it was before the earthquake.

This hasn't been a particularly good year for Haitians.

Part of the World Health Organization's (WHO) website focuses on Haiti: who.int/countries/hti/en/.

The most recent update on disease outbreaks there is from last week:

"Cholera in Haiti - update 2"
World Health Organization (November 4, 2010)

"As of 3 November, the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) reported 6 742 cholera cases including 442 deaths. The departments where confirmed cases have been reported include Artibonite, Centre, Nord, Nord-Ouest, and Ouest.

"Laboratory test on the cholera strain linked to the current outbreak in Haiti conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta showed that it is most similar to cholera strains found in South Asia. ..."

That's a lot of people dead and ill. A little quick arithmetic: 442/6,742 = 0.065....

As of around the middle of last week, it looks like around 6.5% of the folks in Haiti who got cholera - and let WHO know about it - died.

Sure: it isn't a particularly huge percentage of the country's 9,000,000 or so - - - Wait a minute. That Haitilibre.com article said that 9,123 folks were infected. 9,123/9,000,000: that's very roughly 1/1000. It's still not a very large fraction. But it's noticeable.

What if Tampa Took Ill?

For folks living in the United States, this comparison might help put the numbers from Haiti in perspective. America has about 310,000,000 folks living here.

If 1/1000 of us had cholera - that'd be about 310,000 cases. That's very roughly the population of Tampa, Florida ("Tampa's Population Moves Up In Ranking -- Tampa is now the 53rd largest city in the U.S." City of Tampa, Florida, press release (July 8, 2009))

Everybody in Tampa, Florida, coming down with cholera wouldn't bring this nation to its knees: but America is in much better shape to begin with than Haiti is. And - we'd notice if that many Americans got sick.

'Money isn't Everything' - But It Helps

No pressure, like the Lemming's said before. But folks in Haiti could use a little help. 'Money isn't everything,' but when someone's rounding up supplies, trying to get the shipped across part of the Atlantic - and pay people enough so that they can drop what they're doing and go help Haitians? Having money helps.

List of Charities

I put together a list of charities, back in January, 2010. Some of them you've heard of, some of them maybe not. I haven't checked every URL, but the ones I did - worked. One more thing: It's a good idea to make sure that the outfit you're giving money to is legit. You can do that to your own satisfaction better than I could.

Okay. Here's a link to that list of charities:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

That page also has lists of posts in this, and other, blogs about Haiti.

Haiti, Cholera: It's In the Capital

"Haiti tests for cholera in Port-au-Prince"
Latin America & Caribbean, BBC News (November 8, 2010)

"At least 120 people in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, are being tested for cholera, health officials say.

"Doctors have told the BBC the disease is 'clinically' present in the city, but there is no official confirmation.

"The health ministry says 544 people have died in Haiti's latest cholera outbreak. About 8,000 are being treated in hospitals...."

The last I read, 'only' about one in ten people who came down with cholera in Haiti died from it. This won't wipe out everybody.

The cholera outbreak will, however, create a great deal of misery.

That's the bad news.

The good news is that some folks are trying to help.

I haven't checked all the links for charities in this list: but many - maybe most - should still be working:
"Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"
(January 15, 2010)

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Update (November 9, 2010)
Why such big letters? I didn't want folks to miss the link. ☺

Back to the original post.

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I know: money isn't everything. But when you're collecting supplies and getting them to Haiti - and paying folks enough so that they can afford to drop what they're doing and work at helping Haitians put their country back together - money helps.

And yes, I've 'put my money where my mouth is.' I've had opportunities when my parish passed the hat, earlier this year.

Now, about Haiti and cholera: The BBC article reviews what folks in Haiti have been dealing with lately. Earthquake. Cholera. Hurricane. Floods. Mudslides. More Cholera.

It's a waterborne disease, so flooding in a country where a none-too-adequate infrastructure had been damaged by a major earthquake didn't help contain the outbreak. At all.

The Lemming will be back, with something a bit more cheery. Wouldn't take much.

Related posts:

• "Haiti: Cholera, Hurricane, But Otherwise in Rough Shape"
  (November 6, 2010)
• "Haiti, Nigeria, Cholera"
  (October 27, 2010)
• "Haiti: It's Cholera"
  (October 24, 2010)
• "Haiti: First an Earthquake - Now - Cholera?"
  (October 22, 2010)

Haiti: Cholera, Hurricane, But Otherwise in Rough Shape

"Cholera death toll rises in hurricane-hit Haiti"
Latin America & Caribbean, BBC News (November 6, 2010)

"Leogane bore the brunt of Hurricane Tomas rainfall

"The death toll from the current cholera epidemic in Haiti has exceeded 500, the country's health ministry has said.

"Fifty-nine people had died up until and including Thursday, and 617 others had been infected, bringing the total affected to 7,359, the ministry added.

"The news came as the local authorities and relief agencies attempted to get clean drinking water to those areas worse affected by Hurricane Tomas.

"The storm caused flooding and left eight people dead in western Haiti...."

The Lemming remembers a blurb for an episode in Michael Landon's overwrought Little House on the Prairie series that went something like this: "The Ingals are trapped in a burning barn with a rabid skunk as flood waters rise." (If you're a Little House fan, please don't be offended. I found the series to be a trifle schmaltzy, but my wife likes it - and so do a great many other folks. Tastes vary.)

News from Haiti, since the January earthquake, has been a bit like some of those Little House episodes: one appalling disaster after another.

I suppose it could be worse: We could be reading about Hurricane Virginie, building strength to finish what Tomas started. (There isn't a Hurricane Virginie, yet - as far as I could tell.)

And, things could have been a lot worse, from Tomas: At least, according to this:

"Haiti Avoids Hurricane Disaster, But Cholera Toll Rises"
RTT News (November 6, 2010)

"Hurricane Tomas spared Haiti the worst of its fury even as its residents struggle to recover from last January's devastating earthquake. However, the storm caused flooding that has killed eight people and increased concerns that the deluge of rain could help spread cholera, according to media reports quoting government officials...."

Are November hurricanes rare? Yes. But, as an article's title said, decades ago: "Long Range Weather Forecast: Crazy." The gist of it was that climatologists and meteorologists had taken a look at what they knew about long cycles in ocean currents and large-scale weather phenomena like the jet stream - and noticed that we'd had a period of unusually nice, clement, weather. That was ending. The Lemming would have made note of the publication and date, but at the time I didn't realize that 'climate change' would be a sort of cult in the early 21st century.

Back to Haiti.

No pressure, but folks there can use help. I put together a list of charities early this year, along with links to related posts. I've updated post links, but haven't checked on every charity. If the link's dead: well, there are others. Also, I haven't checked out every charity there. It's a good idea to find out who you are giving your money to: but I figure you can do that to your satisfaction better than I could.

Here's that post:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Haiti, Nigeria, Cholera

"Haiti, Nigeria Battle Cholera"
Voice of America (October 26, 2010)

"Health providers and aid groups have mobilized to combat outbreaks of cholera in Haiti and Nigeria. Often causing extreme dysentery and dehydration, cholera arises from a strain of bacteria that is easily spread and hard to eradicate from infected zones. Cholera is a common after-effect of natural calamities.

"Ever since January's massive earthquake devastated Haiti, health officials have warned of the dangers of cholera. In a country where public sanitation infrastructure is poor to non-existent and clean drinking water is often hard to come by, more than 3,000 cholera cases and more than 250 deaths have been reported in recent weeks, mostly north of Port-au-Prince.

"Doctor John Andrus, Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization, spoke with reporters this week:

" 'People with low immunity, such as malnourished children or people with the HIV virus, are of greatest risk for death, if infected [with cholera],' said Andrus...."

Haiti and Nigeria aren't alone: There have been cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, too, according to the article.

The Lemming ran into the assertion that the earthquake in Haiti didn't cause cholera. True enough: the disease is caused by a bacteria. Roads, water handling systems, and buildings being destroyed by the earthquake in Haiti - and a great many folks who weren't killed having to move - in a country that was terribly poor to begin with - probably didn't help keep cholera from happening, either.

The Lemming is concentrating on Haiti - partly because it's closest to home; partly because it takes time to put together a list of charities; partly because quite a number of the outfits that help Haiti are interested in places around the world.

Related posts:

• "Haiti: It's Cholera"
  (October 24, 2010)
• "Haiti: First an Earthquake - Now - Cholera?"
  (October 22, 2010)

More about Haiti, including a list of charities:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Haiti: It's Cholera

"Cholera Outbreak Hits Haiti, Nearly 200 Dead"
FOXNews (October 22, 2010)

"A cholera epidemic spread in central Haiti on Friday as aid groups rushed doctors and supplies to fight the country's worst health crisis since January's earthquake. Nearly 200 deaths had been confirmed and more than 2,000 people were ill.

"The first two cases of the disease outside the rural Artibonite region were confirmed in Arcahaie, a town that is closer to the quake-devastated capital, Port-au-Prince.

"Officials are concerned the outbreak could reach the squalid tarp camps where hundreds of thousands of quake survivors live in the capital...."

The situation in Haiti isn't good. Many folks are living in camps, after their homes were destroyed in the earthquake earlier this year.

Back to the article:

"...'You cannot say it is because of the earthquake, but because of the earthquake the situation here requires a high level of attention in case the epidemic extends,' said Michel Thieren, a program officer for the Pan-American Health Organization.

"Cholera is a bacterial infection spread through contaminated water. It causes severe diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to dehydration and death within hours...."

The family of one of the fatalities in Haiti had been drinking water from a river that flows down from the island's central plateau. The river tests positive for cholera.

Adding another level of trouble, Haiti has a presidential election coming up. That gives the country's leadership unpleasant options.

They can go ahead with the elections. Which will encourage folks to travel and crowd together at polling locations. There's a good chance that the cholera will spread farther, faster, that way. And the current government will probably be blamed.

They can postpone the elections. Which will probably fray nerves even more in an already stressed-out country. Losing the next election might be a best-case scenario if the elections don't happen on schedule.

Either way, it looks like more folks are going to die of cholera.

There's an effort on to deal with the situation, though:

"...Meanwhile, the government and the international community have stepped up public awareness campaigns on best sanitation practices and started to deliver bottled water and bars of soap."
(Miami Herald)

Related post:

• "Haiti: First an Earthquake - Now - Cholera?"
  (October 22, 2010)

In the news:

• "Five cholera cases detected in Haitian capital"
  Reuters (October 23, 2010)
• "Cholera epidemic may devastate Haitian capital"
  HaitiNews.net (October 23, 2010)
• "Health crisis in Haiti: Cholera kills 194, sickens thousands"
  Miami Herald (October 23, 2010)

More about Haiti, including a list of charities:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Haiti: First an Earthquake - Now - Cholera?

"Dozens dead in Haiti from outbreak of disease"
BBC (October 21, 2010)

"Dozens of people in Haiti have died from an illness that produces diarrhoea, acute fever and vomiting.

"A government announcement is awaiting test results but the head of the Haitian Medical Association told AFP news agency the outbreak was cholera.

"Claude Surena said 135 people had died and 1,500 infected in recent days...."

First, the good news: So far, only a few dozen folks have died of this disease.

Now, the bad news: It could be cholera. And, no matter what it is, Haiti isn't as well-prepared as it might be to deal with the outbreak.

The nation wasn't at all well-off, and that earthquake didn't improve conditions any.

More about Haiti, including a list of charities:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

No pressure: but the folks in Haiti could use help.

Haitians Need Help, Yesterday

News from Haiti, this week:

"IMF Cancels $268 Million in Haiti's Debt, Approves New Loan"
BusinessWeek (July 21, 2010)

"The International Monetary Fund agreed to cancel Haiti's $268 million outstanding debt to the institution and approved a loan to boost central bank reserves as the country rebuilds its economy after a January earthquake.

"The decisions came four months after donors pledged $5.26 billion to Haiti's reconstruction. The $60 million, three-year loan, which bears no interest until the end of 2011, will help the central bank manage potential currency volatility as donor funds flow in, the Washington-based IMF said in an e-mailed release.

" 'Donors must start delivering on their promises to Haiti quickly so reconstruction can be accelerated, living standards quickly improved, and social tensions soothed, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said in the statement...."

"Where's the money for Haiti gone?"
mirror.co.uk (July 25, 2010)

"The world pledged £3.4billion for victims, but six months on just 2% of the cash has been given out

"When the heartbreaking images of the devastation caused by the massive earthquake in Haiti ­appeared on TV screens across the globe, the world pledged £3.41billion in aid.

"But six months on from the January 12 quake a Sunday Mirror investigation can reveal how the victims are being ­forgotten...because just TWO per cent of the money has arrived....

"...And because businesses aren't up and running again yet, looting is common – ­making the make-shift camps a breeding ground for criminals.

"Today UK charities warn that the rescue mission is descending into chaos, leaving thousands facing death.

"Donors are refusing to hand over their cash until the Haiti government comes up with a plan detailing exactly how the aid will be spent.

"But Haiti can't do that until the money arrives, condemning people there to a hellish future...."

I'm not sure why Haitian authorities can't figure out what they'll do with money until they have it in hand: but the bottom line is that Haitians who aren't government officials need help.

Want to blame America for the earthquake? Or at least for Haitian authorities not knowing how they'll spend pledged money? This may help:

"Haitian immigrants need expedited entry"
San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board (July 22, 2010)

"Pledges from individuals and governments to help the people of Haiti are a distant memory. Aid to rebuild the impoverished nation is trickling in.

"Six months after a devastating earthquake took as many as 300,000 lives, the world has moved on. Donor nations committed to send $5.3 billion at a March aid conference. CNN reports less than 2 percent of that aid has actually been delivered. Of the $1.15 billion American pledge, nothing has yet been paid.

"The humanitarian catastrophe in Haiti, however, continues.

"The U.S. funds are tied up in the congressional appropriations process. Even if they were released today, it would take weeks, perhaps months, before the funds would make it through the international bureaucracy to the people who actually need it.

"That needs to be done. But there's an immediate way the United States can provide direct humanitarian relief — by expediting the entry of 55,000 Haitian visa candidates who already have relatives in the United States...."

More immigrants? I don't see a problem with that - but then, I'm half-Irish, and know my family history. I wouldn't be here today: if America hadn't let some socially-dubious folks in.

The Lemming Opines: Not Waiting for the Government

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere - and the folks who weren't among the roughly 300,000 killed in January's quake need help - now.

The American Congress may get through its appropriation process, Haitian authorities may decide to say how they plan to spend other people's money before they have it in hand: but Haitians who aren't with the government need help yesterday.

There's a link to a smorgasbord of charitable institutions, at the end of this post. I'd like to single out one that's affiliated with an outfit that's bigger and older than the United States of America.

• "Haiti"
  Catholic Relief Services

More:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Haiti's Rebuilding: and Doing It Right

"Haiti trying to avoid past mistakes as rebuilding begins"
CNN (May 21, 2010)

"At the Iron Market, Haitians shopped for everything from vegetables to Voodoo flags. One side was destroyed in a 2008 fire. The January 12 earthquake leveled the rest.

"By year's end, workers hope to restore the Port-au-Prince landmark to its original splendor.

"Destined for Egypt in 1889, the market's French-built minarets became Haiti's when the sale to a Cairo train station fell through and President Florvil Hyppolite bought the massive cast iron structures as part of his plan to modernize the city...."

"...It's inspiring to see the historical structure rise again amid the rubble, Gay said. But even more, the Iron Market restoration provides hope to those who live and work in its shadow -- especially because everyone knows Haiti's rebuilding process is sure to be slow.

"By some estimates, it will take three to five years just to clear the rubble and debris still on the streets of Port-au-Prince. There is so much damage and destruction, so few trucks and places to dispose of the mangled steel and concrete and the piles of crushed furniture and personal possessions...."

One of the reasons that so many of Haiti's buildings collapsed is that they were built on the cheap - smooth rebar, not ridged the way we have it here in America, and not much of that. Calcium carbonate in the concrete - and concrete made with too much water (cutting costs again) - didn't help buildings stand up, either.

This time around, it looks like Haiti's government is going to inspect buildings as they're being built. I'm no fan of regulation: but there are enough bean-counting nitwits around to make me think that building codes make sense - in principle.

Bottom line? It looks like the survivors in Haiti realize that they really don't want to go on with 'business as usual' as they rebuild their country.

Aid agencies are putting up semi-permanent houses for folks who don't have a roof for the rainy season. These buildings aren't subject to building code - but that doesn't upset me all that much. Small, lightweight, structures seem to weather earthquakes fairly well. It's those concrete, glass and steel high rises with crumbly concrete and breakaway rebars that are a problem.

Finally:

A list of charities you've probably heard about already, with links and some contact information:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Also a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.

Haiti: Rebuilding the 'Sustainable' Way?

First, a sort of Public Service Announcement:

Haitians, many of them, are running out of time. The rainy season is coming, and there's a lot of work to do. Including putting up shelters that won't wash away in the rain.

You may be able to help.

A list of charities you've probably heard about already, with links and some contact information:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Also a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.

Now, the post:

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"Sustainability in Haiti in the Wake of Disaster"
Susan Cosier, via Associated Content (March 16, 2010)

"Before the earthquake struck Haiti in January, leaving millions of people homeless and without access to food or water, UN officials were already helping the country prepare for the worst. But the disasters they were anticipating were hurricanes and flooding from denuded hillsides, not collapsed buildings. Officials are now putting some programs on a temporary hold as they focus on a new priority: green building. The new structures, if taken from a page out of Chilean design, could help prevent earthquake damage in the future.

"The Feb. 27 earthquake in Chile, about 500 times more powerful than Haiti's, led to fewer fallen structures and a much smaller death toll (700 hundred compared to the 250,000 in Haiti). The reason, experts say, is the strong building codes enforced in the South American country, which is no stranger to the earth's rockings; the country experienced the largest earthquake ever, a 9.5 on the Richter scale, in 1960.

" 'One system that helps buildings stay up is called the "strong columns weak beams" system,' writes the BBC...."

I'm interested in architecture and interior design, among other things, and I've run into the word "sustainable" quite a lot recently. A "sustainable" building project often seems to involve someone shipping wood in from somewhere else, or selecting roofing and siding that doesn't need much paint or maintenance.

I have no problem with someone building a carport that costs more than the house I'm living in, or using exotic building materials. If there weren't folks like that, I wouldn't be able to read about their houses. I think that designs that give maintenance a higher priority are smart.

But the word "sustainable" has started to sound silly to me.

As I wrote last year: "...About the 'sustainable wood,' though: I've been running into the word "sustainable" for some time now. I think I understand the concern that people feel about using precious resources like wood. The way some builders and designers talk, you'd think that wood grows on trees!"
(January 31, 2009)

I was a bit concerned when I saw "sustainable" in this article's title. The folks in Haiti, many of them, are in a desperate situation. The last thing they need, short of another 7.0 earthquake or a major hurricane, seems to be foreigners coming in and insisting that they pay extra for "sustainable" construction.

What the article describes isn't like that. The focus really is on studying what Chile did, that resulted in (relatively) little damage in their recent quake. Apart from having the epicenter happen away from the national capital.

Reforesting Haitian hillsides will help them look better - but, more to the point, if the right trees are selected the roots will stabilize the soil. Grasses will do the same thing. The idea is to keep the dirt more-or-less where it is now.

Building codes? I don't, as a rule, like regulations. And building codes, like any other rule, can be silly. But, just as it makes sense to make it a rule that everybody drive on the right (or left) side of the road, it makes sense to have rules about how buildings are put together.

The trick, in my opinion, is to make the building codes "sustainable." In other words, give the folks who have to pay for and construct buildings a break: Make sure that the codes describe buildings that can be built, given economic conditions and available technology.

Related posts:

• "Recycled House: Well, That's Cool"
  (February 6, 2010)
• " 'Good architecture really isn't so complicated' "
  (December 26, 2009)
• "NASA Builds Cool Green Building: Uber-Efficient and All That"
  (August 5, 2009)
• "Now You, Too, Can Live in a Rusty Equipment Shed"
  (July 20, 2009)
• "Flip Table: Cool Design, Cool Video"
  (January 31, 2009)
• "Cool, Yes; Green, Yes; Practical, Not Really"
  (July 27, 2008)

More:

• "Rural Haiti Struggles to Absorb Displaced"
  The New York Times (March 16, 2010)
• "Why did fewer die in Chile's earthquake than in Haiti's?"
  BBC (March 1, 2010)
• "Archdiocese of Miami outlines $1.57M Haiti relief plan"
  Miami Herald (March 12, 2010)

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A tip of the hat to acnews, on Twitter, for the heads-up on this article.

Haiti's Still in Trouble: Just a Reminder

Earthquakes and their aftermaths; news from Haiti and Chile:

"Strong quakes torment Chile as president sworn in"
The Associated Press (March 11, 2010)

"The earth shook and shook Thursday as dignitaries walked in for the swearing-in of Sebastian Pinera as Chile's president. It shook some more as they waited for him.

"People in the balconies of the vast congressional hall in coastal Valparaiso shouted warnings as a massive light fixture rocked overhead, and heads of state nervously eyed the ceiling. But a steely calm prevailed, and Pinera strode in smiling.

"The 60-year-old president and his ministers then quickly swore their oaths, and the audience of 2,000 headed for the exits and the hills, joining an evacuation called out of concern that Thursday's repeated aftershocks would set off another tsunami...."

"Two kidnapped foreign aid workers freed in Haiti"
Reuters (March 11, 2010)

"Two foreign aid workers with Doctors Without Borders in quake-hit Haiti were kidnapped and held for nearly a week before being freed early on Thursday, the international medical charity said.

"'Two of my colleagues, two women, were abducted last Friday. They were released early this morning ... they are in good health and in good shape,' Michel Peremans, spokesman in Haiti for Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), told Reuters.

" 'It is not our policy to pay any ransoms,' Peremans said. He declined to say whether a ransom had been asked for in this case, or who the kidnappers were.

"Citing privacy considerations, he declined to give details of their identities or nationalities or of the circumstances of the kidnapping, which occurred in the capital Port-au-Prince...."

"Rainy season brings new threat to Haiti"
ABC News (March 11, 2010)

"The International Red Cross is warning of a new humanitarian crisis in Haiti, with the approaching rainy season set to wreak havoc in overcrowded 'tent cities'.

"With nowhere else to go, hundreds of thousands of homeless Haitians have set up camp on dangerous ground which is susceptible to flood and mudslides.

"Many of the makeshift camps are overcrowded and still growing, and International Red Cross spokesman Alex Wynter says the wet season will only make matters worse.

" 'There's no doubt, and no-one is trying to make any secret of the fact, that this country faces a very grave humanitarian emergency with the rainy season,' he said.

" 'We've got 5,000 local volunteers on hand to do things like digging out drainage gullies so that downpours don't turn into floods.'..."

Nothing really new here, apart from the good news about those folks with Doctors Without Borders. Chile will be experiencing aftershocks - and possibly not-quite-so-closely-related earthquakes - for weeks, months. Longer. It's a geologically active area.

Feeling Generous? Pick Your Charity

I put together a list of charities, after the big quake in Haiti this year. It's pretty obvious that folks in Haiti will need help for the foreseeable future - this page has links and other contact information:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"
  (January 15, 2010)

Haiti isn't the only place where people are in need. There's the food situation in Zimbabwe, for instance. But enough with the crises. For now.

Related posts:

• "Chile City Moved 10 Feet West: Change Happens"
  (March 10, 2010)
• "Haiti isn't Chile: Earthquakes, Economics, and Building Codes"
  (March 1, 2010)
• "Quake in Chile, Tsunamis Around the Pacific"
  (February 27, 2010)

Feeling Compassionate, Doing Something About It

I think it's nice to feel bad for people going through hard times. I also think it's nice to do something about it. My household gave to a special collection at our church. We're not particularly wealthy people, for Americans, so my family's contribution was a tiny fraction of the quarter-million dollars that the diocese raised. My guess is that a lot of people gave a little, and a few gave a lot.

We're Catholics, so giving help when we can isn't an option: it's a requirement.

I mentioned Zimbabwe before. This post is already longer than many, and I'm getting off-topic, but one more link. It shows the Catholic Church in America's take on some of what's happening in Africa, and has some links.

• "Catholic Concern for Africa"
  Justice, Peace and Human Development, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Haiti isn't Chile: Earthquakes, Economics, and Building Codes

Haiti had a devastating earthquake last month. This weekend, Chile was hit by one of the strongest quakes in the last century.

The last I heard, Chile's government wasn't asking for help from other countries. That may not be stupid pride. Chile isn't Haiti.

Haiti can use help. Here's a list of charities you've probably heard about already, with links and some contact information:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Also a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.

Now, about Chile, Haiti, and the two big quakes this year.

"Earthquake rattles Chile but tsunami a fizzer in Pacific"
Courier Mail, via. News.com.au (March 1, 2010)

"RESCUE teams have hunted for survivors after one of the largest earthquakes on record killed at least 300 people in Chile and sent waves roaring across the Pacific Ocean.

"A rapid tsunami alert gripped almost 50 countries and territories along an arc stretching from Australia and New Zealand to Japan, Russia and North America.

"Although the tsunami caused little damage after it raced across the Pacific at speeds around 720km/h, it showed the lessons learned following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that claimed almost 230,000 lives...."

In a way, that's good news. Particularly since yesterday's quake in Chile released roughly 500 times as much energy as the one in Haiti last month: Magnitude 8.8, compared to Haiti's 7.0. (500 times? Yes: The Richter Magnitude scale isn't linear, it's logarithmic: if you plot it on paper it looks a little like a ski jump, going up to the right. More at "The Richter Magnitude Scale," USGS (United States Geological Survey).)

Bigger Quake, Smaller Death Toll: Why?

The Haitians government says about 220,000 people died in the January 12, 2010 earthquake there. It looks like around 300 died in Chile yesterday morning. Odds are that the death toll for Chile will go up - but that's still a bit over a thousandth of the number of people killed in Haiti.

What gives?

I'm old enough to remember the 'good old days,' when a person could assume that since Chile was a Latin American country, this week's Generalissimo Supremo El Presidente had decided that the death toll should be low: and had people who said otherwise shot.

This isn't the fifties any more, and things have changed. More Latin American countries have gotten their acts together - or are in the process. Chile seems to be one of them.

Haiti? Well, let's say there's room for improvement.

"Tale of Two Quakes: Chile Was Ready, Haiti Wasn't"
FOXNews (February 27, 2010)

"The earthquake in Chile was far stronger than the one that struck Haiti last month - yet the death toll in this Caribbean nation is magnitudes higher.

"The reasons are simple.

"Chile is wealthier and infinitely better prepared, with strict building codes, robust emergency response and a long history of handling seismic catastrophes. No living Haitian had experienced a quake at home when the Jan. 12 disaster crumbled their poorly constructed buildings.

"And Chile was relatively lucky this time.

"Saturday's quake was centered offshore an estimated 21 miles underground in a relatively unpopulated area while Haiti's tectonic mayhem struck closer to the surface — about 8 miles - and right on the edge of Port-au-Prince, factors that increased its destructiveness...."

"...In terms of energy released at the epicenter, the Chilean quake was 501 times stronger. But energy dissipates rather quickly as distances grow from epicenters — and the ground beneath Port-au-Prince is less stable by comparison and "shakes like jelly," says University of Miami geologist Tim Dixon...."

That phrase - "infinitely better prepared" - is just plain wrong. I wish journalists would learn a little about mathematics and language. But that's another topic.

Okay - Haiti's quake happened a whole lot closer to a And buildings in Chile are designed to sway when they're shaken: absorbing energy without breaking. Buildings in Haiti? Back to that article.

"..."When you look at the architecture in Chile you see buildings that have damage, but not the complete pancaking that you've got in Haiti," said Cameron Sinclair, executive director of Architecture for Humanity, a 10-year-old nonprofit that has helped people in 36 countries rebuild after disasters.

"Sinclair said he has architect colleagues in Chile who have built thousands of low-income housing structures to be earthquake resistant.

"In Haiti, by contrast, there is no building code...."

I'm no big fan of regulations for the sake of regulation. But some make sense: like making it a rule that everybody drives on the right (or left) side of the road. And make buildings so that they won't collapse, even if it costs a bit extra.

Remember when the dirt-poor 'banana republic' where the nation changed its government and underwear at about the same rate was a stereotype - but not all-too-accurate for many Latin American nations? I do.

That was then, this is now.

Back to the article again.

" 'On a per-capita basis, Chile has more world-renowned seismologists and earthquake engineers than anywhere else,' said Brian E. Tucker, president of GeoHazards International, a nonprofit organization based in Palo Alto, California.

"Their advice is heeded by the government in Latin America's wealthiest nation, getting built not just into architects' blueprints and building codes but also into government contingency planning.

" 'The fact that the president (Michelle Bachelet) was out giving minute-to-minute reports a few hours after the quake in the middle of the night gives you an indication of their disaster response,' said Sinclair.

"Most Haitians didn't know whether their president, Rene Preval, was alive or dead for at least a day after the quake. The National Palace and his residence - like most government buildings - had collapsed...."

That may be an unfair comparison, since Chile's government buildings hadn't, by and large, been knocked over by the quake. On the other hand - - -.

"...On Port-au-Prince's streets Saturday, many people had not heard of Chile's quake. More than half a million are homeless, most still lack electricity and are preoccupied about trying to get enough to eat.

"Fanfan Bozot, a 32-year-old reggae singer having lunch with a friend, could only shake his head at his government's reliance on international relief to distribute food and water.

" 'Chile has a responsible government,' he said, waving his hand in disgust. 'Our government is incompetent.' "

Haiti Death Toll: 300,000 Looks Likely

"Haiti death toll could reach 300,000: Preval"
Reuters (February 22, 2010)

"The death toll from last month's devastating earthquake in Haiti could jump to 300,000 people, including the bodies buried under collapsed buildings in the capital, Haitian President Rene Preval said on Sunday...."

From the looks of it, Haiti is going to be an opportunity for the practice of charity for quite a while. The country wasn't in very good condition to begin with, that earthquake killed a terrible fraction of the people, and broke quite a bit of the country's infrastructure. Folks there can use help.

In case you missed it, near the top of this page: A list of charities you've probably heard about already, with links and some contact information:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Also a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.

Haiti: CNN Statistics and Video

"The magnitude of Haiti's new reality"
CNN (February 12, 2010)

"One month after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti, the enormity of the country's damage is clear. The numbers tell stories of death and destruction, as well as a global outpouring of aid.

"CNN has compiled the latest, most reliable figures available as the devastation continues to unfold:

"THE TOLL

"212,000: Latest estimate of the death toll, from the Civil Protection Agency of the Government of Haiti
More than 300,000: Number of injured, according to the United Nations...."

About a third of the folks in Haiti were affected by the quake, the article says.

It's bad, but it could be worse. Peter Turnley, a photographer and narrator of a short video that goes with the article says that Haitians are "organizing in their and in their neighborhoods." They've got markets going, and are finding ways to be productive.

They're also getting help: which they can use.

Speaking of which, from near the top of this page:

A list of charities you've probably heard about already, with links and some contact information:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Also a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.

Art in Haiti: Still There, Still Colorful

"In pictures: Haiti's art after the quake"
BBC (February 11, 2010)



The BBC article is 13 photos, with a brief caption for each, set up as a slide show.

It's a quick look at one facet of a culture that's not as inhibited about using color as Euro-Americans have been for the last few generations.

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Now, as a sort of Public Service Announcement, from near the top of this page:

A list of charities you've probably heard about already, with links and some contact information:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Also a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.

Haiti - 5 Superdomes of Rubble - Charities

"Rubble from Haiti quake could fill 5 Superdomes"
The Associated Press, via The Miami Herald (January 30, 2010)

"A U.S. official says the rubble remaining from destroyed buildings in Haiti's capital could easily fill to the top five football stadiums the size of New Orleans' Superdome...."

The "U.S. official" seems to be U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Rick Kaiser. And he says that's using "conservative estimates."

Had Enough of the Haiti Disaster? So Have the Haitians

At least, I assume so. I suppose there may be some psychiatrically-challenged person in Haiti, who's sitting in a corner, giggling about all the death and destruction. Or, not.

The point of this post is to

1. Share an interesting factoid
2. Have an excuse to highlight a list of charitable organizations

Well, I've shared the factoid. Now, to highlight the list. You probably saw this at the top of the blog:

A list of charities you've probably heard about already, with links and some contact information:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Also a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.

I know: you've heard it all before. But folks in Haiti will be working their way out of the mess left by the January 12 quake for a long time. They can use help.

Hope for Haiti: Former Haitian Prime Minister

"Former PM: Haiti 'not doomed' "
CNN (January 27, 2010)

"Although Haiti's capital is in ruins and hundreds of thousands are homeless, a former prime minister of the earthquake-ravaged country vowed 'this country is not doomed.'

"In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in Haiti, former Haiti Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis said there must be hope for her country, especially as the world considers a massive recovery program.

" 'Port-au-Prince is destroyed, the few cities around Port-au-Prince are destroyed, but the whole country is not destroyed. It's important that life goes on in the other parts of the country,' Pierre-Louis said.

"Haiti needs to be the 'co-pilot,' along with the international community, of a major reconstruction effort after the devastating earthquake that leveled large parts of the country exactly two weeks ago, she said.

" 'People are still in dire need of support, but at the same time we want to give some hope that Haiti, which has been the country where the universality of human rights gave its true meaning in the 19th century, can be (a) global nation today.'..."

As a rule, the Lemming doesn't quote that much of an article. This time, some very important points were made, which I want you to have up front. Besides, it's a long article - which I suggest you read. Moving along, with what the former Prime Minister said:

"...'We have 9 million Haitians here that need to know what to do, mostly the 2 million that are in Port-au-Prince and around Port-au-Prince and that were the victims of that earthquake.'

"Interactive map: Where to find aid
[link is to a CNN/Google map of Haiti, showing where to find medical aid, shelter & suppies, and - of course - CNN reports]

"The January 12 earthquake killed at least 150,000 people. Some estimates go as high as 200,000. Some 194,000 people were injured. The United Nations said Tuesday that a million Haitians are in urgent need of temporary shelter before the rainy season begins in May...."

What's at the end of the article could be taken as a threat. I don't. I see it as a statement. Or, as CNN put it, a warning.

"...Pierre-Louis acknowledged the importance of institutional reforms in Haiti, particularly in the judicial system. 'The justice system has to work. We cannot live in a country with no sanctions. There is corruption in this country.'

"She also had a blunt warning for the world if it does not take action to help Haiti.

" 'If Haiti does not see how to get out of poverty, how to get out of disease, how to get out this situation that the people are living in, we are going to be trouble for the whole world," she said."

I do not think that poverty causes crime. On the other hand, I think it's a good idea to help people work their way out of poverty. (Another War-on-Terror Blog (January 7, 2010), "Experts: Bad Economies Don't Cause Crime Waves," Laura Sullivan, National Public Radio (November 20, 2008))

I don't see Haitians, a decade or so from now, electing a 21st century analog of Chancellor Hitler. On the other hand, a nation with a corrupt government and desperately poor people is not the sort of neighbor anybody would want to have.

As an American, I don't mind Haitians coming to this country. But, on the whole, I'd just as soon see affluent Haitians on vacation, spending money over here; than poor Haitians struggling to get themselves and their families out of poverty. (January 20, 2010)

"Haiti is Not Doomed!

Hats off to Former Prime Minister Pierre-Louis, for declaring that Haiti is not doomed. I think she's right. Even worst-case estimates of the death toll have nine out of ten Haitians surviving. That's still a horrendous loss of life, and there's an enormous amount of work to do, putting Haiti's major city back together.

But, the vast majority of Haitians are still alive. Given leadership, and a bit of help, I think that a hundred years from now Haitians may see the quake of 2010 the way people in the San Francisco Bay area remember the 1906 earthquake. These are disasters, but not the end of the world - or even of the city or nation.

Finally, in case you missed it at the top of this page:

A list of charities you've probably heard about already, with links and some contact information:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Also a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.

Background:

• "The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake"
  U.S. Geological Survey
• "Special Report | THE SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE | A SPECIAL REPORT FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF"
  Disaster Relief Journal (2001)

Haiti: 150,000 Confirmed Dead, So Far

"Confirmed Death Toll from Haiti Quake Tops 150,000"
The Associated Press, via FOXNews (January 23, 2010)

"The confirmed death toll from Haiti's devastating earthquake has topped 150,000 in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area alone, the communications minister said Sunday, with many more thousands dead around the country or still buried under the rubble.

"Communications minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue told The Associated Press that the figure is based on a body count in the capital and outlying areas by CNE, a state company that has been collecting corpses and burying them in a mass grave north of Port-au-Prince. It does not include other affected cities such as Jacmel, where thousands are believed dead, nor does it account for bodies burned by relatives.

"The United Nations said Saturday the government had confirmed 111,481 bodies; all told, authorities have estimated 200,000 dead from the magnitude-7.0 quake, according to Haitian government figures cited by the European Commission.

" 'Nobody knows how many bodies are buried in the rubble — 200,000, 300,000?' Lassegue said. 'Who knows the overall death toll?'..."

My guess is that the number will keep growing for quite a while.

Obviously, this is a very sad time for Haiti, Haitians, and everyone connected with them.

Related posts:

• "Haiti: 111,000 dead, 8,889,000 Survived"
  (January 23, 2010)
• "Haiti: It Could Be Worse"
  (January 16, 2010)

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In case you missed it, from the top of this page:

A list of charities you've probably heard about already, with links and some contact information:

• "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics"

Also a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.