Haiti's devastated Palace
Click on image to enlarge
Courtesy: seatletimes
Haiti experienced a 7.0 earthquake on the
Richter magnitude scale, Tuesday 12th January,
2009. The quake has estimated to have killed and
injured tens of thousands of persons.
Already, several countries and non-profits
organizations have
started to pull together aid efforts for Haiti,
where the Associated Press estimates some 3
million people may be in need of help.
Here in the Caribbean, the CEO of the One Caribbean
Media network, Mr. Vic Fernandes has put in
place operation Help Haiti Now. This will be in
the form of a telethon, and radiothon on Saturday 16th January,
to raise hard cash for the rebuilding efforts
that will be needed in this Caribbean territory.
The Help Haiti Now campaign is one the Haitian
musician Wyclef Jean has been touting for
sometime now, which might not be similar to that
which Mr. Fernandez purposes.
Help Haiti Now is a non-profit 501c3
organization which provides food, water,
medicine, and educational support to the poor in
Haiti. Our missions currently assist two remote
communities.(helphaitinow.org)
Facts about Haiti (from www.cia.gov):
- Poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
- (80% live in abject poverty)
- Population: 8.1 million (U.S.=296 million)
- Median Age: 18 years (U.S.=36 years)
- Life Expectancy: 52 years (U.S.=77 years)
- Infant Mortality: 73 deaths/1,000 live births (U.S.=6.5 deaths/1,000 live births)
- Literacy/those over 15 who can read and write:
53% (U.S.=97%)
The earth quake in Haiti has been estimated to
have killed thousands, and thousands more have
been injured, government ministry buildings are
leveled, schools, hospitals and hillside
shanties, and even the presidential palace is
damaged in Port-au-Prince.
Sobbing and dazed many people are wandering the
streets of Port-au-Prince, as voices cry out
from the rubble.
Many will be without drinking water, food,
medicine and homes until the relieve effort kicks
into gear.
Trivester urges those who can to give to this
great relief effort.
Update: 18th
January, 2010
The Caribbean Community’s emergency aid
mission to Haiti, comprising heads of government
and leading technical officials, failed to
secure permission Friday to land at that
devastated country’s airport, now under the
control of the USA. (dominicanewsonline.com).
|
