Ruins in Haiti, hope in hearts

March 1, 2010 • written by Randal Walton  
Filed under News

The news of the horrendous earthquake in Haiti shocked many people, including those at East. However, perhaps French teacher, and native Haitian, Nedége Brooks was the most devastated of all.

“I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know what was going on,” she remembered. For her, the news only got worse. Two of her cousins, one of whom was seven months pregnant, were killed by the quake.

Sophomore and Haitian Sophia Jean-Francois found out about the earthquake from her mother.

“I was shocked because I didn’t see it coming,” she said.

All of her family has been accounted for, but her grandmother lost her home.

Although many celebrities have taken part in the effort to save Haiti, students at East are also doing their part. The rugby teams donated the money they made from the January 29 game to a charity that sends money to Haiti. Additionally, a group of IB students are selling “Lend Haiti A Hand” t-shirts. The French Club is collecting coins to donate to the Red Cross, also to benefit Haiti.

“I’m happy that others are paying attention to Haiti because a lot of things are going on down there,” Jean-Francois said.

The quake centered about 10 miles west of the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince. It measured a 7.0 magnitude, making it the strongest earthquake to hit Haiti in 200 years. There could be hundreds of thousands of people dead, including a confirmed 60 Americans. Many buildings collapsed, trapping another hundreds of thousands of people beneath them, and it is estimated that three million people need emergency help.

However, that help may be hard to come by. Before the quake, Haiti only had eight hospitals. Now, only three remain, but their ability to help is limited due to supply availability.

The United States is jumping into action in the aftermath of the destruction. The U.S. military is helping to build a post-surgical hospital that will contain 5,000 beds. A U.S. hospital ship, the USNS Comfort, has already treated 387 patients and counting. Though donors around the world have given $1.06 billion, the United States has given the most money: $184 million.

However, other nations are criticizing the humanitarian work of the U.S.

“The United States government is taking advantage of a humanitarian tragedy to militarily take over Haiti,” said Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Brooks agrees with this statement, at least to an extent.

“With military help, Haiti can’t be rebuilt. The grip that the U.S. is trying to have on Haiti won’t help the Haitian people,” she says.

Before the earthquake, Haiti was one of the poorest nations in the world and the Western Hemisphere. Now, this country has become even poorer and is even more in shambles.

Despite the tragedy of the earthquake, students believe that they can be part of this effort to save their fellow human beings.

Junior Nathaniel Preval said it best.

“It will take a long time, but yes, Haiti can be rebuilt.”