26313: Craig (news) When disasters hit rich, poor nations (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Dan Craig <sak-pase@bimini.ws>


Posted on Thu, Sep. 22, 2005
U.S.-HAITI

When disasters hit rich, poor nations
BY PEDRO MEDRANO
www.wfp.org <http://www.wfp.org>

Rooftops half submerged in swirling brown water, survivors clinging to flotsam 
or wading through flooded streets; the blank, uncomprehending faces of people 
whose lives have suddenly been overturned: These are the images flowing from 
New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In the age of space flight and 
the microchip, man is still powerless against the forces of nature.

Almost exactly one year ago, we were seeing almost identical images from 
Gonaives in Haiti, lashed by Tropical Storm Jeanne on the night of Sept. 18.

The same devastation, the same stricken faces, the same fear and lawlessness. 
It was not on the scale of Katrina, but for the victims, the horror was no 
different. The main distinction appears to be that last year's disaster struck 
one of the poorest countries in the world, while this year's -- only a few 
hundred miles away -- has hit the richest and most powerful.

American generosity

As the rescue efforts in Louisiana gather pace, offers of assistance have come 
from all around the world. Americans have shown particular generosity to their 
fellow citizens, opening not just their wallets, but also their doors to the 
displaced. It is reassuring evidence that when people are in need, the world is 
willing to respond, defying the conventional platitudes about ``compassion 
fatigue''.

We saw it with the Indian Ocean tsunami nine months ago; in the past month we 
have witnessed it in response to the harrowing television pictures from Niger. 
When people are confronted with images of suffering, when these images 
penetrate the comfort and security of their warm, dry homes, their overwhelming 
tendency is to ask themselves: ''How can I help?'' The problem arises when the 
media spotlight moves on.

The Katrina rescue operation in the United States is reported to be costing 
about $2 billion a day. It is fair to assume that the United States will pull 
out all the stops to get people back to their homes and on their feet again. 
And funding of the rescue, rehabilitation and rebuilding effort is not likely 
to be a problem.

Living in a tiny shelter

But for many of the victims of Gonaives, whose homes and livelihoods were 
destroyed last year, life is still in ruins. Thousands are still living in 
shacks they patched together from the rubble. Funds to rehouse them are simply 
not there.

Consider 42-year-old Marie Jean Sylverin, who lost her house when Jeanne struck 
last year and has since been living in a tiny shelter that she built herself 
from the wreckage, sharing a bed with her four daughters.

What will happen to Marie Jean when the next hurricane strikes Haiti, as it 
inevitably will? In Haiti, it is not just a question of strengthening levees. 
The island is hopelessly ill-equipped to cope with natural disasters.

This is part of the legacy of being the poorest country in the Western 
Hemisphere -- and one hit hard by environmental degradation. More than 98 
percent of the country has been deforested, leaving it highly vulnerable to 
floods and mudslides. Even small storms or heavy rain can cause catastrophe and 
bring serious economic consequences.

The U.N. World Food Program is currently assisting some 850,000 people in 
Haiti, with food distributions to malnourished children, pregnant and nursing 
mothers and people living with HIV/AIDS. It also provides food to primary 
schoolchildren under its school feeding program.

Coffers are empty

Fifteen percent of the funds WFP receives for Haiti are set aside to respond to 
emergencies and natural disasters. Unfortunately, it currently faces a funding 
shortfall of more than 75 percent: Only $10 million has, so far, been received 
against $40 million needed over the next two years. The coffers are empty.

For Marie Jean and her daughters, that means eking out an existence in their 
little shack until it gets washed away by the next big storm. They don't have 
any choice in the matter. But if they did, they might well prefer to be in New 
Orleans.

Pedro Medrano is World Food Program Regional Director for Latin America and the 
Caribbean.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/12708539.htm