Europe aims to answer Haiti’s call
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As Haiti lies in ruins following the devastating earthquake that hit the country yesterday, aid teams around the EU and the world are embarking on a mass relief effort.
With the Red Cross claiming that up to 3 million people have been affected by the 7.0-magnitude quake, Haiti’s worst in two centuries, the number of dead is feared to be in the hundreds or possibly thousands. The extent of the damage to the infrastructure is making it impossible to give an exact death toll, with many still missing in the rubble.
At a press conference today UN Chief Ban Ki-moon announced: “We are facing a major humanitarian emergency and a major relief effort will be required.”
A number of European nations, including France, the UK, Belgium and Sweden amongst others, have offered aid including search-and-rescue teams and water purification equipment.
The European Commission is aiming to co-ordinate the EU relief response in order for the mission to be as effective as possible and has already provided €3m for key international humanitarian agencies, such as the Red Cross.
European Commission Spokesperson for Development and Humanitarian Aid John Clancy said the money was made available so that aid agencies could purchase the necessary medicines “without having to think twice about it.” He added, “The emergency relief money can be increased and will probably be increased once our experts along with our humanitarian partners are able to analyse in better detail the needs on the ground.”
The rescue and relief missions are being hampered by the fact that many hospitals have been either totally or partially destroyed.
Emergency Co-ordinator for MSF Chris Lockyear said: “Apart from the obvious immediate medical needs, there’s going to be shelter needs, we’d expect that the water supply has been interrupted as well. So, we expect a whole cross-section of the basic services to be interrupted.”
As well as being the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, the small country which borders the Dominican Republic, has suffered a number of recent disasters including four storms and hurricanes in the last year.
Other
And well they should be kept out of other countries. They bring crime and violence everywhere they go. America already spent $100 million in money taxed from its citizens. as well as additional money from Red Cross donations, and Europe has spent $500 million toward the efforts, not to mention the food, services, etc. What more can one be expected to do for people who've done so little for themselves or others? It simply defies the laws of nature.
Netherlands
To rebuild and help the people in Haiti of course money, medicine, and lots more is needed. But despite all the things that countries are doing I regret nobody want to make effort to give shelter to those who want to leave the country after so many years of struggle.
Its like all the countries think the same: lets rebuild and control Haiti, but keep the people out of my country!!!
USA, Canada and France already said to be easy on Haitians already in their country. But as far as they concern for the new victims of the earthquake, it will be just the same like always: difficult to leave Haiti.
I am almost ashamed to be European. Because Europe did not make any comment about that yet.
This is the Free World, but only inside own borders.
Other
Just a few days ago, on TV, I saw Ex-President Bill Clinton bringing investors , training and hope to the people of Port Au Prince...and now this catastrophe occurs. The Haitian people need the United States to help more than ever --- just a small portion of what we spend on wars would save the lives and futures of one of our closest neighbors in this hemisphere. In Haiti there is one sad occurrence after another. I can see why people in that country do not put their strength and energy into doing more to improve the island. People must live from day to day, never knowing when the next calamity will happen. There are many Haitian people here in NYC and my heart goes out to all of them. I was relieved to read that relief for Haiti is already being organized by this country.
Stephanie Mcnealy.
