Haiti

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Before the four tropical storms and hurricanes, Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike, suffering had become a past-time of Haiti handed down through the generations. The Haitians had struggled to provide for themselves previous to when the hurricanes destroyed all the agricultural land and livestock. The Haitian politicians more concerned about their own well being, were busy arguing amongst themselves when the hurricanes hit. President Rene Preval was voted out by the legislature and succeeded by Michele Pierre-Louis. The citizens of Haiti who had little to begin with became refugees to their homes and schools. They became “displaced people” (refugee) in their country due to the various natural disasters that took place within the past month.
The extent towards the destruction these hurricane storms had is most effectively described through Mr. Preval’s quote in the Miami Herald, “This is Katrina in the entire country, but without the means that Louisiana had.” I believe Katrina is the best example that illustrates the sense of hopelessness and severity of what is happening to Haitian citizens who have now become refugees in their own country. To a considerable extent it is very similar to the aftermath of Katrina in the United States. For example, after Katrina struck Louisiana, people were left stranded on their roof tops just like Edith Pierre who take care of her six kids on her rooftop. On the news people witnessed Katrina victims moving through the streets with their ankles, knees and hips submerged under water just like the Gonaives residents. Countless aspects of the hurricanes that struck Haiti resemble what we witnessed from Katrina in America; the key difference being a place to flee to for shelter.
In the United States there is more resources than in Haiti thus illustrating why the clean-up effort will take much less time and be much more effective. This proves to me that Haiti is being neglected far more than many people may perceive. Haiti is a nation in need of tremendous aid to help them get back on their feet and continue to try to grow as a nation. I believe Haiti had a long ways to go to becoming a nation that beholds enough resources to take care of its citizens. With these hurricanes brings tremendous delay to this notion and also illustrates a nation in need of more help than needed by any other nation in the western hemisphere ever before. I believe the United States should get its act together and begin to start shipping more resources to this nation in dire need. I believe it is time for the United States to start giving a damn and recognize problems in other nations that don’t just fuel the economy.