Haiti's Earthquake Tragedy

On January 12, of this year, a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince and all its surrounding regions. Already an impoverished country, thousands of people have died. Thousands of people still have yet to be found. Bodies being gathered in trucks, and dumped in another far away region. Bodies still trapped under the rubble of buildings. People crying in pain, anguish and desperation. People simultaneously singing, praying and crying trying to hold onto their undying spirit.

The Haitian people have proven that they are a very tenacious and independent people. But the suffering that they have been subjugated to since that catastrophic event, has not been able to be measured in words.

Then a few days ago, another large earthquake aftershock rumbled through Haiti again, creating more victims. Including people from world-wide countries that had gone to help the Haitians.

At the Beginning

At the beginning, many people on this continent were confused on not knowing what to really think about the Haitian predicament. It was sad that so many had shown racism, judgment and apathy. No one could really grasp the extent of what had happened to Haiti. It began showing in comments to Internet news and various blogs.

People were disconcerted to whether they should release some of their money in order to help the Haitian populace. Struggling with conscience, ugly reason began to rear its head in many internet blogs. However, more and more as daily news came pouring in, it was becoming quite evident that this was no ordinary earthquake. That Haiti had suffered tremendous loss. Again, more than what could possibly be fathomed.

The majority of the Haitians lost all that which they had worked for in just a few minutes. Is it possible to psychologically digest losing all your possessions in that time? Worse still, your whole family.

Those of us outside the Haitian reality were slowly beginning to wake up to the massive realization to what had happened to Haiti, which in turn slapped the whole world into shock in trying to overcome realizing the far-reaching consequences of this sudden natural disaster.

For a while, the Haitian crisis became a world crisis. Hesitations from many on reaching out, and indecisions on parting with ... money.

Reality Check

It's a world fact that everything is governed by money. It is a global system that we created. Money is needed to buy services, clothing, food, medical emergency supplies. It takes money to fuel the engines of large cargo planes to deliver the physical necessities that Haiti so much needs.

It's also a fact that our world has become quite fragile, and that natural disasters are increasing alarmingly. Such a tragedy could have unfolded anywhere in the world. And the possibility of such natural disasters unfolding anywhere else in the world lies in the upper bracket. Many people prefer to live in a state of denial about this, but another fact to the reality of natural disasters is that scientists are losing control as to what will strike us and what will not, and most importantly, when.

The Assistance

People outside of Haiti had to wake up first. Non-profit organizations began their work. Please visit their sites below. Here's a small list:

- Direct Relief International
- International Action
- Haitian Helping Haitian

Relief Organizations

1. Oxfam America
2. Partners in Health
3. Red Cross
4. UNICEF
5. United Nations World food Programme
6. Clinton bush Haiti Fund
7. Wyclef Jean's Yéle Haiti

On January 23, a Telethon was done: Hope For Haiti Now. Organized by George Clooney, musicians came together to spread the message as to how much Haiti still needs our help more than we can still possibly imagine. From that point, it has raised over $57 million in phone, online and text donations within 24 hours following the event.

If you still want to contribute, here is their link: Hope For Haiti Now .
The money raised will be split equally among the seven relief organizations mentioned above.

Haiti's Long Climb

It will take massive relief efforts from many world-wide organizations and brave individuals to help Haiti restore its normal living on the world map with the rest of us. It will not be done today, nor the immediate tomorrow, but we all know that it must be done.

Haiti is part of us, whether some of us care to admit it or not. Where natural disasters are concerned, we're all in on this together. Let's help Haiti recover, shall we?

Thank you.