Why I Feel Compassion for the Children of Haiti

Those who have understood suffering will always understand each other. I am not from Haiti, but I understand the plight and need of Haitian children devastated by the earthquake. I was born in Bosnia, a country devastated by a civil war in the 1990s. My family spent 1992 to 1995 in the war-torn country. We came to the United States as refugees in 1995.

The world, especially America, is rallying around Haiti and its people. I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility to share my experiences. My family would not be alive today if it was not for charitable contributions that came from complete strangers. I cannot compare the two tragedies, but I can have compassion for the children of Haiti. I am sharing my story in hope that you will understand them better. They are suffering and enduring terrible things. The children of Haiti need your help.

What the children of Haiti are going through: Confusion

I was 10 years old when the Balkan War started. I remember the early confusion as to why the war started and why we had a slim chance of survival. We can understand how confused the children of Haiti were when the ground started shaking and the walls around them started to crumble. Confusion starts quickly but never really goes away. In days, months and years to come, the children of Haiti will remain confused about what is happening to their country and their lives. Physical scars go away. Emotional and psychological scarring grows from confusion and fear. These scars dig deep and stay in young minds forever.

Adults have better coping mechanism and better understanding of what is going on. My parents did what they could to keep us alive but also explain why we were experiencing such horrific events. My parents kept me sane during the war. We huddled every night around a candle made out of a potato and a shoestring. We had no running water, electricity and many nights nothing but love filled our bellies. Even on the worst days, when we trembled with fear, we had each other and no one could take that away. My heart breaks for Haitian orphans. I have heard that Haiti had 380,000 orphans before the earthquake. The number of orphans after the earthquake must be staggering. Children can go without food and water, but it is hard to make it without love.

Hug your children tight and have compassion for those who will never hold their babies again. The dust will settle, adults will rebuild buildings, but Haitian orphans will never again see those who have loved them the most. It is hard enough to survive a tragedy. The children of Haiti have a long and hard road ahead of them, and the world needs to aid them in any way possible.

What the children of Haiti are going through: Fear

Confusion's sister is fear. The feeling of fright starts quickly but it truly never goes away. Children do not have to understand why they are afraid, but they know they are terrified to death. My heart breaks for the children of Haiti because I see fear in their eyes. I know that look. I feel it deep within my bones. Think of your worst fear, imagine it happened and multiply it by 600. That is how terrified the children of Haiti are right now. The earthquake has destroyed their homes. They are sleeping on the streets, many no longer have parents and they have no idea of what will happen next.

I have watched CNN's coverage of the orphanages in Haiti. The orphanage staff in Carrefour, Haiti, is afraid of what can come at night. Hunger and fear breed unrest. The darkness gives a window of opportunity to those with bad intentions. Some of the worst moments of my life occurred in the cloak of night. I fear for the safety of Haitian children. I know what it is like when darkness falls and all you hear is screams. The emotional and psychological damage the children of Haiti have endured will last forever. Our aid efforts need to continue so that the children of Haiti can receive proper health and mental care. I still battle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and my survival instincts sense it already on the faces of Haitian children.

I know what it is like to be scared and I know what it is like to be hungry. I would rather be scared than hungry. This is difficult to explain but constant, day in and day out hunger is mentally devastating. I still to this day cannot stand the rumble in my belly. It sets off panic even if I have only been hungry for five minutes. My family has seen its share of hunger. I recently told my husband about the day my sister and I were so hungry, I felt like my eyeballs were popping out of my head and my belly was glued to my spine. All we had was a can of margarine. I will remember the bright yellow, almost nuclear, color of that margarine. It had a bubble-like consistency to it and was probably as old as dirt on the ground. We did not care though. We dug into that margarine without spoons as if it was a banana split. I told my husband about sharing nothing but spoonfuls of margarine with my sister, but I did not tell him that we did it more than once.

Hunger is a terrible thing and the children of Haiti are experiencing it. Relief will come and donations will pour in. Already CNN is reporting difficulty in food and water distributions. I remember television reports showing aid coming to Bosnia. We, the hungry, did not always see those packages immediately. It takes time and organization, but it will not be immediate. Children of Haiti are starving and I fear that many will starve to death. The children of Haiti need our donations and our help.

Do not let any child go hungry. Set your religious, political or racial opinions aside and do not let a Haitian child starve. Ignoring the need of Haitian children and denying them food based on such opinions should be a sin.

American and International Charities that will aid the children of Haiti and how you can help

I have received assistance from many wonderful international charities. Three particular charities gave me clothing, shoes, food, medical care and much more. I have and always will appreciate what they have done for my family. Charitable contributions will go towards the continued effort to help Haiti children. I ask you to consider these reputable charities when donating money for the children of Haiti.

The American Red Cross, The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

We immediately think of the Red Cross when a disaster strikes. The Red Cross is a global humanitarian movement that provides immediate and continued relief efforts. The Red Cross fed my family more times than I can count. Besides food, the Red Cross helped to deliver messages when all communication channels were broken. I will never forget the white forms with a red logo that delivered word that our loved ones were still alive. The Red Cross and its worldwide humanitarian services will deliver food and water to Haitians in need. Fresh, safe and drinkable water in Haiti is necessary. Lack of safe water will only result in further devastation. Please consider, if you have not already, contributing to the Red Cross.

Donate to the Red Cross and its humanitarian programs by visiting redcross.org.

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

The United Nations Children's Fund is near and very dear to my heart. The United Nations troops provided my family with shelters and kept us safe for many months. The U.N. troops from Nepal managed and patrolled the first refugee camp, where we resided for three months. The wonderful and compassionate soldiers from Nepal bonded with the refugees and many even tried to learn our language. The United Nations Children's Fund provided containers of food for us. I remember the white containers filled with diapers, baby food, vegetables and fruit. I remember, for the first time in many years, eating a banana.

The second refugee camp we resided in was also receiving aid from the United Nations Children's Fund. Americans should donate to UNICEF because the organization provides more than food and water. We had schools and children's centers built by UNICEF. We received books, school and craft supplies from the organization. I remember our bright blue notebooks with the UNICEF logo. Thanks to the wonderful organization, I was able to continue my education and not fall behind. I came to the United States on time and up to par with classmates my age. We cannot allow the children of Haiti to lose education or fall behind in their development. The children in Haiti will need continued education after the dust has settled.

Donate to the United Nations Children's Fund by going to unicef.org

Doctors Without Borders

The wonderful doctors who volunteered with the Doctors Without Borders organization saved my life. This aid was different from saving me from hunger. They actually saved my life. I had an incident with an accidental medication overdose. I mistakenly took medication and started showing symptoms of an overdose within hours. The doctors rushed me immediately in the medic unit. I spent several hours unconscious but the wonderful doctors acted quickly and saved my life.

The volunteer doctors and nurses also did their best to provide a channel of communication for us. We often passed messages to loved ones when all other options were unavailable. Babies were born in the refugee camps, elderly received care and everyone was able to seek medical attention thanks to these brave volunteers.

Doctors Without Borders are present in Haiti and are aiding the wounded. They are saving lives with whatever supplies are available. It is important to repeat that doctors and nurses volunteer their time; they are selfless and generous individuals who deserve our support. Your donations to the Doctors Without Borders will save precious Haitian children, and provide them with necessary medical attention.

Donate to the Doctors Without Borders program by going to doctorswithoutborders.org.

The devastation in Haiti is heart-wrenching. Do not be discouraged by the scale of destruction in Haiti. Your contribution can and will help the people of Haiti. I am a living proof that charity and humanitarian services can save a life.

For those who have already made donations: I appreciate your compassion, especially as a war survivor and someone who has been blessed by the world's generosity. The Haiti earthquake victims, especially the children, will also be eternally grateful for your compassionate contributions.

References:

CNN Coverage of the earthquake in Haiti

Orphans in Haiti

UN and UNICEF launch aid appeal to overcome massive challenges in Haiti quake zone

Doctors Without Borders

Haitian Red Cross at the Heart of Relief