To the Haitians on the island and their friends and family members in the diaspora mourning the lost or deceased and trying to find hope in the days to follow the devastating natural disaster, my heart is with you. Yesterday as most of us know from news reports spanning every news network, there was a 7.0 earthquake that struck the island of Haiti/Dominican Republic on January 12, 2010. In the days to come, we will begin to see the horrific devastation and hear stories of survival. This morning I began pursuing the Internet for information. I am aware that Haiti is the poorest countries in the western hemisphere and that they have suffered other natural disasters in the past years including hurricanes and floods, but I am largely unaware of anything else.
I am amazed to see the efforts that people, governments and organizations are puting forward to help the people of Haiti. PBS News Hour reports that the United States plans to assess the damage by air early this morning, while sending search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virgina and La county, food, water, and temporary shelters. While looking around on the Internet, I was amazed to see the photos of various international rescue teams planning for departure- Chinese International Rescue Team and Taiwan Rescue Team. BBC news reports that aid agencies including the International Red Cross, Oxfam, the British Red Cross are sending supplies and rescue assistance. Other international contributors include; France, U.K., Spain, Germany, Italy, European Union, Venezuela, and Mexico. Some financial contributors will be the United Nations, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the World Bank. Throughout the web numerous donation sites are available.
As I am sitting here at this very instant, researching around the Internet for information on the earthquake in Haiti. I felt our own light quiver here in Eureka at 9:36 am. The USGS site said it was a 3.6 magnitude. Just 3 days after, the 6.5 earthquake that shook Eureka and the California North Coast, the little tremors that are common occurrences in Eureka are not taken as lightly as previously. My heart began to race a little more than normal. Back from my heart racing, to my sadening heart for people in Haiti, as I wish I could help more!
Rather than providing the news updates that most people will be seeing over the next days and months to follow, I would like to look into Haiti's history, people, along with community/world organizing efforts to help Haitians. In a few days another post will be up.
BBC News. International aide efforts for Haiti under way.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456192.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456192.stm
PBS News Hour Report, January 13, 2010
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/01/us-to-dispatch-search-teams-emergency-supplies-to-haiti.html
Photo: Earthquake hits Haiti.
Photo: Earthquake hits Haiti.
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