How History has Contributed to the Current Crisis in Haiti



Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010

by Zhana Books
http://key2everything.multiply.com/

On 12th January, Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake of unprecedented proportion, with a magnitude of 7.0 and several very strong aftershocks, only 10 miles from the capital Port-au-Prince.

Haiti was already devastated before the quake struck. 80% of the buildings in the capital of Port au Prince were condemned last year as being dangerous, unfit structures. Yet people continued to live and work in them because they had no choice.

The main hospital in Port au Prince was destroyed, it is difficult to get supplies to where the people can use them, some planes carrying vital supplies have been unable to land, and bodies are piling up everywhere. The morgue is full. The cemeteries are full. There is nowhere for people to go after they have been treated in the hospital. Homeless children, orphaned by the quake, are wandering around with nowhere to go.

In a hot, tropical country, people were without drinking water for days.

There is also a shortage of medical supplies, with operations being performed without anaesthesia. Some of the hospital patients have not eaten in four days.

And yet all of this was predictable and preventable.

When Oprah Winfrey interviewed Wyclef Jean, of the Fugees, he described the situation as "an apocalypse" and "the seventh Hell".

The countries closest to Haiti and those which have former colonies in the area, including the United States, Britain, France and Spain, as well as the country's Caribbean neighbours, have long been aware of the extreme poverty of this nation.

The poverty dates back to when Toussaint L'Ouverture's army defeated Napoleon's forces, following which a treaty was signed in which the Haitians agreed to pay reparations to France. The final payment was made in 1947. So Haiti's fate was sealed. They were punished for successfully ending slavery and defeating the French, Spanish and British armies.

They were punished for demanding to be free, for demanding that African people be free.

The neighbouring colonial powers were terrified by L'Ouverture's victory and the possibility that freedom would spread throughout the Caribbean and the United States.

The debt insured that most Haitians remained in dire poverty, while a series of corrupt regimes flourished.

The punishment continues. Not punishment by "God", as has been declared in some quarters. But punishment with historical roots, which has been exacerbated by the forces of nature.

Wyclef stated on his blog in 14th January that half a million people - far more than estimated in the mainstream press - were in danger of death. Remember, he was on the ground, helping to pull dead bodies from the rubble. He stated that there is a need to raise $1 million per day.

"Help for Haiti" singles by Wyclef Jean and Rihanna are available from Oprah.com and from itunes. You can also donate money via Wyclef's website Yele.org

Zhana is a writer, publisher, cultural commentator and personal growth consultant.  Her work focuses on the healing of humanity and our planet, with a particular focus on the healing of the people of the African continent and Diaspora. 
 
Do you have a particular interst or concern?  Email Zhana if there is a specific area you would like to see addressed. 
 
Achieve Fabulous Success - Click here for lots more articles about how you can reach your goals and achieve your unlimited possibilities.   
 
The Key to Everything - Download your free chapter of this ebook on how to bring about the positive changes you deserve. 
 
This Article has been viewed 732 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.