Haitian People Show Enormous Resilience
Posted on 27. Jan, 2010 by Stenberg-Tendys W.L. in Society
Children have a wonderful resilience no matter what happens around. Here young girls play jump-rope at a makeshift camp in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Michael Deibert who has recently returned to Haiti said that while the scenes of devastation were nightmarish, he was amazed at how resilient the Haitian people are.
Haitian Children
Thousands have been left homeless and approximately 100,000, of the 9 million population are dead, from the earthquakes that have hit Haiti. Around 300,000 people are living on the streets, in Port-au-Prince. A 6.1 earthquake has followed the earlier devastating 7.0 quake and 24 after schocks.
Deibert was encouraged by scenes such as in the Petionville market, where despite the late hour and lack of electricity, goods and fried chicken were still being sold by the orange glow of kerosene lamps.
“Far from being the looting mobs that some media have portrayed them as, hardly anyone who has witnessed the response of the Haitians to this great catastrophe has not been moved by their incredible resilience and solidarity and their intact sense of humor in the face of an unimaginable tragedy,” reported Deibert. However looting has taken place in some areas.
Yet heated feuds have erupted over the control of the airport and the distribution of aid. Planes have been reported as being turned back, due to lack of space at the airport and total congestion of air and parking space.
With the National Palace and many ministries destroyed, Haitian President Rene Preval meets with his ministries in the open air, in a circle of plastic chairs.
Haiti’s Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive told AP that disposing of bodies had become crucial. “Sadly, we have to bring everybody to mass graves because we are racing against a possible epidemic.” Haitians already have been piling bodies and burning them.
It is believed the relief is more difficult than it was after the Asian tsuanami of 2004, because of the amount of damage to the government and the infrastructure.
While the Haitians cry for the desperately needed aid, they are open in their statements that the presence of the foreign military must be temporary. “It is not ideal to have a foreign army on our soil. It must be temporary,” said Bishop Jean-Zache Duracin, of Haiti’s Episcopal Church.
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[...] The resilience of a people is often reflected in the children of a nation. Young girls were seen playing jump-rope at a makeshift camp in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, only days after the devastating earthquake hit the area.Michael Deibert who has recently returned to Haiti said that while the scenes of devastation were nightmarish, he was amazed at how the signs of life were slowly being restored. Read how the president meets in the open on plastic chairs and the religious and business leaders op… [...]