Haiti
13 Jan
I have been consumed by the news today. I cannot stop watching the horrible images that keep flashing by on the television. The sadness, the unbelievable destruction, it just kills me to see it. Estimates are already at 100,000 casualties and the number is sure to rise. With collapsed hospitals, no food, water, or medicine, possible looting and riots, and a closed airport, Haiti is facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.
How can a country already attempting to recover from so many other natural disasters face yet another hurdle? How does a country dust themselves off and carry on again when 80% of its citizens already live below the poverty line ? Where do they even start?
No this isn’t the worst humanitarian crisis ever and unfortunately it won’t be the last, but for me this one really hits home. Living in California, this could easily be our crisis. And if scientists are right, it will be one day. So I have to ask myself…what would I do if an earthquake of this magnitude occurred here in Los Angeles? Since simply contemplating that question sends my brain into a panic, I cannot imagine the fear of those living through this nightmare.
It is during these types of crisis that I envy those who can physically help those in need. Those who can be present and make a difference - Doctors Without Borders, search and rescue teams, journalists, and the Red Cross Volunteers…these people just amaze and inspire me. I hope to be as talented and selfless as they are one day.
In the meantime I will do whatever I can to help from afar.
Care
To donate to the Haiti relief fund effort, go to Care.org or call 1-800-521-CARE.
American Red Cross
To donate: Go to RedCross.org, hit donate now button at top and then International Response Fund or call 1-800-Red-Cross.
Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)
To donate, go to doctorswithoutborders.org or call 1-888-392-0392.
