Globalaffairs

Issue 19/February-March 2010
by Erica L. Green

The scope of need has changed for the survivors a month after Haiti’s January earthquake. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that this new wave of need includes postoperative care, rehabilitation, and mental health services [1], only to name a few of the service needs.  Some sources on the ground recruiting personnel also note the high need for orthopedic and anesthesiology specialists. The United Nations Association of USA, Greater Chicago Chapter (UNA Chicago) is planning to be apart of this new wave of relief.

Coordinating a tactical relief effort at this stage can be quite complex.  The first waves call for military and trauma care for boulder removal and building collapse related injuries. The people with injuries are also centralized around the epicenter. Now, a month later health care workers are now confronted with infection, sanitation, and mental health issues on top of the chronic diseases that existed prior to the quake such as malaria and HIV. This means there are many more volunteers needed to pull off such an endeavor.  This writer, the coordinator of UNA Chicago’s relief effort finds the number of those willing to help encouraging. Whether is it military, government agencies, area hospitals or faith based organizations, support pledges have been steady. Assessments are currently being conducted to obtain a more accurate account of need but a challenge is the range of preexisting need. Access to health care was an issue long before the January quake.

Haitian Community Relocates to Region Outside Capital .UN Photo/Sophia Paris

This past month, the world has become aware of Haiti’s new struggle for survival, however, Haiti’s strife began hundreds of years before the earthquake. According to a BBC timeline of Haiti’s history the Spanish explorer, Christopher Columbus, lands in the region in 1492 [2]. Twenty years later, the explorers manage to establish a settlement in what is now the capital of the Dominican Republic. Shortly after, Spain releases the western half of the island to France which became Haiti territory [2].

In 1801, Toussaint Louverture, a former slave abolishes slavery and becomes head of the Haitian ruling party. A year later a French coalition led by the Napoleon’s brother-in-law attempts to regain control of the Haitian government but fails [2]. The region maintains its independence and another former slave, Jean-Jacques Dessalines becomes the nation’s emperor. His two-year reign ended abruptly in 1806 when he was assassinated which brought a racial divide between the northern and southern regions.

President Jean-Pierre Boyer unites the regions but grants social and economic favoritism to his biracial counterparts [2, 3] which leads to continued instability [4].

In 1915, the United States enters the racial conflict with the hope of securing its various interests [2].  Haiti’s debt and economic difficulties with France were no secret. However, intelligence also suggested that Germany was attempting to buy Haiti’s National Railroad and other interests of the United States [4]. This took place during the sensitive period of World War I when American commerce was hesitant to invest in an unstable region, so a US occupation of Haiti took place until 1934 [4].

For the next fifty years Haiti experienced a series of coups and dictatorships [2]. The nation finally showed some stability and seemed to be on the path to economic recovery in the 1990s. Democratic elections were more regular and the UN has gotten more involved in the political process. After 2000 there were some skirmishes over lack of food but the government remained intact and able to manage the minor crises until January 2010.

The earthquake epicenter hit the capital of Port-au-Prince (PAP). The US Army Corps of Engineers report that an estimated 180 government buildings have been destroyed in the earthquake [5]  and an estimated 230,000 people have died [6]. This estimated death toll does not include private burials. An estimated 20 percent of the buildings in PAP were destroyed and the remaining 80 are in need of serious repair [6]. One in 10 homes was destroyed leaving almost 1.5 million homeless [6]. Many survivors have migrated outside of the city in search of shelter and food. Although it is a proactive move, it complicates relief efforts. Reaching the communities in need can be a logistical nightmare and when trying to transport personnel and supplies.

Port-au-Prince Mourns on One-Month Anniversary of Quake. UN Photo/Pasqual Gorriz

UNA Chicago’s group aims to leave in mid April, which is still several weeks away. Advanced notice can be a plus or minus when strategizing an approach to reach so many levels of need. Intelligence is helpful on general conditions; however, things can change daily. Solidifying specialists on their team of volunteers according to assessments from potential hosts is helpful but must be kept in perspective. This trip is part of a year long effort in the country of Haiti to offer medical service to the region.

Some view the earthquake as a unique window of opportunity. This is a chance for structures to be rebuilt using today’s building code standards. To others it is also an opportunity to stabilize the region health access system. The onslaught of health practitioners is a wonderful thing. Some groups are creating clinics and other health facilities in areas where they never been existed, so there is a hope that many people who did not have access to care will now. Challenges will still exist with the aftershocks and other factors, however the International Red Cross like many other organizations is trying to distribute the level of donations to reach as many possible over a period of years to create a sustained effort.

Erica L. Green
MA, MPH, CADC
Graduate Student in Clinical Psychology
Argosy University, Chicago, USA.

References

1. WHO, Meeting Haiti’s challenging health needs. 19 February 2010. http://www.who.int/en/
2. BBC,Timeline:Haiti.19January2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1202857.stm.
3. NNDB. NNDB tracking the world. http://nndb.com/people/111/000102802/
4. Schmidt, Hans. The United States occupation of Haiti, 1915-1934,
5. Hedgpeth, Dana, Washington Post. Haiti’s bad roads not damaged by quake, Army engineers say. January 23, 2010.
6. BBC Haiti quake death toll rises to 230,000 Thursday, 11 February 2010

The views and opinions of contributors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Global Affairs

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