Day 655 - The Reality on the Ground

From what I've been able to piece together this appears to be possible or likely near term outcomes in Haiti.

From a social and medical perspective what has happened in Haiti must be considered something like the slow motion collapse of the World Trade Center towers. The triggering event has happened and we are helpless to avoid some bad consequences. Perhpas we can mediate them.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere according to some. It has always been food- and resource poor. 42% or more of the population is under 14 years old. The median age is 18.4 (CIA World Fact Book 2003). Right now these appear the facts:

1. There are thousands of dead - in the streets, inside collapsed building, walking.
2. There are thousands of injured - the majority recceiving little or no medical aid.
3. Many of the injured will die over the next few days.
4. There is a serious or absent clean water supply - epidemics are inevitable.
5. Medical supplies and personnel are virtually non-existent.
6. Apparently the remaining UN forces are the only ":law enforcement."
7. There is little or no food.
8. There appears to be an absence of significant amount of earthmoving equiupment.

This is a probably outcome over the next days and weeks:

1. Continual breakdown of order and increase in violence and civil unrest.
2. Epidemics of dysentery and other water-born diseases.
3. More deaths from disease and violence.

Therre are some mediating actions:

1. The US and other countries are marshalling aid.
2. Samaritans Purse has large capacity water treatment equipment and supplies rady to go upon authoroization to land at the airport. Samaritian's Purse appears in the most active response mode.
3. Search dogs and equipment apparently left from Los Angeles last night.

Observation

It looks to me like it is going to be a very dark time in Haiti, even if, by some miraculous step, our government takes charge and implements the water treatment equipment and medical support. We need to act, but if were travel to Haiti, assuming authorities would let us, we also need to think through logistics and medical strategies.

Remember, President Obama has just asked, or is about to ask, Congress for 700 Billion dollars ($700,000,000,000) for fighting and killing in Iraq and Afganistan, most of that could be used to save lives in Haiti. Likely our military forces are stretched so thin itwill be hard to repond to Haiti without reddeployment.

I have begun contacting aid agencies and personal contacts. I've gotten a couple volunteers already. Contact me here, on my Facebook page or by e-mail andhelp us work out a strategy.

If you think you may go at any time in the next year, immediately contact your physisican and begin hepatitis innoculations.
If and when we go, it is not going to be for the faint-hearted. It will be dangerous and fraught with risk. But what else would Christ have us do but help?

Peace,

Henry