| Haiti: five lessons to ponder |
| Written by INTERNET |
| Monday, January 18, 2010 18:42 |
International aid and money are essential, but insufficient. Although these reactions are normal (remember the magnitude of the movement of solidarity after the tsunami that devastated Indian Ocean in 2004), in this case, new technologies have allowed foreign aid to be even more effective . The images of devastation prompt us to react, and new technologies greatly facilitate interventions. On Twitter, you can read the following message: "Type HAITI on your cellphone and dial 10 to give 90,999 dollars to the Red Cross. Within hours, one million Americans have sent the SMS, which has raised 10 million dollars, which were charged to their phone packages and free transfer to the Red Cross. The humanitarian organization said that the total funds it received for Haiti outpace other disasters. Contributions from governments and international institutions and companies have been instantaneous and massive. Money, drugs, food, equipment and specialized personnel will not default. What is lacking is the ability to operate optimally. Unfortunately, experience shows that it is highly probable that the will of the international community and weaken its support for Haiti decreases after they have buried the dead, the orphans have disappeared from television screens and when journalists s 'of interest to other disasters. Second, international aid and money are essential, but insufficient. The tons of drugs that are piling up at the airport in Port-au-Prince will be of little use if they are not channeled effectively through distribution networks to reach victims in time. However, these distribution networks do not exist. The earthquake that struck Haiti brought the final blow to a system already plagued by decades of poverty, corruption and bad governance. Therefore make Haiti capable of providing its people with basic services - water, electricity, health, police, schools - is the real challenge post-earthquake. Rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals and administrative buildings will be long and costly. But not as much as the establishment of institutions that can give the country a minimum operating capacity. Thirdly, the presence of foreign organizations in Haiti has effects both positive and negative. Before this earthquake, the terrible situation of the country's poorest and most failed the American continent had already made him a priority destination for NGOs of all kinds. The journalist David Brooks tells us in The New York Times that Haiti is the country in the world with the highest per capita NGO. This is obviously a very good thing. The problem is that there is no government to ensure coordination and the presence of so many NGOs that have more money, personnel and capabilities that make the state governance still more difficult. Worse yet, among all NGOs attracted by the chaos in Haiti, some of them unsavory. The drug traffickers have taken advantage of the situation. Haiti became the hub of preferred drugs from the Andes to the U.S. market. Some of the most influential political and economic environments Haitians live in Mexico and Colombia: What are the drug barons. Those not affected by the earthquake. Fourth consideration: it must help the Dominican Republic. Sometimes earthquakes also cause tsunamis. Although one of Haiti has not generated a tsunami, this disaster will produce a wave of refugees who invade the Dominican Republic. This country, though more prosperous and better governed as Haiti, is also very poor. Inevitably, the misery of Haiti will increase further emigration to the Dominican Republic. Thus increasing social pressure and demands from public utilities already surpassed Dominicans. If we neglect this country today, he might be suffering a serious social and political crisis. Finally, despite the foregoing, the international community and Haitians could surprise us as well. The international community can learn from past mistakes and adapt its initiatives in Haiti. The resources, never enough, are not as rare as they were until now. The Haitian diaspora and their dynamics may be aware that this tragedy represents a unique opportunity to change course. This optimistic scenario is unlikely but not impossible ... Kire Full article on Slate.fr Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites |
