Haitis Agony

By John J. Metzler

BENNINGTON, Vt. _ The cataclysmic earthquake that struck the island of Haiti has shattered lives, buildings, aspirations and possibly hope too.

The 7-point magnitude quake, the strongest to have hit Haiti in over two hundred years, has produced near apocalyptic images as people have been thrust into the cauldron of natural disaster where death, injury, and displacement defy the government’s rudimentary social and medical services.

Yet a rapid relief response by the international community and the pledge of ``unwavering support’’ from the U.S., will help ease the suffering if not the agony of three million people directly affected and where tens of thousands have died.

Tragically the poorest country in the Western hemisphere is no stranger to calamity; the Caribbean isle has been hit by a string of natural disasters, ranging from hurricanes, floods and now the earthquake.

Sadly the island has endured a turbulent history where endemic political instability and wrenching corruption have turned Haiti into a place of grinding poverty, little progress and broken dreams.

Significantly the earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, the capital and also the nerve center of large and in-country based United Nations agencies.

Yet the U.N.’s own headquarters was flattened with a large loss of life. The more than 9,000 U.N. blue helmet peacekeepers stationed on the island, mostly from Brazil, were equally paralyzed at the disaster’s onset. The U.N. forces have been in Haiti since 1994 to ensure some stability.

But the United States, European countries such as France and Spain, and even Mainland China were quick to send search and rescue teams.

Importantly, the U.N. humanitarian apparatus went into immediate operation to deliver food, water and medicines.

Ironically, “The U.N. mission force (MINUSTAH) had to focus simultaneously on rescue operations and helping the Haitian population,’’ according to reports.

In other words, the coordinating center for the relief and recovery was paralyzed and the first-responders were hit with their own crisis. The U.S. has sent troops to provide security and supervise food distribution.

If there is any consolation in the calamity, it remains that the disaster did not occur halfway round the world as with the Indonesian tsunami in 2004 or the Kashmir quake in 2005.

Thus massive airlifts from the nearby United States, sending numerous search and rescue units ranging from New York City, Virginia, Miami and Los Angeles, and the deployment of U.S. Navy resources, and the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid can gain the advantage of time and initiate rescue operations to help the Haitian people.

During the next few weeks the United States, Canada, and the U.N. along with churches and aid agencies will mobilize massive humanitarian commitments for Haiti’s devastated and distraught people.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, already the U.N.’s Special Representative for Haiti, will play a key role. Indeed before long, the flow of humanitarian aid and rescue resources should look impressive; at least on paper.

Yet after the initial emergency relief, and rebuilding efforts, there’s actually a far bigger challenge facing the impoverished island; the enduring undertow of corruption, ineffective government, and the threat of spontaneous violence and disorder.

Thus beyond compassion there’s another resource needed for the longer term, well after the aftershocks of this crisis have past.

This is one not necessarily rich in money, but in talent, in know-how and in love. Those are the Haitian people, four million of whom live overseas.

Indeed large Haitian communities in the U.S., Canada and France must put aside their often partisan differences and join in helping their families, showing solidarity with their compatriots and helping their homeland. Perhaps only then will Haiti overcome this national trauma.

Until then, the moral responsibility to help Haiti rests with the international community.

John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of ``Divided Dynamism _ The Diplomacy of Separated Nations; Germany, Korea, China’’ (University Press, 2001). He can be reached at jjmcolumn@att.net.