Haiti's Food Crisis Gets Lost in U.S Economic Woes
Dervedia Thomas
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Money
As Congress scrambles to bail out financial markets on Wall St and students reluctantly adjust to the uncertain reality of budget cuts, a clichéd "crisis of immense proportions" has gone virtually ignored by the average U.S citizen.
In Haiti, it is a matter of life or death. According to the Associated Press, four tropical storms have wiped out most of Haiti's food crops and damaged irrigation systems and pumping stations. Schools that were supposed to open in Sept. are still filled with refugees fighting over food aid. Malaria and other diseases are beginning to spread.
As Americans felt the pinch of rising food and fuel prices, the Caribbean nation that is largely dependent on imports, was hit hard by the global food crisis. The storms and the widespread flooding that followed, only exacerbated the situation. Rioting, looting and other survival mechanisms are still threatening the stability of the nation.
The United Nations reports that Haitian children continue to live in dire conditions due to violence linked with political instability, chronic poverty, and a virtually absent child protection system. Unless families are supported to regain or strengthen coping mechanisms, another emergency might be disastrous for children and women.
Spokeswoman for the United Nations, Stephanie Bunker told the Associated Press that the world body has raised less than 2 percent of a critical $108 million fund raising appeal. Students can get involved in the effort to save Haiti. Go to http://www.unicefusa.org/ for more information about this critical situation and to take advantage of opportunities to help this struggling nation.
In Haiti, it is a matter of life or death. According to the Associated Press, four tropical storms have wiped out most of Haiti's food crops and damaged irrigation systems and pumping stations. Schools that were supposed to open in Sept. are still filled with refugees fighting over food aid. Malaria and other diseases are beginning to spread.
As Americans felt the pinch of rising food and fuel prices, the Caribbean nation that is largely dependent on imports, was hit hard by the global food crisis. The storms and the widespread flooding that followed, only exacerbated the situation. Rioting, looting and other survival mechanisms are still threatening the stability of the nation.
The United Nations reports that Haitian children continue to live in dire conditions due to violence linked with political instability, chronic poverty, and a virtually absent child protection system. Unless families are supported to regain or strengthen coping mechanisms, another emergency might be disastrous for children and women.
Spokeswoman for the United Nations, Stephanie Bunker told the Associated Press that the world body has raised less than 2 percent of a critical $108 million fund raising appeal. Students can get involved in the effort to save Haiti. Go to http://www.unicefusa.org/ for more information about this critical situation and to take advantage of opportunities to help this struggling nation.
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