The world’s response to help the victims of last Tuesday’s catastrophic earthquake in Haiti has been swift and overwhelming. The problem hasn’t been the volume of relief supplies pouring in from countries, including Canada, but rather how to get it into the hands of the hundreds of thousands left injured, hungry, thirsty, and homeless by the disaster in a safe and orderly manner.
Here in Rainy River District, residents can answer the call for donations, whether it’s through major corporations and relief organizations or grassroots efforts like the one being spearheaded by the Kids Care Club out at Crossroads School. Canadians touched by the images of utter devastation being beamed into their homes have opened their wallets to help, and that’s commendable. What’s sad, however, is that it takes an earthquake, tsunami, or famine to wake people up to the impoverished conditions so many millions of people face each and every day around the globe.
Haiti has long been the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, yet various relief agencies, church groups, and others toiled in relative obscurity there while trying to make a difference.
The same holds true in countless other countries. It’s only when the world media swoops in to cover a major disaster that the poverty, poor health care and education, substandard housing, and lack of infrastructure are exposed in the glare of the spotlight.
Why is it that Canadians give so generously in times of a humanitarian crisis, but then decry Ottawa for budgeting funds for international aid? Underdeveloped countries need help year-round, not just when disaster strikes. Far too often, however, we turn a blind eye to the ever-growing gap between rich nations and poor ones.
And we wonder why terrorism festers and takes root?
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
