The 9 million people of the Caribbean-Atlantic country of Haiti suffer as the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere — even under the “best” of conditions. But now the people of that island have been stricken by a massive earthquake that has caused countless deaths and injuries and vast devastation.
An estimated 60 percent of the generally shaky homes and other buildings in the capital city of Port-au-Prince reportedly have been destroyed. Countless people have been killed and trapped in the debris.
The destruction of collapsed schools, hospitals, the presidential palace and other buildings is so great that rescuers have had difficulties knowing where to start in trying to give aid and save lives.
The International Red Cross has estimated that as many as 3 million of Haiti’s mostly impoverished 9 million people have been horribly affected. Thousands of people were reported dead or injured among the 2 million people in Port-au-Prince, with the count rapidly rising.
Moving underground geological “plates” shook the flimsy buildings, taking them down upon many of their inhabitants.
American and other international helpers are rushing into the ravaged area. A great deal of aid will be needed in the days and months ahead to keep survivors fed, sheltered and alive, as the death toll mounts.
Haiti is a heartbreaking, massive human tragedy.