Who can fully imagine the scope of the tremendous tragedy in Haiti after the Tuesday earthquake that killed many thousands of people?
Countless more people have been severely injured. Hundreds of thousands of the already poverty-stricken Haitians have suddenly become homeless and are in urgent need of food and water.
Although many American relief agencies are rushing medical and other assistance following the severe earthquake near Port-au-Prince, the urgent needs are certain to far exceed the ability of humanitarians to respond soon enough.
Haitians have lived precariously in poverty on their half of the island of Hispaniola, which they share with the Dominican Republic, east of Cuba. And now, after countless Haitians have been killed and injured, exposure, hunger and disease will add tremendously to the distress of the survivors among Haiti’s 9 million people.
Commendable humanitarian efforts are being rushed to reach the stricken people with assistance in time to save many lives.
After “first aid,” there will be many months of huge needs to provide the basic water, food and shelter for the battered survivors as they attempt to recover even a most simple way of life.
There are virtually no ordinary facilities and services left in the earthquake area to provide hospitalization, medicine, food, water, electricity and other needs as many thousands of houses have been flattened by the irresistible forces of nature. Haitians will be heavily dependent upon American and other help.
Our fortunate country and our fortunate people surely will marshal many resources to help, as soon as possible and as generously as possible, even as we realize our efforts will be too little.
Massive human tragedy is shocking and heartbreaking.