Haiti Quake: Our thoughts and prayers should be with the Island-Nation By Temple Chima Ubochi

The calamity that comes is never the one we had prepared ourselves for. (Mark Twain)

The earth is mankind's ultimate haven, our blessed terra firma. When it trembles and gives way beneath our feet, it's as though one of God's checks has bounced. (Gilbert Adair)

Haiti has been devastated by a strong earthquake. About one-third of the population (3 million out of the 9 million people) are either dead, wounded, missing or rendered homeless. On January 12, 2010, at 21:53 UTC, Haiti was struck by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake, the country's most severe earthquake in over 200 years. The epicenter of the quake was just off the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.

Widespread damage resulted from the quake, with a majority of buildings collapsing due to poor structural design. The capital city was devastated. The Presidential Palace was badly damaged, with the second floor entirely collapsing onto the first floor; the Haitian Parliament building and the National Cathedral were also destroyed. The quake had a reported magnitude of 7.0, with the focus being about 6 miles (10 km) underground.

The morning following the quake (January 13, 2010), Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said that he estimated the death toll of the disaster to be "hundreds of thousands of people." The head of the UN Mission to Haiti as well as the Catholic archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Monsignor Joseph Serge Miot, have been reported to be among the dead. Based on the latest reports from the officials more than 50,000 are feared to be dead and many more injured.

Our thoughts and prayers should be with the survivors, victims and their families. It’s unfortunate that such natural disaster always comes to the poorest people, who have no wherewithal to cushion the devastating effect of such calamity. We all have to lend a helping hand to those in dire straits right now. This writer knows that many Nigerians are just “scrapping through”, barely managing to survive, but, we can still give our “widow’s mite” to the Haitians. Nothing is too big or small and as we do that, we will be blessed the more. Remember, giving, at least, a little to those in need, would not make us poorer and not giving at all, would not make us richer. It’s in our nature, as Nigerians, to forgo our own comfort, in order to help those we’re better off than.

The Associated Press wrote that the earthquake that plunged Haiti into darkness is another blow to a nation that has seen more than its share of misery. Endemic instability, murderous dictators, more than 30 coups and a seemingly endless series of hurricanes and other natural disasters have claimed countless souls over Haiti's tumultuous 206-year history, leaving it the Americas' poorest country and utterly dependent on foreign aid. Initial reports on quake’s destruction are frightening.

Haiti was born in 1804, after the world's first successful slave rebellion. French troops surrendered to forces led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines. But the country's leaders drove it into a paralyzing disorder from which it has yet to recover.

Political turmoil prompted U.S. Marines to occupy Haiti from 1915 to 1934. In 1937, some 18,000 Haitians were massacred along the Dominican border on the orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo.

Consequent upon the fact that majority of Haitians are Igbo descendants, makes it imperative that we must do something to help our brothers and sisters in Diaspora. Some Haitians have “Chukwu” as surname and Ibo Hotel is a five-star hotel in the country. Haiti is one of the poorest nations on earth, making the situation there now more desperate. Haiti has been having the same problems like Nigeria (bad leadership and corruption), that’s why we’re all poor. In 1957, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier rose to power, launching a 29-year dynasty of terror. Tens of thousands were killed under Duvalier and his son, Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier. The Duvalier family reigned as dictators, turning the country into a hermit kingdom with a personality cult and corruption. They created the private army and terrorist death squads known as Tonton Macoutes. Many Haitians fled to exile in the United States and Canada, especially French-speaking Quebec.

In 1986, protests against "Baby Doc" led the U.S. to arrange for Duvalier and his family to be exiled to France. Army leader General Henri Namphy headed a new National Governing Council. In March 1987, a new Constitution was overwhelmingly approved by the population. General elections in November were aborted hours after dozens were shot by soldiers and the Tonton Macoutes in the capital and scores more around the country.

It wasn't until 1990 that Haiti had its first democratically elected president: Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a slum priest who inspired the overwhelmingly poor majority, won the election by more than two thirds of the vote. But Aristide was overthrown in 1991, and Haitians took to the seas by the thousands in a desperate exodus to Florida.

In 1994, Haitian General Raoul Cédras asked former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to help avoid a U.S. military invasion of Haiti. President Carter relayed this information to President Clinton, who asked Carter, in his role as founder of The Carter Center, to undertake a mission to Haiti with Senator Sam Nunn, and then former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Colin Powell. The team successfully negotiated the departure of Haiti's military leaders and the peaceful entry of U.S. forces under Operation Uphold Democracy, paving the way for the restoration of Jean-Bertrand Aristide as president. President Bill Clinton had to send 20,000 U.S. troops to Haiti in that 1994 to restore Aristide.

Aristide was re-elected in 2000. His second term was marked by accusations of corruption. There were also accusations that Aristide’s party rigged legislative elections, pocketed millions of dollars in foreign aid and sent gangsters to attack opponents. In 2004, a paramilitary coup ousted Aristide a second time. Aristide was removed by U.S. Marines from his home in what he described as a "kidnapping", and briefly held by the government of the Central African Republic to which the U.S. had decided to fly him. Aristide obtained his release and returned to the hemisphere shortly afterwards, although he has not returned to Haiti.

Boniface Alexandre then assumed interim authority. In February 2006, following elections marked by uncertainties and popular demonstrations, René Préval (close to the still-popular Aristide and former president of the Republic of Haiti between 1995 and 2000) was elected. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (also known as MINUSTAH) has been in the country since the 2004 Haiti Rebellion.

Two years ago, President Rene Préval implored the world to commit to long-term solutions for his nation, saying a "paradigm of charity" would not end cycles of poverty and disaster. Once this first wave of humanitarian compassion is exhausted, we will be left as always, truly alone, to face new catastrophes and see restarted, as if in a ritual, the same exercises of mobilization,". The same could be said today.

Deaconess Mrs. Ngozi Okafor, who is the Coordinator, ASA USA Women & Children Committee, Assistant Secretary, ASA USA Education & Technology Committee and President, ASA Women Baltimore Metro Area wrote:

“OUR PRAYERS FOR HAITI, OUR BLOOD IN DIASPORA, OUR ALLY DURING THE NIGERIA/BIAFRA WAR – AN AMERICAN ISLAND DEVASTATED BY POVERTY AND NOW, NATURAL DISASTER

Today, Haiti suffered a severe stress as a significant earthquake shook the Island yesterday, (Tuesday 11, 2010). From available reports, loss of lives, properties, and disruption of means of daily livelihood is as high as is heart rending.

As we all know, Haiti though among the richest countries in the world, suffers great poverty and political instability just as many countries in Africa. As the outcome of this current natural disaster unravels, it became very obvious that there is no emergency unit or rescue operation in place to quickly respond to debris removal and rescue of lives as is the case in other nations or states of America. It is also probable that there is no insurance coverage to make individuals who have suffered material losses whole. Watching the television this early morning, I was devastated with chills through my spine to my entire being as I helplessly watched bodies of men, women, and children being pulled from collapsed structures and passers-by lifting sheets and debris to see if loved ones were underneath. It was indeed, a sight ‘never wished to beheld’.

Howbeit, God willed it, or it would not have passed, therefore, it was for a purpose.

History indicates that Haiti was founded by freed slaves; a good number of them are of Igbo descents. In 1967, the era of Nigeria/Biafra war, Haiti was the only country outside of Africa to recognize the independent Igbo Republic of Biafra in secession from Nigeria. The vote of confidence in favor of Biafra on the part of the nation of Haiti was due to the Haitian’s memory of their own “ Igbo “ revolutionary past. It is therefore, very important as ndi Igbo, that we reach out to the Haitians individually, as a group and through our various Igbo organizations. The very obvious is that the Haitian needs our financial support and prayer to get through this ordeal. Please search for how you can be of help today.

During any disaster, we must learn to rely on God's strength, realizing that he is with us in every situation. He has not left us!

Psalm 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

Psalm 27:14: Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

John 14:18: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
The Igbos are everywhere, that includes Haiti . If you are trying to locate one of yours, CNN issued the number below: 18884074747”

The number of dead could be more than 100,000.
The earthquake that plunged Haiti into darkness is another blow to a nation that has seen more than its share of misery.
Much of Haiti's nine million population is impoverished and the disaster comes after years of political instability.
The country has suffered a number of recent disasters, including hurricanes and storms in 2008.
In November 2008, following the collapse of a school in Petionville, the mayor of Port-au-Prince estimated about 60% of the buildings were shoddily built and unsafe in normal circumstances.
Around three million people estimated to have been affected by 7.2 quake
Red Cross runs out of medical supplies

UN confirm 19 workers dead with a further 100 believed dead
Charities launch emergency appeals to help stricken survivors
Presidential palace crumbles, hospital collapses and houses swept away
President René Préval, meanwhile, described the scene on the streets of Port-au-Prince as “unimaginable”.
Bloodstained bodies are piled high in the streets and rescuers have been forced to dig through the rubble with their bare hands to free trapped survivors.
Parliament has collapsed. The tax office has collapsed. Schools have collapsed. Hospitals have collapsed.

Help/pledges so far: The world’s reaction to this calamity has been swift and prompt. It’s commendable.

*The American Red Cross, contributing an initial $1million from its International Response Fund to support the relief operation, is sending more supplies.

*The World Bank said it planned to extend a $100million in emergency aid to Haiti to help recovery and reconstruction.

*In Washington, President Obama vowed “unwavering support'” to help Haiti recover. American ships, personnel, food, medicine are on the way to the country. President Obama said: “We are just now beginning to learn the extent of the devastation, but the reports and images that we've seen of collapsed hospitals, crumbled homes and men and women carrying their injured neighbors through the streets are truly heart-wrenching. I have directed my administration to respond with a swift, coordinated and aggressive effort to save lives.” U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has cancelled the remainder of a scheduled trip to Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia, and will immediately fly back to Washington from Hawaii to deal with the Haiti crisis. A number of emergency appeals have already been launched.

*Save-The-Children has released £50,000 from its funds while the British Red Cross has allocated £200,000.

*The German government has released the sum of 1.5 million Euro for immediate help and German doctors and technical personnel including medicine are already on the way to Haiti.

To give to the Oxfam appeal, call 0300 200 1999, visit www.oxfam.org.uk or call in at a local Oxfam shop

If you’re in Germany or any other country (not UK or USA) and do not know how to help, please inquire at your local bank how you can send money to the victims of this earthquake.

Please give, at least, a little bit of your love and you would get it back one way or the other. The Bible says “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, forGodlovesacheerfulgiver (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)” and that “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It ismoreblessedtogivethanto receive (Acts 20:34-36)”