Haiti - Thank you from the Haitian Community - Haiti's 2010 Earthquake
Posted: Monday, January 25, 2010
by Rose-Marie Chaperon
Chaperon Consulting, LLC
Haiti's 2010 earthquake, our thanks to all of you!!
On January 12, 2010 our lives crumbled right in front of our eyes, our heart stopped, and for a brief moment it was like we were asleep and when we woke-up the nightmare had just begun. Our lives had changed. Our home destroyed, love ones died, missing, disappeared and feared dead. This day we will never forget! Over 250, 000 people were injured, 1 million were left homeless and over 100,000 were dead. We had nowhere to go, no one to depend on, our government was not equipped to handle a casualty of 50 injuries let alone such mass casualties.
Within 24 hours of this massive earthquake, I watched the human drama unfold. Knowing that immediately after this catastrophe struck thousands lie dead under the rubble, what is still most chilling is that there continue to be reports of people trapped beneath the collapsed structures crying for help. Where is the search and rescue, I keep asking? Observing some of the live coverage by CNN's Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and other newscasters who arrived in Haiti the following day, their stories are chilling and the looks on their faces haunting. What about the children and helpless, the wounded and weary, the thirsty and hungry? Where are the medicine, doctors, water, and food?
While U.S. officials weren't issuing estimates of casualties from Tuesday's strong earthquake, there was growing concern that pancaked buildings in Port-au-Prince, home to some 3 million people - and Haiti's inability to quickly rescue those who are trapped - could lead to thousands, if not tens of thousands, of fatalities. They were right!
"Where is God?" was the question I kept asking! From my own personal faith, I have learned that trials and tribulations are used to build Christ-like character and over the years, have had my share of character building. Yet I've never understood the reasons behind calamities such as this one it just doesn't make sense and it shakes the foundation of my faith.
Every time a natural disaster hits that causes so much death, destruction, and devastation, I stand dumbfounded and I always have that daunting question in my heart - why, God? Now I ask, "Where's God in the midst of Haiti's catastrophic earthquake and its aftermath?" And my answer is: "I don't know." But I can only hope and pray that He arrives soon.
Indeed HE sent his representatives to our aid as we spent that Tuesday night alone, without water, electricity, and no homes to go to. We were unable to find our loved ones, in the meantime our families living in the 10th department (those living outside of Haiti) were awake and hopeless, and their hands were tightened. They were unable to travel home, and then a miracle happened. YOU CAME TO OUR RESCUE!! The whole world responded to us by saying "Haitian people you are not alone" we are going to help you, you will not perish.
The U.S. response began with a Navy P-3 Orion based at Comalapa, El Salvador, which flew over the Haitian capital gathering photographic and other intelligence on the extent of the damage. Officials at the Miami-based U.S. Southern Command began using that information to guide U.S. and international rescue efforts. At first light on Wednesday, a Coast Guard helicopter evacuated four critically injured U.S. embassy staff and took them to a hospital at Naval Station Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, for treatment. Elements of the Air Force First Special Operations Wing deployed on Wednesday to the international airport at Port-au-Prince to provide air traffic control capability and airfield operations.
Thank you
74 countries responded to our cry for help, although many of their efforts were criticized for not helping fast enough, in the midst of it all, "WE PROFUSELY THANK YOU". We are grateful to you; we owe you more than we can ever repay you. Without your help we would have perished; without your help some of us would not be standing. You fed us, you gave us water, you wiped our tears and you took away our deepest fears "the fear of dying alone". The love you showed to us is unbelievable and we will never forget you! If we had to individually thank all of you who came to our rescue, the list would be endless. We thank you for your generosity, your monetary help, your medical help, and most importantly your prayers. How can we ever repay you?
Condolences
We offer our condolences to those who were in Haiti fighting for our cause who has fallen during this disaster. Our thoughts and prayers are with those families affected by the catastrophe. We offer condolences to the families of those Haitians, U.N. peacekeepers and other international staff who have suffered tremendous losses. The men and women of the United Nations work on the global front lines, putting their lives at risk to help address the world's most pressing problems. Many of them paid an enormous price on that day and your sacrifices will not be forgotten.
E-mail from a friend who visited Haiti
"Rose, I have never in my life seeing anything like this. When I got here last week, it felt like I was watching a horrible movie. I refused to believe that Port-au-Prince is that destroyed. I feel like I am having a dream and cannot wait to wake up from this dreadful dream. Then I did wake up and realized, it was not a dream, it is reality. People are dying; everyone is the same, poor, rich, young and old. Will our country ever recover from this? In the midst of it all, I am so proud of all the rescue efforts I have witnessed, I feel like the world has become one. We have people here from many different countries trying to help. I am so glad that these countries did not turn their back on us! Our county has changed forever; we will never be the same!!
GL
Rose-Marie Chaperon
This Article has been viewed 501 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Rose-Marie, this is such a great article, thank you for sharing it. It is beautifuly written.
I really like this article.
Hi Rose-Marie,I really like this article you hsve written, it gives me a new perspective in life. I wish your country the best of luck.
Hi Rose,This is a wonderful article. I think that you had done a great job writing this piece. You covered almost everything someone can imagine. I like the way you said thanks to those who have been working to bring aid to the earthquake victims. I will forward this article to those who might be interested in.
one of the nicest article I hav eever read.
Way to go! I like it, very sincere..
Great article
I really like this article, it was so kind of you to take the time to say thank you on bealf of your people.
Hello Rose-Marie,Thank you for taking the time to write this article. I had tears running down my face, because it was so heartfelt. I feel the soul of the Haitian people, even though I am not Haitian and have never been to Haiti, but I am a Christian and the Holy Spirit in me is grieving for these people and all the people in this world who are suffering. I just cannot even imagine being in their situation because I have never had to suffer like that, but you gave a very graphic description, which will incite further action to move people to help even more when disaster strikes. Are we ever prepared to face the grief, depression and despondancy disaster and death brings? No, never, but human love and compassion always over-rides some of the pain and brings forth hope, which is the light that will show us the way out of the despondancy and depression. I pray that the love and compassion continues to shine light, not only in Haiti, but throughout the entire world.Love in any language straight from the heart brings us all together, never apart.I love you my sister. Keep the faith and keep on writing for us.Marcia Balthazar
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.