Remembering Haiti

                     

January 12th, 2010 – a day that will go down in history as one of the most tragic days in the history of the western world. On that Tuesday afternoon, the strongest earthquake to ever hit the nation of Haiti struck near the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, with a magnitude of 7.0. The force was enough to decimate the city, bringing destruction to the nation that was already in shambles. An estimated 230,000 lives were lost in this tragedy, with an estimated three million affected in some way. This week we remember those lives lost, on the anniversary of this tragic natural disaster. Since then, millions of individuals have joined hands and made an effort to rebuild this country alongside organizations such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Aid has been pouring in from all over the world. Yet this help is slight in comparison to the incredible need still prevalent in Haiti. In addition to the effects of the earthquake and the bad living conditions, Haiti has more recently suffered from a cholera outbreak – a disease that has claimed the lives of over two thousand in the nation.  Many have attempted to gain access into the country and have not been allowed due to political difficulties. These and many other problems have plagued the nation of Haiti in the past year, and continue today.  This week we remember Haiti on the anniversary of the earthquake that first shook the nation. We need to remember to keep the people of Haiti in our prayers at all times. By: Anne Lehan