Haitians Cry in Letters: ‘Please — Do Something!’

The January 12th earthquake in Haiti left 1.3 million people homeless. International organizations relocated these victims to relief camps. One thousand three hundred camps were established for the refugees. A new addition to these camps, via the International Organization for Migration, were suggestion boxes. The boxes were intended to give victims an opportunity to voice concerns and complaints. It was expected that the organization would receive a few disgruntled and perhaps angry letters, however after receiving 700 letters in the first 3 days, it became apparent that much more needed to be said. The submitted letters ranged from personal tragedy accounts to demands, yet the same theme was evident. The letters were a plea for help; a cry for compassion. Many refugees are suffering from severe hunger and more often than not are unable to provide food for their children or seek health care, or send them to school. Leonard Doyle, in charge of communications for the organization in Haiti stated, "the $400,000 program was intended to give voice to the voiceless and not food to the hungry or money to the destitute." This tragic response comes as almost no surprise to those seeking refuge as they simply continue to write and continue to suffer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/20/world/americas/20haiti.html?pagewanted=2&ref=world

Andrew Gates