Haiti

Until a few weeks ago, I'm sure most people haven't even heard of Haiti before. Those who have probably thought of it as a remote island somewhere that completely does not factor in our daily lives. Personally, I did not even know Haiti existed until the earthquake struck. Now, Haiti is all over the news. Pictures of sadness and destruction have emerged showing Haiti as a completely devastated island nation.

But, why does the Haiti earthquake seem to be so destructive and the consequences so severe? It certainly isn't because it was the most powerful. The 2008 Sichuan earthquake was an 8.0 magnitude earthquake, more powerful compared to Haiti's 7.0 one. Neither is it the one with the biggest death toll. The 2004 Sumatra earthquake claimed more than 50 000 more lives. The reason is, Haiti is not just any country. It is exceptionally impoverished and has been in a state of instability in during its history. It is considered the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. It has a GDP per capita of $790. In comparison, Singapore's GDP per capita is $38,972. Haiti is also a disaster prone area and has had floods often in its recent history.

Consequently, Haiti is unable to rebuild itself on its own and has to rely on international aid. Also, with the people lacking in daily amenities even before the earthquake, more people will die more quickly. Fact is, the government has no resources to help rebuild Haiti.It is only with help from the international community that Haiti can slowly rebuild itself and get back on its feet. Everyone must play their part in helping the Haitian people. They may be from a different country, very far from our own, but we are all part of the global community and must lend a helping hand to people in need.

Here is a song written recently dedicated to the victims of the Haiti earthquake