Three months after an earthquake killed 230,00 million people in Haiti, the country begins to heal.
According to the World Heath Organization, the Jan. 12 earthquake also left 340,00 seriously injured, 175 million without running water and 1.95 million without electricity. Of those injured, thousands needed amputations or artificial limbs. In addition to the injuries, the Save the Children and International Rescue Committee claims the earthquake separated 600 children from their families. However, the 600 only accounts for the documented cases. These organizations fear there are thousands more undocumented.
“The earthquake in Haiti was absolutely devastating, not only did it affect the land, but it also created chaos within the people,” teacher assistant Damien Conyers said.
In addition to the homes destroyed, executive buildings and schools were affected. According to UNICEF and the Save the Children organizations, fewer than 10 schools are currently open in the country. Five thousand schools were either destroyed or damaged by the earthquake. Although the earthquake only lasted 35 seconds, the effects of it will be felt for a long time to come.
Following the earthquake, U.S. president Barack Obama announced a $100 million aid package for earthquake. In addition to this, U.S. citizens across the country have reached out to Haiti.
More than 100 television, music, and film celebrities joined forces for the “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief” telethon. MTV aired the event and performers included Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Wyclef Jean, Coldplay and Rhianna.
“The telethon was a great idea, I feel like it was so nice of those celebrities to actively help Haiti in its time of need,” junior Bri Susco said.
Weeks after the telethon, the remake of “We Are The World” premiered at the opening of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Eighty of music’s biggest stars gathered to produce the remake of a song originally made famous by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie in response to the famine in Africa in the mid-1980s.
“Though the song raised a lot of money for Haiti, I feel like it was just a put on. Sure it helped in the cost aspect, but there are so many other things they could have done besides sending money,” junior Nikki Debrango- Jensen said.
On a local level, school organizations raised money for Haiti. The NHS and SGA collected money during school events and lunches and classes prepared care kits for Haiti. Other local businesses raised money for the cause as well.
“I think it’s a great thing for our school to do. We really need to focus on contributing to the good of our global community,” senior Bryan Bohannon said.