Haitians will spend another Unhappy Holiday.

Winter break is coming- a time when all jasporas, Haitians living abroad, fly to Haiti to celebrate the holidays with their family and friends. But just like last year, the Haitian people will not be celebrating their new year happily. Those affected by tropical storm Jeanne’s flooding will still be mourning the deaths of loved ones, their lost crops and homes, as well as the hunger they’ve felt for months.

Where is the help?

Haiti, a country known to be the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has been in political devastation since its president, Jean Bertrand Aristide, was ousted in late February of this year. Since the quick visit of Jeanne in September, thousands of people are still homeless and hungry.

But where is the country that is believed to be so powerful and financially dependable for situations like this? Where is the United States during Haiti’s time of need? All through the Presidential debates, neither candidate brought up the issues in Haiti. They were too busy discussing the war in Iraq. But now that the elections are over, is there hope for Haiti?

The Bush administration didn’t grant TPS, temporary protective status, to allow Haitians to stay in the United States for the months needed to recover from Jeanne’s flooding. America needs to be all that it can be and continue the job that it started back in March after Aristide was ousted, which was helping the Haitian people during these difficult times.

If we can go all the way to Iraq to help the Iraqis, surely we can pay a visit to our neighbors in Haiti and bring smiles to the faces of the starving children this holiday season.