Buddha's Light International Association

The Buddha’s Light International Association Representative to UN ECOSOC – NGO Branch, Venerable Miaohong, recently visited Haiti on a trip organized by The Humpty Dumpty Institute. She went to learn about what has been done and still needs to be done to help rebuild Haiti after the country’s devastating earthquake.

These are her thoughts and photographs:

“I would like to thank The Humpty Dumpty Institute for inviting me to join the Congressional Staff Delegates trip to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti on April 16, 2010. The trip was informative, inspirational, well organized, and a good learning experience. I think HDI deserves a lot of credit for putting this trip together. I especially appreciate the professionalism of Capera Clement, HDI’s Program Manager for US/UN Relations.

Although we are all aware that Port-au-Prince was badly damaged by the massive earthquake this year, I went to Haiti to learn firsthand how bad the damage is and to see it with my own eyes. I also wanted to witness the recovery activities that so many countries and people are participating in with compassion and love in order to help this country.

Everyone should know that the U.S. government and the American people are working hard to assist this country in rebuilding. First aid supplies, food, medical professionals, security, transportation, schools – all are being provided by someone in the U.S. This is something all Americans should be proud of.

Additionally, the UN is doing a remarkable job of coordinating the aid that is coming from so many different countries to help the victims of the earthquake in so many different ways. The work the UN is doing is something that all of us should be proud of.

After visiting Haiti, I realized what a tremendously tough job this is going to be. Everything in Haiti is damaged. And one of the worst things is that before the rebuilding can begin, the old, damaged structures need to be removed. The amount of rubble and debris is, well, I’m not sure what words can describe it, but maybe depressing and discouraging gives you an idea. I don’t know how they are going to get it done, but I do know they need our help.

Why did this happen to Haiti? I don’t know. But I do know that the damage is not just to buildings and roads. The damage is also to the Haitian people. The despair and fear in children’s eyes is something we can’t ignore.

Haiti needs our help. Haiti needs our compassion.”

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An aerial view from American Airlines flight approaching Aeroport Toussaint L'Ouverture Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The 2010 Haiti Earthquake struck at the very heart of the country, Port-Au-Prince, leaving a scale of loss and destruction that is hard to imagine. The earthquake tragically killed civilians and government leaders alike. It destroyed Haiti’s government, transport and communication infrastructure, public health system and an already fragile economy. The earthquake shattered a city and crippled a nation.

In the earthquake’s immediate aftermath, emergency relief workers could not quickly get to victims through roads littered with rubble and stacked with corpses. Help could not reach the people who needed it most with no central authority to coordinate relief efforts. Haitians could not get basic necessities with an economy that had ground to a halt. They had nowhere to seek medical care when hospitals had crumbled and doctors and nurses had perished inside them.

This means that rebuilding Haiti is not simply a matter of clearing rubble, paving roads and building homes, a tall order in themselves. It will also require restaffing government positions, training medical professionals and restarting Haiti’s economy.

While the task of rebuilding Haiti seems daunting, it is one shared by millions of Haitians and thousands of aid workers and NGOs from all over the world. Programs like the United Nations’ cash-for-work program can help Haitians build roads and homes while earning a living. NGOs must work together with each other and with Haitians to help the country build a better future and reach their potential.

With this spirit in mind, BLIA Canada has made a CAD100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross. In addition, BLIA Taipei, working with the Taiwanese government, has donated medical supplies and hygiene kits. We anticipate continuing to partner with other NGOs to support Haiti.