Filed under: News, Politics, President Obama
The outbreak has led to widespread destabilization in a country that was already struggling. So far, over 1,900 Haitians have died from cholera, and another 84,000 have been infected. In the Grand Anse region, rumors began to spread that vodou practitioners had created a black magic powder to spread the disease. Since then, mobs with machetes have sought to kill those believed to be connected with the outbreak.
The Haitian government has responded to the situation by issuing statements to the public that they hope will stop the panic from continuing: "Cholera is a microbe ... The only way to protect one's self against cholera is to observe the principles of hygiene."
Officials have gone on to say:
"There is no cholera powder, nor cholera zombie, nor cholera spirit" and Vodou priests "can neither treat cholera, nor make a powder that gives cholera."
Officials remain confused over the source of the cholera outbreak in Haiti. Some speculate that a group of UN Peace Keepers from Nepal may have had something to do with it, given that this particular strain originated in South Asia. The group from Nepal has been criticized in the past for having poor sanitation procedures.
Media reports of abnormal events occurring in Haiti must be read with some degree of balance and skepticism. While I don't doubt that these murders have occurred, we must be leery of painting the Haitian people as a group of ignorant savages. I find myself deeply concerned that reports of violent behavior in Haiti are more likely to get news coverage than other more positive aspects of Haitian life.
One can only hope that the situation in Haiti stabilizes at some point, given that the nation has become a living manifestation of the term "Hell on earth." Since the earthquake, the people of Haiti have endured one tragedy after another. This was in addition to the fact that Haiti was one of the poorest nations on earth long before the tragedy even began. There must be a long-term plan to reshape Haiti and to allow the nation to compete. Also, those of us in the United States who have compassion for the Haitian people must find it in our hearts to increase our donations. The struggle has not ended in Haiti, and it probably won't ameliorate itself any time soon.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.