Haiti
In the wake of last month’s tragedy, that struck outside Haiti’s Port-au-Prince capital with a devastating magnitude-7 earthquake and a staggering death count that continues to climb, citizens across the globe are uniting to find ways to help a ravaged population. Harnessing the growing power of social media, the Red Cross has raised millions in relief money by inviting $10 donations through text-messages. A star-studded fundraiser on Larry King Live raised $9 million alone, and countless other groups and individuals have stepped in to make a difference. Interventions by the U.S. military and the United Nations Security Council have also eased conditions to an extent, but millions of victims still desperately need food, water, shelter and medical assistance.
Stories of valor and survival continue to surface alongside catastrophic tales of loss, sorrow, violence and looting. Many of these accounts hit close to home. The first reported American casualty of the quake, Cultural Affairs Officer Victoria J. DeLong, had ties to San Diego. A diplomat for 27 years and one of 45,000 Americans estimated to be in Haiti at the time of the quake, DeLong had been stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince since February 2009. “In one of the most challenging environments in the world,” a State Department notice to employees read, “[DeLong] dedicated herself to educational and cultural exchange between the people of Haiti and the people of the United States.”
Ryan Kloos, a 24-year-old UC San Diego graduate, was killed by falling rubble while visiting his sister, Erin Kloos, who had been residing in Port-au-Prince as an orphanage volunteer. Erin was pulled to safety and flown to a Florida hospital, and Ryan’s friends held a vigil at the aspiring medical student’s alma mater to honor his memory.
San Diego Chargers Defensive End Jacques Cesaire watched disaster coverage anxiously as he tried to prepare for January 17’s playoff game against the New York Jets. Though raised in Massachusetts, Cesaire’s parents emigrated from Haiti and several of his relatives still live in the central part of the country. While Cesaire believed his family to be safe, he recorded a public service announcement to air at the playoff games in an effort to raise relief funds. Known for his jovial demeanor, Cesaire said he was not surprised to see dancing and singing amidst the ruin. “Haitians are resilient people,” he said of the first Latin American nation to gain independence. “If I know Haitian people, they’ll bounce back from this.”
These local narratives join the thousands of stories lying in Haiti’s refuse that will never be told. With respect and compassion, San Diego joins together to offer support to a struggling nation — one that will doubtlessly prove as resilient as ever.
OFFER TO HELP
Many San Diegans have already traveled to Haiti to offer aid in person, but it’s easy to donate from home through these local charities. Make it a habit—Haitians can benefit from your generosity year-round.
The San Diego Red Cross is accepting international disaster relief donations at
(858) 309-1200, or online at sdarc.org.
Floresta, a Christian non-profit, combats deforestation and poverty and organizes micro-financing programs. Donate at (858) 274-3718.
Health Through Communications Foundation, a non-profit founded in 1993 by Port-au-Prince native Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat, specializes in health care and education for women and children. Become an Angel for Haiti online at healththroughcommunications.org, or call (619) 405-7452.
by Jenna Frazier
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