One of the dimensions of the catastrophe in Haiti is "the lack of water". There are developments absolutely exceptional -due to the earthquake- that are not possible no generalise to other situations or contexts... But quite some others -rleated to the previous situation of water in Haiti and to the reconstruction- that can be analysed to learn a lot of lessons from it. Or? What do you think?
Haiti + Water
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© 2010 European Science Parliament | by compuccino.com
It is horrible...
It is horrible, babies dying because of the contaminated water! Water is supposed to be the sourse of life, not death!
an opportunity to collect needed money
Hello!
I really think the situation in Haiti was already quite dramatic before the Earthquake and I'm sorry that we only pay the due attention to poor countries when a natural disaster occurs.
Of course the earthquake made matters even worst, but even before it, for what I've heard, there was no proper water treatment and supply system, so there was no enforced right to water.
I think the earthquake should be seen as a great opportunity, as people are much more sensibilized, to colect money from donations of people, companies and governmnets from developed countries to help developing countries, in water supply particularly. The developing countries need 28 billion US$ to be invested initially and a further cost of 100 billion US$ per year for the development of their water systems to an acceptable level - page 69 B.S.. It may sound like a lot, but considering that Portugal alone - a small country - has an internal product of about 150 billion US$, then we see that if the United Nations followed its obligation of fostering cooperation between developed and developing countries and if governmnets of developed countries did their part, then it would be easy to collect this amounts. 80% of the richness of Earth is in 20% of its population.
Water&diseases in Haiti
In Haiti, contaminated water is the leading cause of infant mortality and illness in children. Germs for hepatitis, cholera, and chronic diarrhea are carried in water used for cooking and drinking. Nearly every water source in Haiti has become contaminated with human waste because of the absence of a sewage sanitation system.
Haiti now has the highest infant mortality rate in the western hemisphere.
In 1990, The US Army Corps of Engineers said of Port-au-Prince, "Epidemics including malaria, typhoid, chronic diarrhea, and intestinal infections are caused by water contaminated by rubbish and fecal matter."
Safe water in Haiti
Unfortunately, water supply and sanitation were not developped in Haiti, not only now with the earthquake but also before. The Millenium development goal is not achieved.(access to safe drinking water).
NGOs are the most implied in that in order to provide fresh water.
The lack of water is one of the most important problems now because people stay outside their homes and it is hot. Water distribution is not easy due to violence.
We are sending there water purifying treatment plants, filters, ... in order to help survivors because if there isn't safe water there isn't life. The sewer system would be seriously damaged at the capital and in some rural areas it doesn't exist.