the Sycamore
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FRIDAY February 26, 2010 Volume LVI Issue 7 | 7400 Cornell Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45242, 513.686.1770 ext. 3089 | www.goaves.com
Rebuilding
Haiti
Organizations around world extend helping hands moriahkrawec & annieseiple editor-in-chief & staff writer staff writer
&
A
spencerwurzelbacher
elleanzhang staff writer & news chief
t 4:53 p.m. on Jan. 12, an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, as the inhabitants of the island nation sat down for dinner. The nation was devastated by the death of hundreds of thousands, with about a million left homeless, as buildings and power lines crumbled like a gingerbread house in the hands of a hungry child. It has been over a month since the initial quake, and it may seem like the worst is over, but it is far from it. Last month’s news? By no means. In the month following the initial quake, there have been well over 50 aftershocks, each measuring no less than a magnitude of 4.5. The streets of the denselypopulated Port-au-Prince are flooded by a motionless sea of human bodies—so many that there is no possible way to show respect for them other than to drag a piece of cardboard to cover them from
those walking in the streets. According to Haitian authorities, 180,000 have been confirmed dead since the initial earthquake—a count that continues to rise, daily. About 480,000 have been able to flee the capital, finding refuge with relatives elsewhere in Haiti. Over 225,000 buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged, and an estimated 3 million people were affected, with 1.2 million left homeless. The call for relief is constantly sounding, and while those who are not there cannot possibly imagine the magnitude of suffering Haitians are enduring, they certainly hear the mournful pleads for more help. And even after all the calls for relief have been answered, the nation must still face the challenge of rebuilding itself, calling on the expertise of all types of engineers to help establish a new and improved version of Haiti. This is not a short-term project that lies ahead; most likely, it will continue on for up to a decade.
all images, unless otherwise specified, from altavista.com
rashmiborah
THE EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI resulted in numerous casualties for the nation. The capital, Port-au-Prince, was devastated. Numerous organizations have come together to provide basic resources and help relocate individuals, as shown, and these efforts will continue until the country is back on its feet.
index: charity events, relief efforts B-C | SHS helps out D