Why does nature always inflict its damnedest on the weak and vulnerable?
I have been following the multiple news reports on the 7.0 scale earthquake that has inflicted tremendous damage to the island of Haiti in the Dominican Republic leaving 200,000 dead.
What does a victim of such shock and horror go through? While I have never myself been in such a position, I try to envisage the mixed emotions that would run through such a person’s mind. The initial phase of shock and numbness slowly fades away as the realization of the calamity that has taken place begins to seep in.
I would initially begin to look for loved ones and family praying that everyone is OK. My concern would spread to others as I begin to thank god that I am one of the survivors. Perhaps I would attempt to gather some self control and begin thinking about others and participate in rescue efforts. But how would I feel if the numbers kept rising and the hopelessness, anger and pain grew? How would I feel when I hear the mourning, anguish and wails of the other survivors as the body count increases?
How does one control her mind and hang on to hope when aid is trickling in and there is no supply of food, water, shelter for 3 days-72 hours?
What will I feel when my tragedy is used for political agenda? I hear presidents proclaiming aid, support money. But on the ground I see nothing……..
The US has been given senior authority control of the airspace at the Haiti airport…..I hear other countries complaining that their aid is unable to reach me because the US is too slow and inefficient in their organization of relief efforts.
Does this matter when I have not eaten for days and my two children are hungry, cold and unable to defend themselves?
Will I hang on to my self respect when I see packets of high energy biscuits being distributed and I know that reaching the relief worker is my only goal my only means of sustaining my family and myself for another few hours.
If I have not tasted water for three days, I will go on hand and knees to find myself the few drops of water that trickle from a nearby tap. My only thought is survival, I will kill, I will loot, I will harm my neighbor because at this point, while the eyes of the world are on me and my plight, I can only think I need to survive, I need to feed my family, I will go on my knees and pray to god…..please god just one more day, let me see tomorrow……..
mokablogger
