Last week's heavy earthquake in Haiti was one of the most devastating natural disasters of the 21st century. The world has not seen devastation on this scale since the Asian tsunami that struck on Christmas Day in 2004. As the world gathers its resources to help Haiti recover and rebuild they are seeing each step in the rescue process more difficult because the scale of devastation in Haiti is almost unprecedented. While the world has seen equally devastating disasters so far in the 21st century, the devastation is worse in Haiti due to the country's ultimate poverty. Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world and is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, conditions in the country prior to the earthquake served to magnify the destruction and make rescue even more difficult. In the aftermath of the quake, as thousands of aid workers and millions of dollars flood into the country to help, rescuers must battle new problems. A lack of food, fresh water, and shelter for the victims threatens to make the conditions in Haiti worse with each passing day.
Haiti's status as one of the more under-developed nations in the world helped amplify the effects of the earthquake. The Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince was full of neighborhoods of poorly built homes. A lack of safe construction codes and allowable construction materials led to a city full of rickety shacks housing nearly three million inhabitants. When the quake struck, the level of devastation in the capital city was massive. Everything from homes to hospitals and churches, even the Presidential palace, collapsed during the quake. The survivors not only had nowhere to seek shelter in the aftermath, but they had no place to keep the dead. As many of the city's hospitals collapsed, the few remaining buildings that could house population dead or alive were fast overwhelmed. As nations rush in to help the Haitians, they find population living on the street. Living survivors sleep in shabby tent cities with the bodies of the dead lining the same streets. These conditions make the spread of some diseases much easier, threatening to growth the death toll in the aftermath of the earthquake.
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A lack of food and fresh water will composition the terrible living conditions and make the spread of disease and death more swift and efficient. Food and fresh water are near impossible to come by in the aftermath of the earthquake. rescue organizations and aid from other countries are having a tough time to getting into the country. Port-au-Prince's main port was so badly damaged during the earthquake it was impossible in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake to ship in supplies of food and water. Port-au-Prince's airport was also fast overwhelmed, as only one runway remains serviceable to the hundreds of planes trying to land and bring in fresh supplies.
The richest nations of the world are doing all they can to come to the aid of Haiti while trying to help decrease the outbreak of disease, death, and civil unrest. The nations of Europe have pledged a combined 0 million dollars along with aid workers being sent to the country to help in rescue efforts. The United States has sent some 10,000 soldiery to Haiti to help U.N. Peacekeepers already in the country in maintaining order and to help coordinate rescue efforts. American soldiery have taken operate of the airport to coordinate the landing of planes loaded with aid workers and supplies. In addition to the American government's pledge of 0 million, the American social has already donated million to relief organizations. The world cannot rest on its laurels yet, the relief exertion in Haiti will be a long one and if it is to be thriving the world must help Haiti in the advent months and years, not just the next few weeks.
Shortage of Food, Water, and protection Threatens to Worsen Situation in Haiti