More than 200,000 lives are believed to have been lost and properties destroyed as a result of a massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti, but, there is still a reason for survivors to be hopeful. In fact, it is an unwavering, or in other words, strong leap of faith and hope that kept some of the victims alive (some in critical conditions) under the rubble for more than 24 hours, five, eleven, and fifteen days. We can also admit that living in pain and trauma underneath those rubbles without food and water, or being able to move around for so many days was such a miracle beyond the scope of human imagination, writes Ib’s Blog founder Ibrahim Dabo.
Horror Grips The Island
Haitians will hardly ever forget Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, a day that suddenly turned their world around as devastation came crumbling upon them. It wasn’t war or other human atrocities against mankind—it was a natural disaster that struck the impoverish nation, hitting south of the capital Port-au-Prince and wrecking the presidential palace, United Nations Headquarters and thousands of homes and offices.
Thousands of people were killed – just as many more were injured, opening a new page in the history books as the worst earthquake to hit Haiti in two centuries. Fear gripped the nation as people searched for family and friends; the elderly and children alike cried out woefully, either because they were in pain or as a result of the death of a loved one, or both.
Heartbreaking Effects
Loss: It will be hard to come across a Haitian who has not suffered some form of loss as a result of the quake. Families and friends, jobs, and properties may have been lost and destroyed; and even a glimmer of hope fading away? Well, for many, this is certainly a very challenging time, maybe the worst in a life-time. Dead bodies lay along the streets infested with fleas. And while having to cope with the smell of decaying bodies, what could be more troubling to see human remains being dumped into trucks by bulldozers and taken away for burial in mass graves?
A victim of war in Sierra Leone, having endured the bitter memories of that civil conflict that left tens of thousands of people killed and more than 3,000 with amputated limbs, I had to revisit and battle with those tough emotions as I watched on TV the burial of the dead in Haiti as a result of the quake. Does this not remind us that we should be thankful for each and every day we see in good health and strength, and make the very best of it? Think about it again.
Food/Shelter: Victims think about the pain they’re enduring, and then worry about food and clean drinking water, or where to lie down peacefully and sleep at night. Food and water, a basic element of life, was in dire need especially hours following the earthquake, and there are still such challenges in reaching out to many victims with much-needed humanitarian supplies, which have been pouring in from around the world. Think about how precious is just a bottle of water in such times.
Medical Care: It may be impossible to reach out and help every victim that needs urgent medical care. Many people may have died because they did not receive the medical care needed and when they needed it most. And as one ponders on that, there is more to worry about. We have learned today that rescue workers have reported that more than one million people remain without shelter on the streets of Port-au-Prince. Haitian President Rene Preval made an urgent appeal on Tuesday Jan. 26 for more international support.
UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said in a press release on the organization’s website that there are great concerns about children.
“These children face increased risks of malnutrition and disease, trafficking, sexual exploitation and serious emotional trauma. The race to provide them with life-saving emergency food and medicine, safe shelter, protection, and care is underway,” Ms. Veneman said.
Despite The “Worst” Come Miracles
Six Days: Six days after the earthquake a woman was found trapped alive under the rubble of a collapsed bank. She had been without food and water but her resilience and faith were just unimaginable and kept her going. Her husband never gave up on finding her alive, and she, too, never gave up on surviving. When she was pulled from the rubble by firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department ITN’s Billy Neely who was on the scene covering the event as it unfolded asked her if she thought she would live; “Yes, why not?” she responded.
Seven Days: An eight-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl were rescued alive after seven days trapped under rubble. As they pulled the boy from the rubble, he raised his head and smiled wide, throwing his arms open wide with joy, sending the crowd wild as they cheered excitedly. (See video below).
70-year-old Ena Zizi was found trapped in a pile of concrete rubble near a collapsed cathedral seven days after the earthquake. She was heard praying when rescuers got to her and her strong faith kept her alive.
Eight Days: A five-year-old boy incredibly survived being trapped in the rubble eight days after the quake had struck. Although severely dehydrated, it was reported that he escaped unscathed.
Perhaps most striking was that of 23-day old baby girl, Elisabeth Joassaint, who was rescued alive eight days after the earthquake. “It was the mercy of God. This wasn’t the way Jesus wanted the baby to die,” Elisabeth’s mother Michelene Joassaint, was quoted as saying on Yahoo! News.
Eleven Days: Rescue workers wept with joy as they were able to save the life of 24-year-old Wismond Jean-Pierre who was found under the rubble of a hotel eleven days after the earthquake.
Fifteen Days: In another remarkable story of survival under the most challenging circumstances, a teenage girl, Darlene Etienne, was on Thursday, Jan. 28 found very dehydrated with a broken leg – and moments from death. She was rescued and pulled from the rubble of a home near the destroyed St. Gerard University in such a stunning recovery/news.
A Reason To Be Thankful
When you read all the above testimonies (and many others not mentioned here), there is definitely a reason to be thankful. Often times we see our problems as a hefty burden to carry but when we hear, read, or watch the remarkable stories of how people are defying the odds in Haiti to survive, we should be very much appreciative for that which we have. Even if it means graciously lending a helping hand to those in need, or donating to the humanitarian cause in Haiti, such would be a heartfelt and very rewarding feeling.
A Future Of Hope?
If victims can survive in the rubble for up to eleven and fifteen days after the deadly earthquake in Haiti, then there is no reason why we should not agree that there is a glimmer hope going into the future. It is worth noting that there will be enormous challenges, while bitter memories will linger on for a long time, but the miracles we have so far seen should serve as a testament for miracles yet to be seen. In all of this, we are assured of God presence in our lives.
– See video below (Eyewitness 9 News) of a rescue effort in Haiti. An eight-year-old boy rescued alive after seven days trapped under rubble.
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Powerful, insightful, and uplifting report, Mr. Dabo.