The Role Of Muckraking In Haiti

Numerous accusations on the mismanagements of volunteers and donated funds didn't end with 9/11, but escalated following Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita. When the overwhelming numbers of donations specifically received for the relief efforts of 9/11, the executives made the wrong choice by going against donator’s wishes of how to use those funds. Also, the ARC didn’t update their donation system and was once again bogged down by the overpowering donations that poured in for Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita. On top of all that the ARC failed to get a grip on the financial disasters at its local chapters - unscreened volunteers walked away with ATM cards loaded with donated funds and some manager’s padded their own bank accounts with fundraiser donations (Holguin). For an organization that is supposed to help the country in disaster relief, the ARC has added monetary complications as the icing on the cake.

It can’t be disputed that since its inception, the Red Cross has had a lasting impact on the overall well-being of American citizens, instilling confidence in them that if a disaster does strike in their lives, the Red Cross is there to ease the pain a bit. However, much like any other organization, the Red Cross has had its fair share of flaws and mishaps. A crucial mistake in the business world may result in a substantial loss of money or even a sentence to prison. Unfortunately for the Red Cross, everything they do and participate in deals with the lives of everyday individuals. As a result, if their jobs aren’t done correctly or mistakes are being made, it could put the lives of thousands at risk and therefore jeopardize their institution. Some may argue that in several instances, there has been mistakes made that have directly and negatively impacted the lives of Americans. An

The American Red Cross (2010) website tells of an organization guided by the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, and voluntary service whose mission is to, “provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies” (Mission statement, para. 1). It claims a history of founding in 1881 in Washington D.C. by Clara Barton. Still operating today, 129 years later, is evidence of its success as an organization. It has endured despite the fact that the very nature of

Misrepresentation plagues this island nation overwhelmed with endless suffering. No one sees the beauty of Haiti through a television screen. All they see is misery – natural disaster, disease and poverty—writ large on the evening news. When most Americans think of Haiti, they see problems and a stressed people. However, there is a resilience and a beauty of spirit to Haitians. Even after years upon years of being dehumanized, my people have never broken. Our culture is constantly belittled, but we smile and gather strength from the sun that shines on our island and we persevere.

The story of Haiti’s healthcare system is unfortunately tied all too closely to disaster, both man-made and nature-born. This paper will briefly discuss the pre-2010 earthquake healthcare environment in Haiti as the uncertainty that exists provides little opportunity to provide a reasoned understanding of its current national healthcare status.

Groggily stumbling into the kitchen, I was met with nine pairs of eyes reminding me I wasn’t in America anymore. Eleven days ago, my team and I had flown into Port-au-Prince and driven to Jacmel, directed by Angel Wings International, a local organization that worked to deliver healthcare in Haiti. I received the run-down for the day: we were heading West toward a rural clinic located in Baie d’Orange. Climbing into a musty truck bed, I noticed a crew of dentists, doctors, and pharmacists accompanying us, signifying the most important day in our three-week-long trip. The truck revved into action, racing in Jacmel’s dusty streets, past the swelling river, through winding mountain passes, stopping at a tattered USAID tent that covered a burgeoning crowd of hundreds. Scanning the crowd returned the gaze of scared men, women, and children whose lives could be drastically changed through proper checkups and treatment.

In November 2015, I had the privilege of traveling to Haiti on a mission team. While in Haiti, I was awakened by how blessed I am as an American. There are numerous things that we all take for granted every day. The necessities like three meals a day, clean water, comfortable shelter, nice clothing, electricity, and plumbing are taken for granted. Americans who live in poverty receive benefits such as food stamps, government assisted housing, medical insurance provided by the government, and social security. On the other hand, Haitians are left with little to no support from their government.

A week after Hurricane Matthew, a storm that struck on October third that killed hundreds of people and forced thousands from their homes, the relief effort is finally gaining steam in Haiti, with the flow of food and medicine increasing to cities that will serve as hubs for desperate outlying villages. As Hurricane Matthew passes, Haitians are struggling with Cholera, an infectious disease that can be deadly and is transmitted through contaminated water or food and that's not the end of their problems. Haiti is in a long political crisis and during this national emergency the government has failed to act accordingly instead depending on foreign donors. Haiti still haven't finished their election, which is predicted to start again soon to have a stable leader in this time of need instead

There are numerous reasons for the American Red Cross (ARC) ethical dilemmas. First, the ARC has a history of mismanagement of money for both executives salaries and monetary donations. The ARC has a history of awarding generous severance packages, even to ousted executives with short tenures (Ferrell, Freidrich, & Ferrell, 2015). Additionally, we have learned from numerous disasters where the ARC misappropriated monetary donations. For example, in Laura Sullivan's article, she describes the ARC's actions after the Haiti earthquake. The ARC vowed to help Haiti rebuild, however, years later, there is no sign of ARC's help. A search of the nearly $500 million in donations resulted in, "a string of poorly managed projects, questionable spending and dubious claims of success" (2015, para. 3).

A few years ago, an earthquake struck Haiti causing complete destruction. Earlier last month, a hurricane struck Haiti causing another wave of terror. An already hurt country has been knocked back down. In response to this devastation, the United States is working with the United Nations to help Haiti recover. Money, supplies, and teams are being sent to bring Haiti back up to its feet. However, despite these actions, there are arguments as to whether or not the US is helping enough. Contrary to what some may believe, the US is giving enough aid to Haiti for the recovery process.

On January 12, 2010 on of the world’s deadliest earthquakes struck Haiti. In his book, Humanitarian Aftershocks in Haiti, Mark Schuller analyzes the presence of humanitarian aid agencies following the disaster. He discusses the impacts the aid had on the environment, development and globalization of Haiti.

The recovery process was a long and slow process, even now Haiti is still recovering from the earthquake. Many countries and charities have donated to help Haiti recover from the devastating event. The biggest fundraiser was the American Red Cross. According to The Huffington Post, the money raised through The Red Cross has been wasted, the funds that have been invested to repair Haiti have been put to many of the wrong areas that need help. Overall the effectiveness has been rather patchy but getting better with the greater funds being produced for Haiti.

For the past six years there has been the largest cholera outbreak seen in any state, yet all the people of Haiti are able to get is an apology and a $400 million strategy from the United Nations. Many nations have given to the foundation, but financial commitments for the March sixth deadline have not been met. Along with the deadline not being met, only a fraction of what was envisioned has been seen in the foundation. The fundraising challenge has been looked upon by Dr. David Nabarro, a United Nations special advisor, who has mentioned that since the intentions of the money raised have no set purpose, donors are not convinced they should give. Along with those who are skeptical of donating, the United States, under the Trump Administration has had the

The response for the natural disasters that hit Haiti in 2010 was slow. Haiti improved the water supply of 340,000 people, supplied drugs to five cholera treatment facilities, provided free medical care to 39,000, and gave tools and seeds to help 23,000 people in farming households to help support themselves. These services not only improved shelters for 34,000 people but gave information to 116,000 people about disaster preparation. Volunteers ran literacy classes for 60,000 vulnerable women to help them support themselves and their families; additionally, they helped defend 25,000 residents from forced eviction. However, 3.5 years after the earthquake, the nation is still struggling with recovery with hundreds of thousands of people still living in tent camps.

Hundreds of humanitarian organizations spanning across several continents, including but not limited to the United States, Europe, Canada, Cuba, Venezuela, and China; collectively contributed over $13 billion dollars (World Bank, 2017). United States based USAID and FEMA both deployed to Haiti to provide search and rescue and relief assistance (FEMA, 2010). FEMA and USAID also partnered together with other international and local organizations to provide varying humanitarian services (FEMA, 2010). Despite this humanitarian response, survivors were subjected to famine, deplorable living conditions, violence, and in some instances exploited (World Bank,