Some context to the anger in Haiti

[nadinbrzezinski]

people are angry at the lack of aid. You can bet there is a healthy rumor mill.

Now let me flash back to oh the Mexico City Quake, because the anger was there, though not the corpses.

At the time the rumor started running that those in power were keeping all the foreign aid that was coming in, why it was not reaching the people. And some did end up in the black market, that is the reality and some here will end up in the black market. Just the way it is.

Now having dealt with rumor mills, I can bet that there is a variation of this exact rumor going on, and what you are seeing right now the anger that comes from lack of action on the ground. People are hearing the C-130s. They are not seeing any of those supplies come in. They may be able to see a foreign team here or there, but not much help. Understandably they believe that the ones on top are milking the supplies for their own use.

So understand, this is not unbelievable, and it does nothing to do with being dehydrated or not. This is the anger that rises in many a disaster against a power elite. I wrote last night that this will change the relationship of the people with their government. Well, guess what? this is the leading edge of that change.

On the down side, it will make getting the actual aide to the actual people a more complex problem. That is now there is the other challenge of security.

Oh and Brian Williams reporting from the airport again... speaks volumes to this security issues.

[Bobbieo]

1. It is one helluva mess down there, right now. Fear and anger!!!!

[TeeYiYi]

2. Remember when supply trucks were turned away after Katrina?...

... I just wonder why the supplies are taking so long to get to the people in Haiti. :shrug:

"When Wal-Mart sent three trailer trucks loaded with water, FEMA officials turned them away, he said. Agency workers prevented the Coast Guard from delivering 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and on Saturday they cut the parish's emergency communications line, leading the sheriff to restore it and post armed guards to protect it from FEMA, Mr. Broussard said."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05blame.html

TYY

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Because they are actually moving faster than tehy did

after Katrina.

There is this little problem that people are missing... DISTANCE.

Oh the second one... LOCAL ABILITY TO HANDLE MATERIEL

The port is down and out, and until it is brought back on line (and it will not look pretty either), guess what the SHIPS that can carry far more stuff can't even go there. Ok a few of the anfibs could, but not many.

They are having a problem at the airport. They don't mostly have trucks to move supplies. Also if you put a ten ton truck loaded with oh water, on a parking lot (or what passes for one) and no security, you are asking for a riot.

No, not because they are Haitians... this is SOP for ANY disaster around the world.

[TeeYiYi]

12. I agree it's a logistical nightmare...

... that's becoming more dangerous and volatile by the minute. Even if they could get the supplies in more quickly, at this point it will require a show of force to control that many desperate people. :(

TYY

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Security is part of this in any disaster

they don't have it, so the Marines are coming.

[blondeatlast]

5. No functioning ports, one airport with ONE runway and a barely functioning

control tower.

The ships and planes are there; it's the logistics that are a problem.

This is a logistical nightmare and rumors don't help, that's what NB is telling you.

[cliffordu]

8. Well, the roads are completely blocked for one.

And there's nowhere to stack shit being taken off the planes and no trucks of any size to take stuff inland.

Other than that, it's prolly easy peasy.

[blondeatlast]

3. Rumors are deadly in a situation like this. Deadly. thanks for the perspective

and I know you know your stuff, NB.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Yes, yes they are

why we did our best to nip them in the bud when running refugee camps.

[stray cat]

7. Since I'm not there risking my life its certainly hypocritical of me to judge a reporter there

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. I am just giving you the analysis, which unfortunately the media is not

and in my view we are seeing the first stage of something that could get ugly... a risk in any disaster zone mind you.

[blondeatlast]

10. This really should be on the Greatest page. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. well I guess explaining human nature is not popular

:-)

[Maru Kitteh]

13. Not to mention, prolonged dehydration produces metabolic alkalosis

We are all familiar with the scenario of the man lost at sea on a raft going mad with dehydration. . .

Now multiply that by 3+ million people who have been without access to water for 3 days.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Given that at least one third of the population does not have

clean water, out of the tap, every day of the week, I suspect there is some water, no the kind that is safe... but that is another story.

And yes I am familiar with the problem but this is not dehydration. this is anger. And that is the contest for it.

Dime on the dollar that this is the actual rumor going on.

[Maru Kitteh]

16. I think dehydration does play into this situation. It affects your decisions, makes you desperate,

angry, disoriented and confused - add to that the trauma of the earthquake? Many Haitians had to buy their drinking water before this happened, poor as they are.

Yeah. Dehydration is likely playing a part, along with the factors you cite.