Post by Baron von Braun on Jan 16, 2010 20:28:45 GMT 2
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Subject: Earthquake Relief in Haiti
Dear Secretary General,
It has come to our attention that relief supplies for the people of Haiti have been "stymied" according to US Navy Rear Admiral Ted Branch. He says relief supplies are stuck at the airport and that he does not want to simply air drop the supplies into Haiti. Meanwhile, the people of Haiti who are suffering from the earthquake that struck there this past Tuesday are thirsty, hungry, and badly in need of urgent medical care.
With all due respect this situation is unacceptable! Relief people, both military and private, MUST do whatever needs to be done to get those supplies to the people of Haiti as soon as possible. To further delay their distribution will only increase the already staggering death toll in Haiti as people begin to die of thirst, hunger, and lack of urgent medical attention. This would be even more unacceptable!
It is our understanding that the United Nations normally coordinates disaster relief efforts. It is also our understanding that many UN staff members stationed in Haiti were killed by Tuesday's earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter Scale. We deeply regret your loss but surely you can get replacements into Haiti to take up coordination of the relief efforts. Media reporters are in Haiti as well as several small relief agencies so we see no reason why the United Nations cannot get into the devastated country.
We implore the United Nations to make every effort humanely possible to get the relief supplies and medical attention to the people of Haiti immediately! Further delays in their delivery are unaccpetable to the people of Thrace and to the people of the world.
Of greatest and growing concern on this fourth day after the quake is the looming possibility of deadly disease such as measles, e-coli, cholera, malaria, and other such deadly diseases. Any further delays will result in these diseases increasing the human death toll in Haiti tenfold. Again, this is NOT acceptable!
The United Nations has a record of superb relief services in times of disaster, however, the UN is NOT living up to that record in the case of the disaster in Haiti. Therefore, we once again implore you to do whatever it takes to get the relief supplies and medical attention to the people of Haiti IMMEDIATELY.
Sincerely,
Baron Erik von Braun
Prime Minister
Empire of Thrace
Reference media report:
www.sphere.com/world/article/uss-vinsons-admiral-says-haiti-aid-distribution-stymied-by-poor-coordination/19319180