Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Panel Discusses Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Efforts

Thursday night, the university hosted a “Forum on Haiti: From Relief to Recovery,” featuring eight panelists speaking from both professional expertise and personal experience on the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that devastated Haiti on Jan.12. The participants reflected on and contextualized relief and recovery efforts.

The panel discussed relief efforts, the history of Haiti, future recovery plans, debt relief, health issues and long-term implications to an audience that filled the entire lower level of Gaston Hall. Moderated by Susan Martin, holder of the Donald G. Herzberg Chair in International Migration and executive director for the Institute for the Study of International Migration, the panel discussed the history of Haiti and the past’s relevance to the ongoing relief efforts. Stressing a lack of infrastructure and the inability to funnel aid to the right places, panelists described the multiple layers of the tragedy.

A crowd favorite was Georgetown University alumnus and former football player Roosevelt Donat (COL ’07), who visited Haiti just over a week after the earthquake. As a Creole-speaking Haitian, Roosevelt was called on to interpret between English-speaking doctors and Creole-speaking Haitian victims.

“The hospital was severely undersupplied,” Donat said. “Doctors and nurses had to ask the nurse in charge for everything they needed to do their jobs. Staffers were making wound-cleaning solutions from Clorox. Amputations were being performed sans anesthetic.”

Daniel Lopez-Acuna, director of the Recovery and Transition Programs of Health Action in Crisis, a division of the World Health Organization, said, “If we want to affect relief efforts, we really need to think of a major enterprise, a commercial plan for Haiti in this regard. There will be massive need of investment . It is not just reconstruction. It is not just a function of brick and mortar.”

The panel opened with footage of a Port-au-Prince hospital recorded by Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.). In a taped address, Meek said, “I could not bring back the odor of death or the Haitian woman that embraced me as an American, hoping we could make Haiti better for them.”

In-depth discussion in the panelists’ areas of expertise ranged from describing the lack of secondary education in Haiti to the state of water contamination due to improper sewage disposal.

“I thought the panel was really informative – there was a really diverse range of issues and history of Haiti to consider . The questions students asked were fantastic,” Martin said after the event.

eg MacWhirter, a program assistant in the President’s Office, said one of the most striking parts of the event was that everyone asked to speak consented.

artin plans to hold additional panels that will address more specific elements of the reconstruction process such as the post-earthquake diaspora, relief, recovery and longer term development.

Student attendees said the panel illuminated the situation for them in ways that media coverage had not.

“I think I was really confused as [to] what I could do before today, and I feel like it gave us a clear idea of what’s going to happen in the next few months and what I can do to help,” said visiting graduate student Randa Kuziez.

Samara Jinks (SFS ’11) said, “This panel was informing and inspiring at the same time. It was useful for students [who are] trying to help but don’t know what routes to take.”

artin said that she learned the most from Donat’s presentation.

“We all saw it [the current state of Haiti] better, since he had just been there through the eyes of an intelligent and passionate person .We got a much better sense of what was going on through his eyes,” Martin said.

After the panel, Donat stressed the tremendous strength of the Haitian people.

“Everyone is focusing on grieving. People need to understand that the Haitian people have a tremendous will to survive,” he said. “They don’t need sorrow, they need support . There is a ray of sunshine for the Haitian people. We will rebuild bigger, better and stronger . I saw this [his ability to serve in Haiti] as an opportunity to help someone out and maximize my ability to be human.”

Other panelists included Allan Jury, the director of the U.S. Relations Office for the World Food Programme, Shaina Aber, associate advocacy director for the Jesuit Refugee Service USA, Susan Braden, the director of public policy and International Humanitarian Response and Save the Children, Maurice Jackson, an associate professor in the history department, Jose Teruel, a professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies, and Juan Manuel Sotelo, the chief manager of external relations, resource mobilization and partnerships for the Pan-American Health Organization.

– Hoya Staff Writer Matt Joseloff contributed to this report.”

Maurice Jackson speaks at a forum on Thursday, aimed at discussing the crisis in Haiti.
Maurice Jackson speaks at a forum on Thursday, aimed at discussing the crisis in Haiti.
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