World reaction to the massive devastation inflicted by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that virtually erased Haiti has been astonishing in monetary donations and relief efforts. Despite the best intentions of governments everywhere, Israel was the lone country able to clear organizational hurdles, erect fully equipped field hospitals and get to work. As the secular press praises the Jewish state’s medical response as nothing short of heroic, the Jewish world stands proud but unsurprised. We have learned to expect nothing less.
“The Israeli field hospital is phenomenal,” Dr. Richard Besser of ABC News told Good Morning America. “They were up and running on Saturday morning (Shabbat), way ahead of the US hospital.” CNN, MSNBC and American newspapers all concur. It’s not that Israel needs their blessing, or even attention.
Saving lives as quickly as possible is Israel’s only motivation.
Of course, this is everyone’s goal –– but not the reality on the ground. Some officials anticipate the death toll will rise to 200,000. As relief workers and soldiers circling Haiti’s barely operable airport ran out of fuel and were rerouted to other regional airstrips, the IDF reached Haiti on January 15 — three days after the earthquake. Team members included military and medical personnel, rescue teams, search dogs and supplies.
IsrAid, which coordinates 17 Israeli and Jewish humanitarian groups, was treating wounded Haitians vulnerable to excruciating and deadly infections by January 16. Because of them, babies are alive and healthy. Antibiotics, so crucial at this point in the crisis, are available.
No doubt other governments –– including those that criticize the Israelis for perceived injustices against the Palestinians –– can learn from them. When you get down to it, this is not about Israel. It’s about the Haitians.
Speaking of the Haitians, we are shocked that some Americans focus on looters rather than untrained volunteers digging furiously with bare hands to free strangers and loved ones alike.
If New York City were ripped apart by an earthquake, would there be looters? You bet. Would there be criminal chaos? Absolutely. Twisting an all too common response to chaos into a cultural trait that afflicts only Haitians is symptomatic of ignorance and hate. Pat Roberston may blame Haiti’s hell on a “pact with the devil,” but we say he’s the one who partners with evil thought and speech.
Before the earthquake, Haiti was the most impoverished country in the Western hemisphere. According to several estimates, 50% of the population is younger than 18. What happened on a late Tuesday afternoon on January 12 was a worst-case scenario of epic proportions. The world is giving generously, and that generosity must continue a long time for Haiti to rebuild.
Throughout their nightmare, which in many ways is just beginning, Haitians continue yearning, and praying. Their faith is strong. We must match it with ours.
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