Spotlight on Haiti: Post-Earthquake Violence

I am, in my non-online existence, a self-professed George Clooney fanatic. So I was thrilled to see him get the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmy's last week, and even more thrilled by his speech.

Clooney noted that when disaster first strikes, we all want to help, but then the news shifts to the next catastrophe, or the next big story, and we forget. He's hoping some bright person can figure out how to "keep the spotlight burning on these heartbreaking situations that continue to be heartbreaking long after the cameras go away. That'd be an impressive accomplishment." Here is my humble attempt to remind you of what's happening in Haiti.

The earthquake that occurred January 12 killed 300,000 people. 1.5 million people are homeless and 20 million cubic meters of rubble still has to be cleared away. The Miami-Hearlad also reported that kidnappings have increased 33% since the earthquake. Kidnappers target the well-to-do hillside homes above Port-au-Prince, but also travelers and relief workers.

Even more troubling is the epidemic of sexual violence in the relief camps. Women are assaulted on their way to and from the bathroom in the middle of the night, or are ambushed by multiple attackers. Doctors without Borders treated 212 sexual violence patients in the five months after the earthquake, while KOFAVIV, a grassroots women's group, reported 230 rapes in 15 camps in the first two months after the earthquake.

The actual number of survivors is likely much higher: many women do not report their rapes because of the stigma associated with sexual violence, and because they have little faith the police will be able to do anything to help. In its July report, Our Bodies are Still Trembling: Haitian Women's Fight Against Rape, MADRE reported that the majority of known rapes occur at night, are committed by at least two attackers who are often armed, and that survivors are often unable to identify their attackers because the attack occurred at night, the attackers wear masks, or simply because of the trauma of the attack.

MADRE recommends all stakeholders working in Haiti act with due diligence to prevent, investigate, and punish acts of violence. Since many of the rapes occur in the camps at night, MADRE specifically recommends increasing security and providing more lighting in the camps. Who knew lightbulbs could help prevent rape?

You've already helped just by reading this piece and remaining aware. If you want to do more, you can donate to KOFAVIV via MADRE's website.

Photo credit: Lee Cohen