As an individual with Haitian roots, the issue hit very close to home. My mother would receive phone calls from family in Haiti talking about how the epidemic was only getting worse. We could only speculate about how the outbreak began, but we were never for sure. Here and there, you could find articles about how the UN was responsible but there was no definite evidence solidifying these assumptions.
Recently, Muneer Ahmad, a Clinical Professor of Law at Yale Law School, published a study entitled "Peacekeeping Without Accountability: The United Nations' Responsibility for the Haitian Cholera Epidemic." This study outlined exactly how the UN was responsible for the epidemic in Haiti. Professor Ahmad along with Jonathon Katz, a journalist with first hand experience of the UN’s attempt to cover up their part in the outbreak, and Dr. Jean Ford Figaro, the Director of Outreach and Advocacy for the “Kolera Jistis Project,” explained how the UN was singlehandedly responsibly for the cholera outbreak in Haiti at an event entitled “Cholera in Haiti: Taking Responsibility.”
First, John Katz explained what he observed while on assignment in Haiti. On October 27, 2010 he visited one of the bases. He observed cracked pipes over a canal leading directly to one of the main rivers used by the people on a daily basis. The pipes were located directly near the septic tanks and leaked foul smelling black liquid into the river. The next day when they returned, the pipes had been covered up. The UN was determined to keep their fault under wraps. Katz stated that during his investigation many of the UN affiliated people he questioned were very reluctant to answer questions that may incriminate the UN and demand that they take accountability. Katz concluded by saying that the UN simply wanted to delay taking responsibility in an attempt to prevent unrest among the people.
Following Katz, Professor Muneer Ahmad spoke on the study he conducted. He explained how he traced the origin of the outbreak back to two Nepalese UN peacekeepers. He focused more on the parallels that are developing in the Philippines between the aftermath and humanitarian aid after their recent typhoon and Haiti’s earthquake. Focusing on infrastructure, he pointed out how the UN was once again rushing into a new environment, without knowing the climate and how to prevent a reoccurrence of the Haiti cholera epidemic.
Just as Dr. Figaro was going to speak, I had to leave for class. Overall the event was very informal and focused around raising awareness that the UN is at fault for the outbreak and demanding that they take responsibility. On the alt break, I think it’ll be interesting to see how the outbreak has influenced public infrastructure and also how it has affected the already rocky relationship between the UN, the Haitian government, and the people.
For more on the cholera outbreak, see: Activists Sue UN Over Cholera That Killed Thousands in Haiti (NPR)
- Jen
No comments:
Post a Comment