The Caribbean Islands: the Next Humanitarian or National Disaster?

This week the United States are passing through one of the greatest natural disasters since 1992[1]. Matthew, a storm ranked as a Category 4 hurricane presently pounds South Carolina, U.S. and already took the lives of 4 people in Florida within the last 72 hours[2]. Unfortunately, the Caribbean region has not been so lucky.

Haiti after Hurricane Matthew. Photo: inhabitat.com

Just in 3 days, Matthew achieved to turn back in total crisis the Islands by killing nearly 276 people in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and the Bahamas[3]. Approximately 3, 215 households have been affected and more than 300, 000 people now remain save in shelters across the country. Such high rate of deaths in location permanently exposed on risk of natural disasters leads to the concern that the humanitarian aid is not enough sufficient to keep the citizens prepared for crisis outbreaks.

Natural Crisis or Political Mislead?

The Caribbean region is a small area with rich cultural and political diversity including one the world`s newest democratic countries, Cuba[4] and one of the poorest, Haiti[5]. This fact, including the fatal climate[6] changes, makes the area a topic of fierce political and media discussions generally related to the provision and management of humanitarian aid[7].

Matthew hits the Bahamas. Photo: http://www.aljazeera.com/

Somewhere between the Lose-Lose Condition

In some countries, the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have the possibility to act as major contributors to the national development processes while in others, their role remain highly restricted due to administrative and negotiation obstacles (Clark 1991)[8]. Whether, the government`s role in coordinating all development activities, including those of NGOs cannot become sufficiently productive, the negative results are most sizable among the affected society. The Caribbean region strives for salvation since 2010; a condition that hurricane Matthew did not put into account this year.

[1] Johnston, S. & Woods, R. “Hurricane Matthew showing similarities to Hurricane Andrew of 1992”, WPRI.com, Oct 2016, <http://wpri.com/2016/10/06/hurricane-matthew-showing-similarities-to-hurricane-andrew-of-1992/> (08.10.2016)

[2] Almasy, S. et al. “Hurricane Matthew blamed for 4 US deaths, sparks flash-flood fears”, CNN, Oct 2016, <http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/07/us/hurricane-matthew-florida/> (08.10.2016)

[3] Blau, M. et al. “Hurricane Matthew kills 276, tears through Haiti, Bahamas, Cuba”, CNN, Oct 2016, <http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/06/americas/hurricane-matthew-cuba-haiti/> (08.10.2016)

[4] Mattingly, A. “The Changing Face of Cuba”, World Policy Journal, Issue “Latin America On Life Support?”, Winter 2015/16, <http://www.worldpolicy.org/journal/winter2015/changing-face-cuba> (09.10.2016)

[5] Sauter, M. et al. “The 10 Poorest Countries in the World”, 247wallst.com, Sept 2012, <http://247wallst.com/special-report/2012/09/14/the-10-poorest-countries-in-the-world/3/> (09.10.2016)

[6] “Haiti Earthquake Fast Facts”, CNN, Dec 2015, <http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/12/world/haiti-earthquake-fast-facts/> (09.10.2016)

[7] Adams, M. “American Red Cross exposed as massive, incompetent fraud: built just six homes after collecting half a billion dollars in Haiti earthquake donations”, Natural News, June 2016, <http://www.naturalnews.com/054476_American_Red_Cross_Haiti_earthquake_donations_fraud.html>(09.10.2016)

[8] Clark, J. (1991) “The Relationship Between the State and the Voluntary Sector” in Democratizing Development: The Role of Voluntary Organizations. West Hartford, Conn.: Kumarian Press.

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