Haiti: After the Devastation, the Emotional Wreckages

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:22:27 +0000

By Jeffrey Kluger Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010

Article sourced from Time

The scale of the earthquake devastation in Haiti is all but impossible to measure accurately now. Eventually, it will be reduced to hard numbers: so many people killed, so many buildings destroyed, so much wealth and infrastructure lost. There will, however, be invisible injuries too — to the psyches of the survivors. Emotional wounds may be the slowest to develop, but they can also be among the toughest to heal.

It may seem premature to think about now, but Haitians who survive the horrific earthquake will be at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Americans have become increasingly familiar with PTSD in the wake of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, not to mention in the experiences of veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — who have suffered such symptoms as depression, anxiety, emotional numbing, sleep difficulties, substance abuse and more. The Veterans Administration estimates that 7% to 8% of the U.S. population will suffer from the disorder at some point and 5.2 million Americans experience it in a given year.

The way individuals or an entire culture respond initially to a trauma is not necessarily an indicator of whether they’re likely to develop PTSD — though it never hurts to get feelings out in the open early. The Russians and British are famously stoic sufferers. Americans are more candid about what they’re feeling. Haitians are better still.
Read full article: Time.com

Haiti – The ADDC’s Response

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:05:51 +0000

Watch Moving Images of Haiti Earthquake >

As we all commenced the New Year refreshed and with high expectations ready for the challenges that would face us in 2010, we were all shocked and caught off guard by the devastation that followed the earthquake in Haiti.

ADDC extends its heartfelt sympathy to those affected and requests your support to the many agencies that are collecting funds to provide essential humanitarian relief aid to Haiti.

It is during situations like this and the tsunamis that devastated the Pacific region, that we remind you of the dire circumstances that often face people with disabilities who live in these areas.

People with disabilities are significantly more vulnerable during a disaster. For example, inadequate social interaction and communication during impeding days means they often lack vital information on the situation and are particularly unprepared for the consequences. They tend to be invisible during emergency evacuations and registration processes and the particular needs that they may have due to the disability are not identified or catered for during emergency situations.

The following are some factors which make people with disabilities vulnerable during emergency situations:

PwD often are invisible during emergency registering and first contact aid situations
PwD often lack awareness of the situation and find it more difficult to comprehend the expected consequence of the disaster
The situation can often be misinterpreted due to communication difficulties
PwD are often excluded from disaster response efforts and particularly are particularly affected by change in terrain from disaster.
PwD are often unable to access rescue and evacuation services including adequate shelter, water and sanitation
The emotional trauma and distress caused by a crisis situation often has longer term consequences for PwD. (Source HI)

There are many methods that can be used to minimize the negative impact of disaster on Pwd. However, the most significant and effective method is to include PwD in the emergency response teams. Mainstreaming Pwd into the emergency response systems aims to address PwD are addressed at every stakeholder level.

ADDC :: Australian Disability & Development Consortium » Emergency

Haiti: After the Devastation, the Emotional Wreckages

Haiti – The ADDC’s Response