Unending nightmare

TV reports on the Haiti earthquake devastation certainly give viewers the sense of despair that quake victims are experiencing. Even from the comfort and safety of the living room, viewers can be moved to tears and feel the urge to help. Yet despite scenes and stories of victims, the situation can seem unreal. The TV can be turned off, but hours or days later when the TV is turned on again, the scenes are still there — only worse. 

To those in the quake zone, the reality must be like an unending nightmare.

 Day after day, victims and emergency responders alike, must cope with the sights, sounds, stench, safety hazards, shelter, sanitary facilities, shortage of food, water, medical supplies, occasional violent incidents, frightening aftershocks, crowded airport facilities, problems with getting supplies from the airport and from ships to where supplies are most needed.

Search and rescue teams, doctors and nurses, volunteer firefighters, missionaries, news reporters and photographers are confronted with the frustrations of trying to help victims survive in this overwhelming disaster. Most of them will take a long time to “get back to normal.” Such catastrophic events take a toll on minds and bodies of responders as well as survivors.

It’s encouraging to see nations from around the globe respond with money, materials, and unselfish volunteers to try to help victims they don’t even know, often continents away. It brings out the best in humans. Too bad it takes such a catastrophe to bring about such efforts. Perhaps there are lessons in cooperation and good will that will be learned.