Deporting Haitians back to Haiti at this time is deplorable
I have been to Haiti several times.
Even before the unrest that started about 2 years ago, life there was extremely difficult. It is the most impoverished nation in the hemisphere. Most people don't have electricity, running water, adequate shelter, clean water, enough food, health care....
Then about two years things got worse. What started as rioting due to high gas prices turned into gangs taking over many areas. It became unsafe for me or any American to go there.
Then the president was assassinated, throwing the entire political system into chaos.
Then a 7.2 earthquake hit on 8/14. Over 2,000 people died and untold thousands injured, leaving thousands of people homeless. Access to food and water becoming even more of a problem for many.
One of the villages I have been to (to install solar panels on a school that otherwise has no electricity) is very close to the epicenter. The people have been struggling, on the edge, since then. Many people lost their homes. The small medical clinic can't handle the injuries. There is not enough clean water. The situation there and much of Haiti is dire.
Today CNN reported:
The department said in a statement Saturday it's preparing additional transportation to accelerate the pace and increase the capacity of removal flights to Haiti, as well as other destinations, within the next 72 hours.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/18/politics/biden-haiti-deportations/index.html
I do not understand this. People from Haiti who have made it this far deserve to be classified as refugees. The should not be sent back to Haiti.
This is not right.
= new reply since forum marked as read
the poverty is crushing. It is not for the faint of heart. When I go, I take old clothing, toothbrushes, etc.
I think the problem here is the pandemic... Joe doesn't want anybody coming in from anywhere... and I think Haiti is only 1% vaccinated, or something like that?
It's a terrible situation, all around.. ugh
