The truly horrendous scenes of devastation, destruction and death in Haiti cannot fail to touch our hearts. The first large earthquake in 240 years, this enormous richter scale 7.0 quake's effects are only barely understood at this time. Thousands have though been killed and tens of thousands left homeless. Nothing could be more worse for a country with problems of poverty on a grand scale.
As background material on Haiti read the second half of Fidel Castro's reflection from May last year http://monthlyreview.org/castro/2009/05/24/nothing-can-be-improvised-in-haiti/
To date Cuba's doctors currently working in Haiti have set up two emergency tent-hospitals alongside the destroyed hospital in Port au Prince, and have treated over 1,000 patients, including numerous surgeries. None of the doctors so far have been reporting missing or injured although two suffered minor leg injuries according to Cuban TV. Cuba has also sent 30 additional specialists (orthopedists, surgeons, etc) but did not have to send a large contingent of doctors because there are already hundreds of Cuban doctors working there.
According to the TV report, a further medical brigadefrom Cuba will arrive soon. The Henry Reeves brigade, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Reeve_(soldier) created for emergency situations, is taking medicines, clothes, food, saline solution and plasma bags. Lets hope that the marines that Obama is now despatching to Haiti to help with the relief effort, can work alongside the Cubans who were already there, to jointly assist the people.
This is a moment in which our solidarity is of critical importance. You can donate at http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-17424-f0.cfm
