Haiti is in near complete collapse. Survivors of the earthquake, desperate to relieve themselves of the smell and threat of disease from rotting corpses, took matters in their own hands and began burning the bodies yesterday.
The scene was horrific, the stench unmistakable. Sadly, it was nothing new here. But because it unfolded so many days after the earthquake that took at least 112,000 lives, it was shocking.
Three bodies trapped in a crushed taxi. A man, two women. Set ablaze.
Even for those who have witnessed so much these past 13 days, the torching of the Toyota in the capital's central plaza Monday was difficult to take in...
The taxi had been smashed by collapsing concrete during the devastating earthquake, and the bodies were decomposing in tropical temperatures, the smell unbearable to the thousands who have temporarily sought shelter under tarpaulins and tents across the street at the Champs de Mars plaza.
The foul smell prompted people to dig the car out of the rubble, but those living on the street in the area said disposal trucks never arrived to take the bodies away.
"They couldn't find anyone to dispose of the bodies so they had to burn them," said Gidel Fellmon.
This is just another sign of the multitude of problems that face Haiti after the devasting earthquake. There is lack of food, shelter, and sanitation. Dead bodies, putrifying, increase the possibility of spreading disease in a country already strapped for medical care.
This is why the people of Haiti need money. Money to fund crews to clean up the rubble, crews to properly dispose of the dead...money to pay for medical staff to treat the living, and money to fund security and rebuilding to bring back a sense of order and infrastructure to the country.
Every little bit helps, you can donate today by texting "HAITI" to "90999" to donate $10 to the Red Cross.
