Democracy Now! interviews Dr. Lyon in Haiti
OpenForum | January 21, 2010 | 3 Comments
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! reported on the situation in Haiti yesterday. She spoke extensively with Dr. Evan Lyon at the general hospital campus in Port-au-Prince about the lack of supplies and the misconceptions about security in Haiti.
A transcript of this segment can be found here.
Dr. Lyon was also interviewed yesterday on Here and Now.
Comments
3 Responses to “Democracy Now! interviews Dr. Lyon in Haiti”
Ann Herfindahl
As a nurse, I can only appreciate how hard this tradegy is. I have been getting out the word to family and friends to raise money for PIH. I DO NOT find it helpful to hear that the work of the military is not helpful. There are soldiers out in a field since the beginning getting the planes in through their traffic control. There are US Coast Guards who are working on the piers to allow ships in with much needed supplies. Yes, things are difficult, but it is hard to believe that if Dr. Lyon makes it known what his needs are for medical supplies, that they wouldn’t be coming. Is there one person he could designate to get to the airport and not leave until they return with needed supplies. Let’s work together for the people of Haiti. This is not an invasion, this is a humanitarian project.
Leyla Asadi
Thanks for that great interview! Very powerful and informative.
michaelmfc
As we give our money to disaster relief it is important to realize that after the news cameras are gone there will still be a tremendous amount of suffering and misery to deal with. The long term effects of a severe earthquake on a poor nation is more pronounced. The country will have to be rebuilt. They will need infrastructure as well as homes, hospitals and schools. There will be hundreds of thousands who are without shelter and who are forced to live in close quarters in unsanitary conditions which will spread disease. Orphans will need to be taken care of, and there will be severe mental health problems that will linger. All of these issues will need attention and financial assistance even after the celebrities have moved on to the next great cause. The work of helping Haiti will once again be done in obscurity without press coverage. There will be no more outpourings of love and sympathy because the public’s attention will be diverted elsewhere. However, there will still be many dedicated organizations who will stay behind and do the difficult unglamorous work of fighting poverty under the most trying conditions. These are organizations we need to continue to support with donations. By providing them with a steady stream of funds we can allow them to operate at their full capacity. This will enable them to slowly improve the living conditions of the Haitian people. But it takes money…a lot of money, month after month and year after year. Dramatic improvement does not happen overnight. It requires a long-term financial commitment on our part. We must have the resolve and the passion to consistently try to improve the lives of those who are suffering.