Assembly for GCSE/Standard Haiti

Topic:

Ethics (Fair trade, Poverty, Human Rights)

Theme:

How can we respond to the terrible tragedy of the Haitian earthquake?

Plan:

For resources to support the assembly, you may like to use the following:

Images:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/8462908.stm
http://www.tearfund.org/News/Haiti+earthquake/Haiti+gallery.htm

Background and ideas for prayer (in a PPT presentation): http://www.tearfund.org/Praying/Urgent+prayer+news/Haiti+earthquake.htm

Video footage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8463938.stm

TALK

For the last week, one story has dominated the news. On Tuesday 12th January an earthquake reaching 7 on the Richter Scale struck Haiti causing mass devastation.

The current estimates suggest that anywhere between 70,000 and 200,000 people have been left dead.

An estimated 1 million people have been left homeless. In some villages, up to 90% of the buildings were reduced to rubble.

The people who usually help out in these types of situations – the UN, the Government and local police agencies – have been just as hit as the rest of the residents of Haiti.

Such a loss is a tragedy in itself. But even more tragically, the story doesn’t end there. The current aid situation is a drop in the ocean – it’s estimated that 2 million people are in need of feeding every day. With the lack of food and shelter, there is the further threat of disease. For people get hungrier and more desperate, looting is one quick and easy way to get what they desperately need. There are rumours of violence breaking out. Petrol is starting to run out as people are desperate to leave their area in search of food. All of this makes the relief effort more complicated.

At a time like this, a lot of people may be left with one overriding question: why? Why do these things happen in our world? There are not words to describe what a terrible tragedy this is - the needless waste of hundreds of thousands of lives.

But maybe, right now, we need to be asking ourselves another question: What now? We have seen and heard what has happened in Haiti. What will our response be?

The Bible teaches that we should help others in their need: bring hope to people who are feeling desperate, feed those who are hungry, bring healing to those who are sick. We cannot ignore the needs of those who are in need of our help.

We live in a rich country. We are all in a position to help. We can donate money now, today, that will help curb the number of people needlessly dying as a result of this tragedy. Think up something you can do to raise money - cake sales, jumble sales, non-uniform days or something more imaginative. Then log onto the DEC website and pledge the money.[Show information on PPT slide].

But we can do even more than this. With such widespread devastation of buildings and population, restoring Haiti will not take a few weeks, but many, many years – long after the news stations have stopped reporting it.

Even before the earthquake, Haiti was a poor country. It was kept poor because it owed a lot of money to the International Monetary Fund. Our politicians have the power to cancel that debt. We could help by writing to our local MP asking them to do so. This will give Haiti hope, not just for now, but for the future too.


PRAYER

Dear God,

We ask you to be with the people of Haiti in the middle of this terrible tragedy.

We pray that they will know your peace and your provision as they come to terms with what has happened.

We remember now all those who have lost their lives in the earthquake. We remember those who have lost loved ones, who are injured, and who have lost their homes.

We pray that you will give strength, energy and courage to all those who are helping to bring food, shelter and supplies to the people of Haiti.

We pray that you will show us how we can help these people that we have never met, but who need us more than ever at this difficult time.

Amen.

Author:

Submitted by: YFC HQ

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