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November 20, 2008 at 21:36:51
Promoted to Headline (H3) on 11/20/08: by k.luciole from Luciole Press (Posted by Stephen Fox) Page 1 of 3 page(s) |
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Venecia Lonis, 4, who suffers from malnutrition, is weighed at the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Port-au-Prince, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. Aid workers fear hunger is worsening in rural Haiti after at least 26 children died of conditions exacerbated by a lack of nutrition, raising concerns that a grave food crisis may be brewing following four devastating tropical storms. In pockets of Haiti accessible only by donkey or foot, children are dying of malnutrition - their already meager food supply cut by a series of devastating storms that destroyed crops, wiped out livestock and sent food prices spiraling. At least 26 severely malnourished children have died in the past four weeks in the remote region of Baie d'Orange in Haiti's southeast, aid workers said Thursday, and there are fears the toll will rise much higher if help does not come quickly to the impoverished Caribbean nation.
Children dying in Haiti, victims of food crisis
Another 65 severely malnourished children are being treated in makeshift tent clinics in the mountainous area, or at hospitals where they were evacuated in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, said Max Cosci, who heads the Belgian contingent of Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.
One evacuee, a 7-year-old girl, died while being treated, Cosci said, adding: "The situation is extremely, extremely fragile and dangerous."
At a makeshift malnutrition ward at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in the capital, 10 emaciated children were under emergency care Thursday, their stomachs swollen and hair faded by pigmentation loss caused by malnutrition. Several had the puffy faces typical of kwashiorkor, a protein-deficiency disorder.
Five-year-old Mackenson Duclair, his ribs protruding and his legs little more than skin stretched over bones, weighed in at 19.8 pounds, even after days of drinking milk enriched with potassium and salt. Doctors said he needed to gain another five pounds before he could go home.
Dangling from a scale mounted from the ceiling, 4-year-old Venecia Lonis looked as limp as a rag doll as doctors weighed her, her huge brown eyes expressionless, her hair tied with bright yellow bows.
Mackenson's grandmother, who has raised him since his mother died, said she barely has a can of corn grits to feed herself, the boy and her 8-year-old granddaughter each day.
"These things did not happen when I was growing up," 72-year-old Ticouloute Fortune said.
Rural families already struggling with soaring food prices in Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, lost their safety nets when fields were destroyed and livestock wiped out by the storms, which killed nearly 800 people and caused $1 billion worth of damage in August and September.
U.N. World Food Program country director Myrta Kaulard said she fears more deaths from malnutrition in other isolated parts of Haiti, and search and medical teams were fanning out in the northwest and along the southwestern peninsula to check.
The World Food Program has sent more than 30 tons of food aid - enough to feed 5,800 people for two weeks - into the remote southeastern region since September, and other groups funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development have sent food as well, she said.
But the steep, narrow paths and poor visibility make it difficult to deliver the food to the mountain communities where hunger is worsening. In one case, a WFP truck flipped over while struggling up a hill and slid into a ravine, killing an aid worker.
"There is always a bottleneck. The same situation that the people are facing is the same situation we're also facing," Kaulard told The Associated Press Thursday.
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Tragic irony here
Thinking back to the RNC convention and drama around a hurricane--and this kind of thing going on nearby! by Margaret Bassett (45 articles, 2910 quicklinks, 43 diaries, 1854 comments [99 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 9:40:27 PM  (0+)
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Thanks for getting this urgent story posted so quickly....
Of course the RNC could care less, even less for starving Haitian children than they did for all of those Alaskan wolves Sarah liked to slaughter from an Airplane, just like Vietnam, eh? I know OEN readers will respond strongly and quickly to help these kids. There comes a point with starvation when they are beyond help. Some of these kids are already; most will make it, God willing. Let us all help them. They need our help more than General Motors and Wall Street. Anyone disagree with that? I want to cordially thanks Associated Press and particularly its photographers for this fine documentation. Great that a wire service too can be humanitarians of this order, at your level of international media power! by Stephen Fox (96 articles, 3 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 802 comments [33 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 9:53:44 PM (0+)
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I'm a Member of FTC (Feed The Children)
More than any Government, Larry Jones' FTC Organization is among the fewer who still care for those forgotten by the society. http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=org_nourish_the_children_interview Thanksgiving is coming, while we'll be eating until we can't breathe, there will be children dying by seconds every day around the world still. BTW - Did we discuss Poverty the last Presidential debate? by Lydia Kopere Patterson (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 154 comments) on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 10:52:57 PM (0+)
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that is one good group; I like DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
personally. As shocking as it is, most of the world remains indifferent, completely indifferent!!!!! by Stephen Fox (96 articles, 3 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 802 comments [33 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 11:06:39 PM (0+)
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Reply: One.Org Petition for President-Elect to fight Global Poverty
Yes, Stephen you're right. Tthat's a VERY good organization. Bernard Kouchner, co-founder of Doctors withought Borders, is a real Humanatian and a compassionate politician. He did a lot while he was hightly critized for "over doing it". I don't think we never love "too much" to show we care. BTW - I was also partner with Doctor without Borders (French Medecins sans Frontieres) when I was in Paris, France. Also Petition note from One.Org: Please add your name to our petition to President-elect Obama asking him to make a clear statement in his inaugural address affirming his vision for helping the world's poorest people: President-elect Obama, In your inaugural address, please make a clear affirmation of your pledge to fight poverty and preventable diseases worldwide, and support that statement with an FY2010 budget request that puts the U.S. on track to meet your historic commitments. ONE members encouraged Senator Obama to go "On the Record" with his promises to fight global poverty and diseases, such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. Sign our petition now: by Lydia Kopere Patterson (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 154 comments) on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 12:22:51 PM (0+)
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Reply: Most of the WORLD?
my friend? Or are you just being technically correct, that most of the world doesn't have the vauguest idea that it's happening? by GLloyd Rowsey (104 articles, 65 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 828 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:17:54 PM (0+)
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Reply: See my comment to you below, Stephen Fox.
Why is it OEN software misplaces comments so often? by GLloyd Rowsey (104 articles, 65 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 828 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:20:46 PM (0+)
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Reply: Let's go for the hat trick.
see below, Stephen Fox (or is it still "see above"? by GLloyd Rowsey (104 articles, 65 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 828 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:22:30 PM (0+)
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Yeah?
Well Haiti was the land of Tousant Le'Overture, or do you know? It's on the west end of the island with an east end - the Dominican Republic - from which so many of America's newest and best baseball players come. Haiti bad, D.R. good. Wake up folks. Your being a lot MORE left than progressive. by GLloyd Rowsey (104 articles, 65 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 828 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:14:49 PM (0+)
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Reply: It was Toussaint L'Overture, by the way, spelled correctly.
Haiti, bad; DR. good? Is that a joke? In very bad taste... or are you serious? that would be quite deranged, more deranged than I can respond to. by Stephen Fox (96 articles, 3 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 802 comments [33 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:36:59 PM (0+)
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Reply: Omygod!!
A mis-spelling. No, I certainly did not mean it as a joke, you...droll and uncomprehending individual you. I support Haiti, and I consider American baseball's using the Dominican Republic for a giant, cheap farm team system abomnable. I have argued these points repeatedly at OEN, as well as supporting Fidel Castro and ending the Embargo - it being possibly a greater moral sin than the Iraq War because it can be ended with the stroke of a pen. Where have YOU been, my friend? Possibly you'll try clicking on my pic and familiarizing yourself with my writings here. If you're not too busy corrrecting peoples' spelling, that is. by GLloyd Rowsey (104 articles, 65 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 828 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:53:42 PM (0+)
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The thing, Stephen is to not CARE if you make a slip
of the fingers. Or even seem like an idiot. But I should have said, yes, I meant it as a joke. But even that is wrong. I stated my feelings backwards, but it is virtually impossible to communicate with you. The situation is deadly serious, and I wasn't joking, but I was stating my feelings backwards. Capiche? by GLloyd Rowsey (104 articles, 65 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 828 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 2:22:50 PM (0+)
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With Haiti crisis, this is no time for "talking backwards"
I am focused on helping these children, not carrying on obtuse conversations; whether well intended or not, they become extraneous. by Stephen Fox (96 articles, 3 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 802 comments [33 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 at 4:24:50 PM (0+)
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Suffering sucks
But Haiti is just a window to the future, and the rest of the world will catch up to Haiti's broken economy and food shortages. www.vhemt.org No one ought to have another child. Then they cannot suffer. by Frish (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 21 comments) on Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 at 1:56:59 AM (0+)
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Look Fox.
We're on the same side. And you're castigating me for not contributing to starving children in Haiti, but your article doesn't even contain a click-on for making contributions. Have you ever been to Haiti? This is not a rhetorical question. Or do you sit in your editor's chair at OEN, "research." and preach? I've been advocating ending the Embargo of Cuba and normalizing relations with it (it's that bigger island about 30 miles west of Haiti-D.R.), and I've been there, twice. I've been contributing to IVAW and Impeachment sites RECENTLY -- not a lot but regularly. I'm not handicapped and I can get out, but I don't get out to protest because I have stranger-phobia. What's your problem? Ie, Where the hell do you get off being so high and mighty? by GLloyd Rowsey (104 articles, 65 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 828 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Nov 23, 2008 at 4:51:03 PM (0+)
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Reply: You write comments that are incomprehensible, to me.
That is all, and further, you vituperative in a public forum, which I at least have never encountered in OEN comments/discussions. Please use the OEN send a message system. I won't reply any more in this setting. by Stephen Fox (96 articles, 3 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 802 comments [33 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Sunday, Nov 23, 2008 at 5:03:49 PM (0+)
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Reply: Let's just practice what we preach - Here's the click!
Let's not waste time and unecessary energy talking pettiness. Rather let's act. Here's the answer to your request. Please feel free to click for a contribution: http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=org_US_programs Larry and Frances started up in Haiti precisely. You too can become partner if you choose to. Also, if you wish to donate elsewhere, Stephen already mentioned another organization Doctors without borders: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/?msource=AZD0408H1001 by Lydia Kopere Patterson (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 154 comments) on Monday, Nov 24, 2008 at 9:21:37 PM (0+)
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Fine.
Hopefully my comments are not incomprehensible to everyone. Can you answer a direct question? Apparently not. "Vituperative" you say I am? And is that, to you, similar to the infamous and prohibited "Ad hominum" attacks? We all have patience limits, Fox. I tend to lose it when I'm accused of things which are the very opposite of what I'm trying my hardest to accomplish. Simply because someone can't appreciate or even understand my writing style. Well, I have been as patient and forebearing with you as it is possible for me to be. And I most certainly will NOT retreat to the privacy of OEN's internal mail system. by GLloyd Rowsey (104 articles, 65 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 828 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Nov 23, 2008 at 5:26:59 PM (0+)
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Please see answer to your "click" request ABOVE
Please let's be more productive: click or don't click but Please let's move on! by Lydia Kopere Patterson (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 154 comments) on Monday, Nov 24, 2008 at 9:40:36 PM (0+)
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RIGHTO.
10-4 by Stephen Fox (96 articles, 3 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 802 comments [33 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 at 1:17:05 PM (0+)
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