Sense of Congress Regarding Humanitarian Assistance to Countries of Caribbean Devastated By Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne

SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO COUNTRIES OF CARIBBEAN DEVASTATED BY HURRICANES CHARLEY, FRANCES, IVAN, AND JEANNE -- (Extensions of Remarks - October 06, 2004)

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 496, a bill I cosponsored, which expresses the sense of Congress on the need for humanitarian assistance to hurricane-ravaged Caribbean countries. As you know, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne struck the Caribbean, leading to widespread destruction and devastation.

This is a matter of great concern to me because many of my constituents in Dade and Broward Counties are from, have ancestors from, or have relatives presently living on the islands of the Caribbean. I also represent the largest Haitian constituency in the country. Of all the islands in the Caribbean, Haiti was particularly hard hit. As of today, the toll was more than 2,900 dead or missing and presumed dead. An estimated 300,000 Haitians are left homeless. The extent of this destruction has severely strained the already meager resources of the government, law enforcement authorities, and the United Nations forces in Haiti.

Haiti especially has suffered. Just yesterday, the Washington Post reported the heartwrenching story of Monise Alsenor, a Haitian mother, two of whose children are missing after water tore through her house and swept her family away. She could not reach her children as they yelled "save me!" in Creole. She and her husband spent the night holding onto a tree while the water tugged at them and the tree thorns ripped off their clothes. There are still reports of people living on roofs and of food and water shortages. The New York Times reported that two men were found lying in a semi-conscious state on the ground near an Argentine-run clinic. Doctors said that the two men appeared to have not eaten in several days and demonstrated signs of psychological trauma. I cite these accounts as examples of the terrible circumstances under which Haitians have suffered. Similar stories could sadly, easily be found thousands of times over throughout this poorest of nations and other countries in the Caribbean.

After Hurricane Jeanne ravaged the city of Gonaives, the international community's response was impressive. Trinidad-Tobago pledged $5 million in aid. Venezuela pledged $1 million and sent food, water, and medicine. Argentina dispatched rescue workers and supplies. Brazilians sent medical supplies. Chile also sent emergency aid, as did the Spanish, and the French.

Incredibly, the Bush Administration has been slow to respond to this tragedy. In the first several days after the disaster, as news reports out of Haiti detailed the widespread death, destruction and suffering, the United States was virtually silent while other nations, including European Union countries and Venezuela, immediately stepped in to help. For this reason, I wrote to President Bush to ask for substantial and immediate aid to help the flood victims. A copy of my letter follows this statement.

President Bush has proposed $12.2 billion for hurricane relief and recovery in Florida and the Southern states. $50 million of these funds are set aside for the Caribbean nations, and almost half is intended for Haiti. However, in the words of the Washington Post: "The amount set aside for the Caribbean nations is a pittance-not to mention a fraction of what was spent on U.S. military interventions in Haiti and Grenada." Millions more will be needed to help Haiti alone recover from Hurricane Jeanne's aftermath. The Bush administration should be supportive in a more substantial way.

It is because of these horrendous conditions that I support Congresswoman LEE's resolution. I call on this administration to provide greater humanitarian and emergency assistance to Haiti and other Caribbean nations.

September 22, 2004.

President GEORGE W. BUSH,
The White House,
Washington, DC.

DEAR PRESIDENT BUSH: I write to bring to your personal attention a humanitarian crisis of the highest magnitude in Haiti and to ask that your Administration follow the lead of other nations and provide substantial and immediate assistance to help ease the desperate suffering of the people of Haiti.

Tropical Storm Jeanne caused devastating floods that ravaged this impoverished country this past weekend. As of this morning, the death toll in Haiti exceeded 800, with 1,000 missing. The death toll increases steadily as the water recedes.

Haiti is already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and this latest crisis has made conditions there even worse. This crisis also comes on the heels of ruinous floods four months ago when over 3,000 Haitians were killed, missing, or presumed dead. According to eyewitness accounts, there are bodies scattered in the streets. Some are forced to camp on the roofs of mud-filled homes. Unimaginably, families were sleeping in trees because of the destruction.

Numerous news reports document a desperate need for food, water, medicine, shelter and clothing. The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gonaives said that the possibility exists that several thousand Haitians may die of starvation. "We have nothing," he is quoted by the Associated Press as saying. "About 80 to 90 percent of the houses are under water."

The present interim government of Haiti is totally unequipped and unable to deal with this massive crisis. It has neither the necessary resources nor the organization. Private voluntary groups are also reportedly overwhelmed by the enormity of this crisis, and there are numerous reports of mobs seizing aid vehicles. Transportation in Haiti, extremely difficult even in the best of times, is particularly crippled now.

However, despite the fact that this crisis struck Haiti over four days ago, the Administration reportedly has released only $60,000 in relief assistance to CARE. This is wholly inadequate to properly respond to this disaster. It pales compared to the $1.8 million provided by the European Union and $1 million and rescue supplies from Venezuela. Other nations are already acting. It is a national embarrassment that the United States of America should respond so slowly and inadequately to so great a crisis in a country so close to our shores. While your Administration assesses, monitors and watches, the suffering in Haiti gets worse.

Haiti does not need expressions of sympathy; it does not need promises. Haiti needs concrete help, and it needs it right now. Your Administration has a responsibility to immediately send significant U.S. emergency assistance to Haiti in the form of food, medicine, fresh water, clothing and emergency shelter and to immediately coordinate, with the international community, the manpower, transportation and distribution of these needed commodities to provide immediate relief to the people of Gonaives and the surrounding countryside.

The time frame for this aid should be hours, not weeks or months. Thank you for your attention and I look forward to your prompt reply to this urgent matter.

Sincerely yours,

Kendrick B. Meek,
Member of Congress.