Aid workers in quake-ravaged Haiti are reporting that increasing numbers of women are falling victim to sexual assaults as tent cities swell with victims and victimizers.
Rates of rape were high in Haiti prior to the Jan. 12th earthquake that killed 200,000 and left the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere reeling. The pervasive sense of lawlessness since the earthquake, though, has unleashed a wave of rapes against women in the tent camps, where security and lighting are virtually nonexistent.
Aid workers say the rapes are a daily occurrence and that many go unreported because of the shame and fear of reprisal felt by the victims.
When sex isn't coerced, it is often used as a commodity in post-quake Haiti, workers said. Men who distribute food for distribution or slots in the aid camps at times demand sex for the transactions, workers said.
Haiti had the highest infection rate for the virus that causes AIDS, HIV, in the Western hemisphere as 1 in 50 persons is infected.
Earlier this week, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited an aid camp and promised U.N.-run camps would be "safe and secure." It is very difficult to see how he we will be able to keep his pledge, though, without a massive increase in security personnel at the camps.
Just add the sexual violence outbreak to the list of woes befalling Haiti that includes child abuse, the growing number of amputees and the lack of medical care and proper sanitation.
The Haitian government, which has basically stopped operating, has no capacity to protect the country's women.
None of this will change anytime soon unless the U.N. or a foreign government takes responsibility for running Haiti. Until that happens, Haiti will remain hell on earth.
Comments: (5)
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By: Jimmie on 3/17/2010 1:55PM
In Haiti even before the Quake rape was a daily thing. The poor women are supject to rape all the time, young girls as young as eleven years old are sexually active because of rape from family, friends and the people they work for.There are thousands of young girls working for the well off Haitian people , that use these young girls for their sex slave toys, with promice to their families that they will take care of them. Many of these young girls are taken advantage of by grown men whom eventually let their sons share them also. This is what Black American women went through with doing slavery.Slavery exist in Haiti and the earthquake made it more easy for rapest to carry on, the Haitian government has never been active in enforcing laws against rape. It's sad that the contries monotering Haiti cain't stop thses crimes, women should not have to worry about being raped when they are trying to survive day to day. In America to have sex with a minor weather it is willing or not is rape.
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By: paul on 3/17/2010 2:45PM
So, with all our generosity, largely from church groups, we've laid the foundation for a "sex for food" prostitution ring.
Let's see if we can work that into next Sunday's sermon. There must be something we can learn from all this.
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By: Do Something on 3/17/2010 9:57PM
Many in Haiti expressed the hope that America would take over things until the Government could begin functioning again. However Haiti was the country that received the most AID for it's citizens before the earthquake. In order to serve Political Correctness I think we missed an opportunity to really help these people in a long term way. The UN has done good things, but has dropped the ball on occasions especially Sex Scandals in Africa. WITH OUR TROOPS THERE OUR FLAG SHOULD BE FLYING HIGH TO OFFER HOPE TO THE PEOPLE AND LET THEM KNOW WE ARE THERE AND WILL NOT LET THEM DOWN. GOD HELP THE HAITIAN PEOPLE AND IT'S GOVERNMENT. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HAITI, AND CHILE THE PEOPLE ARE PHENOMENAL.
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By: MS PEGGY on 3/18/2010 9:50AM
I believe with all my heart that there is yet HOPE for Haiti. Just like the biblical story of Ninevah there are children there who don't know there left hand from their right hand. For their sake I believe the Lord will deliver and have mercy on Haiti. It seems as though many of the men have gone crazy over there and need to have war declared on them. Haiti is a charity case and that country doesn't have resources any other country wants such as oil, or diamond mines and what not like some African nations do. Therefore, in order to rescue the people the Lord will have to send in a warrior like King David to wipe out some people I'm afraid before a rebuilding can take place there. If they put new bricks on a corrupt and degradated foundation all the rebuilding efforts in the world will fail and be in vain. I hope our President will send warships, soldiers and tanks to Haiti and "take no prisoners" but instead go over there and kick those raping son of "Bs" asses to death and free the women and children of Haiti. Violent men simply aren't open to politics, talks and negotiations and hand shaking. They are barbarians and uncivilized and modern day Phillistine and Amalekites who need to be taken out before they country can ever have PEACE. Where are the priests and the prophets who have a word from the Lord for Haitians? The Lord sent Samuel, he sent Jonah and he has someone for Haiti I sincerely believe.
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By: Jimmie on 3/18/2010 1:35PM
Ms Peggy.
You are right. These men need to be prossicuted to the highest degree and put away, they serve no purpose in the Haitian society.These young girls and women carry the future for the new Haitian society,rape only adds problems to a new nation.
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