Batswana Should Help Haitians

Editor | Monday January 25, 2010 00:00

It is laudable that our government showed compassion and donated P1 million to what is a worthy cause. While we appreciate the effort, we are concerned that individuals and companies have not responded to an appeal by the Botswana Red Cross to make donations to help Haitians.  Some might argue that it is the duty of fairly wealthy people to help in times of disaster. But are we not a people who speak proudly about being a compassionate nation? Where is the spirit of botho, which should unite us as human beings in times of disasters such as the Haiti earthquake? Our compassion should extend beyond our borders. A donation of P1 would surely make a difference to a child whose family was wiped out by the earthquake in Haiti. It does not need a super rich person living in opulence to donate. There are many families in Botswana that afford more than three meals a day while in Haiti, the earthquake has reduced such luxury to a distant memory. We appeal to our citizens to be more compassionate and deeply introspect about the situation in Haiti. It is a crisis of unimagined proportions. Its effects are devastating. We should donate (or fail to do so) with the full knowledge that one-day (God forbid) disaster might strike us and other countries will come to our aid. So how do we expect to get help from outside when we fail to extend a helping hand to the people of Haiti? The Haitians are not looking for the world to build their houses or schools. All they need is immediate, basic and short-term assistance to get clean water, food, shelter and medical care. True, these are not easy things to provide, but giving just a little in donations will go a long way in taking away some of the grief of the people of Haiti.  We know that there are some truly wealthy Batswana and corporate entities like banks. We are not even saying they should part with huge amounts of money. That P50 or 100 donated to the Red Cross's Haiti Fund will surely help prevent the deaths of more little girls and boys, or their fathers and mothers or their sisters and brothers. As a nation, we surely have that space within our hearts to feel for, and grieve with the people of Haiti. So much that we will not rest until we give.  While we sit in the comfort of our living rooms, while we sleep tonight under soft and perfumed linen or while we have a steaming meal and the luxury of our favourite drink, let us remember: The people of Haiti are homeless and need shelter. The people of Haiti are hungry and need food and any food - not the pizza you may just have bought. These humans are hurting as they have lost loved ones. They are wounded, have lost limbs and need medical care. We urge Batswana to help them.