Let's assist our brothers and sisters in Haiti

| Wednesday January 20, 2010 00:00

Thousands have lost lives, in fact official estimates put the figure to a staggering 50 000- and still counting. Everyday rescue workers discover dead bodies from the mangle and debris of what now remains as a trail of destruction left in the wake of a massive earthquake.

Amongst the dead are young children, women, old people and worst of all United Nations relief workers and other humanitarian workers who were stationed in Haiti.

This is a tragedy that calls on all humanity to unite in purpose and see to it that the dead are found and buried, the wounded are rescued and given immediate medical attention.

We must, however, commend the swiftness with which the world has acted, in particular the United Nations agencies who rose to action immediately disaster struck. Up to this day thousands of relief workers are hard at work trying to make the very best out of a very depressing situation.

This colossal task cannot be saddled with the United Nations alone. Many other organisations would have to weigh and assist.

We in Botswana are heartened that we do not see this holocaust as one that happened over there and as such cannot concern ourselves with it. As Batswana it is in our psyche to see someone suffering as ours. As part of the Setswana sensibility -botho, the government of Botswana has taken the lead to donate P1 million towards relieving our brothers and sisters in Haiti from their sufferings.

There will be many needs for the people of Haiti, some material, some emotional as well as many others. The bottom line, however, is that the P1 million will be of some assistance and in the same way  is symbolic of the oneness of humanity.

The Botswana Red Cross has started making appeals to members of the public to donate whatever they have-clothes, money or anything that can assist our brothers and sisters who are in need. We associate ourselves with this call.

We appeal to fellow Batswana to commit to this cause. Let's give to the Red Cross so that we can put back hope in people that are losing hope when everything else seems to have turned away from them.

We trust that our people will heed the call made by the Red Cross and follow the example set by our Government.

We call upon churches, our artists and civil society to do something to assist in whatever small way.

                                                           Today's thought

      Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

                                                   - Dr Martin Luther King jr