Invisible Aid

            Killing with Kindness, by Mark Schuller the topics of International aid and NGOs in relation to Haiti. This study takes place before the disastrous 2010 earthquake that left 1.5 million people without homes and basically leveled Potoprens, although not largely covered facts were given that allowed me to form an opinion in regards to the International aid and NGOs assistance efforts to those obviously desperate for aid. There was said to have been around two billion dollars given to aid those in who were affect by the earthquake. Although, as you read, it tells of the people who are basically holding the “power”(food cards) and using them to exploit the women for sexual favors in order for them to be able to receive the aid. It was not only an issue of sexual favors, but also of needing to know someone in a good position. This automatically recreated the idea that was discussed in Ulysse’s, Downtown Ladies, in regards to privileges and power. The privilege of having money or presenting yourself as if you are at the top of the hierarchy allotted you certain privileges that people of the lower end would not receive. In the case of the people of Haiti in need of aid those who had the connections were the ones who were privileged enough to get food cards for so their family could eat while other women may have had to demoralize themselves in order for their families to eat. Also, the power of the government to see an opportunity to make money and take it upon themselves to place restrictions on the items that could be imported and exported along with assigning the women a title was an extreme exercise of their governmental powers. In the case of the Haitian government not being as structured there was room for those to obtain power that would control the livelihood of the Haitian citizens (NGOs, International aid, etc.) using their problem to profit and not completely using it to aid the citizens.

            Also, the discussion of AIDS/HIV still being a “death sentence” simply because they do not have the resources, can’t afford the medicine, or other unnoted reasons. This is something that is not considered a “death sentence” in the United States, which is why if we can help aid them with other forms of relief why is it so problematic to ensure aid to those who are in need of medical assistance? Why is the supposed assistance and aid that is being giving to a country so in need not seeing the efforts that are being put into place that are supposed to assist them?