Over the many months after the Earthquake, waste began to contaminate the Meille River, which flows into the Artibonite River...the largest in Haiti.
It wasn’t long before cholera’s Vibrio cholerae bacterium found its way...via fecal matter...into the water that the population was using for drinking and bathing.
It wasn’t long before cholera’s Vibrio cholerae bacterium found its way...via fecal matter...into the water that the population was using for drinking and bathing.
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The cholera outbreak in Haiti affected roughly 2 million people with estimates that as many as 30,000 people died.
The big question was how did cholera get there?
Did it happen naturally, through bad circumstances? Did it happen by accident?
Or, was something more sinister going on...perhaps planted there on purpose?
Let's discuss the possibilities…
The big question was how did cholera get there?
Did it happen naturally, through bad circumstances? Did it happen by accident?
Or, was something more sinister going on...perhaps planted there on purpose?
Let's discuss the possibilities…
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Let’s tackle “it happened organically/it happened by accident” first…
After the earthquake hit Haiti, the United Nations peacekeepers flocked to Haiti. As a consequence of everything happening so fast, many peacekeepers arrived without undergoing proper medical testing or screening beforehand.
After the earthquake hit Haiti, the United Nations peacekeepers flocked to Haiti. As a consequence of everything happening so fast, many peacekeepers arrived without undergoing proper medical testing or screening beforehand.
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One in ten UN camps were still putting sewage into the environment a month after it was clear that cholera was coming from the UN peacekeeping camps.
Cholera quickly ran rampant throughout the country. It was the first time cholera hit the country in 150 years…and the UN refused to acknowledge that it was at fault.
Cholera quickly ran rampant throughout the country. It was the first time cholera hit the country in 150 years…and the UN refused to acknowledge that it was at fault.
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By 2013, Haiti's cholera epidemic was finally under control.
BUT that was short-lived…
The following year, in 2014, the disease returned...due to poverty and poor “disease management.”
BUT that was short-lived…
The following year, in 2014, the disease returned...due to poverty and poor “disease management.”
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CHOLERA RETURNS:
Then there was water tampering. There were Gangs who took advantage of the situation with cholera, and got involved in the business of trading water.
“The gangs, instead of selling water from catchment sources, willfully damaged the mains water network and then pumped water into trucks for delivery to other neighborhoods."
Even though the local activity with the gangs and their trading of water may have exacerbated the situation with the incidence of cholera, the fact remained…
Cholera would NOT have appeared in Haiti's water supply (in the first place) if it were not for the UN peacekeepers.
By the time 2016 rolled around, one in every 16 Haitians had been infected with cholera.
The UN denied responsibility.
Then there was water tampering. There were Gangs who took advantage of the situation with cholera, and got involved in the business of trading water.
“The gangs, instead of selling water from catchment sources, willfully damaged the mains water network and then pumped water into trucks for delivery to other neighborhoods."
Even though the local activity with the gangs and their trading of water may have exacerbated the situation with the incidence of cholera, the fact remained…
Cholera would NOT have appeared in Haiti's water supply (in the first place) if it were not for the UN peacekeepers.
By the time 2016 rolled around, one in every 16 Haitians had been infected with cholera.
The UN denied responsibility.
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The families of 5,000 Haitian cholera victims petitioned the United Nations in 2011 for redress, but The UN’s Office of Legal Affairs declared their claims “not receivable.”
-THEN-
A very, large group of angry Haitians took their lawsuit to the United States Federal court in New York.
-Then-
not surprising, The UN didn't show up to Court.
Why?? They cited “diplomatic immunity” under Section 29 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
-THEN-
A very, large group of angry Haitians took their lawsuit to the United States Federal court in New York.
-Then-
not surprising, The UN didn't show up to Court.
Why?? They cited “diplomatic immunity” under Section 29 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
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