Amnesty International released a report in April 2010 called the “Un-Natural Disaster: Human Rights In the Gulf Coast.” The report illustrates the adversity and struggle that victims of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast of the U.S. faced – and still face today.
There continues to be a lack of housing and access to health care, and a corrupted criminal justice system that has contributed to the prevention of former residents returning home. In addition, those who have returned find “home” is no longer the same.
According to the report, federal government statistics approximate 200,000 evacuees in the aftermath of the hurricane (who were sent off to different areas as far as Washington, D.C.). More than 400,000 people resided in New Orleans prior to the disaster, and about 80% of them lost their homes and property in the event. Furthermore, 75% of those residents were African-American, many living below the national poverty line at the time of the disaster. Today, about 2/3 of the original population numbers are back in the area – but not all are the original residents.
The government was slow to provide health services and housing in the aftermath of the hurricane, thus making it even more difficult for residents to return. Disbursement of funds for rebuilding has been corrupted and slow. Primary health care is still missing as the main medical center that previously offered it was closed in the aftermath, and a new one will take years to build. Law enforcement was not prepared for a large-scale disaster such as Katrina, and excessive force and unnecessary detention was utilized on civilians during the chaotic time. And a corrupt justice system, bent on trying “criminals” for petty crimes and low level offenses is having an indirect effect on the economy, since potential employees cannot find work.
All of this may seem trivial, or perhaps not severe enough to have that widespread of an effect, put yourself in their shoes. Consider that your hometown was devastated by a natural disaster. You’ve lost your home, your belongings, your land. Perhaps your family and pets. You’re traumatized by the intensity of the event, displaced and taken to a place you may never have been, separated from everything you know in an instant. Then you can’t go back. The government isn’t doing enough to support your return, your community has been ravaged and little federal help is being given, you still don’t know where your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, or pets are. You may find them one by one slowly, but still you wait and wonder when you can “go home.”
It’s an experience hopefully none of us will ever have to experience. But for those unfortunate Gulf Coast residents, it was reality. And their lack of resources and fundamental human rights to food, housing, and protection from the government is appalling. Non-profit organizations and charities across the nation stepped up to help them in their time of need, and oftentimes the extent of their charity was never realized. Money was squandered on other things, or resources never reached their target destination.
And through it all, the government tagged along to “help,” but never maximized their potential to recover an already suffering region. “ The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.”]
For the people, by the people?”
