Haitians survive by eating dirt cookies

A woman in Fort Dimanche laying biscuits to dry, biscuits made of butter, salt, water and dirt. The Haitians face shortages of food and electricity.

Photo: Ruth Fresmon, New York Times

In the midst of the excitement surrounding the results of Super Tuesday, I received another very disturbing e-mail from a friend regarding the plight of poor Haitians on the island who have resorted to eating dirt for food. Initially, I attributed the message to be a cruel hoax from an insensitive person. I live in Miami where a significant number of residents are of Haitian descent. There had been no reports, to my knowledge, in any of the local media.

I received the message again, this time from a different friend and this time more passionate in its request to help. I Googled the subject and found the article had been published in the Houston Chronicle. I would also find photos in The New York Times. It was true.

Many of my friends are Haitian and I have come to respect our shared history and African bloodline. Haitian people are brilliant and resilient. It hurts to know that some have been forced to eat these mud pies to survive. This is a human issue and these people need our help. Click here to read the Houston Chronicle article. Please spread the word about this situation.

Comments

[Brooke]

I ran across this article on a forum that I frequent. I was surprised to find out that many of my Haitian friends knew about this situation but didn't speak up on it or post the article. One friend of mine said she simply didn't know what to say or do. I live in Miami too and there has to be something we can do at a grassroots level. As I mentioned on the forum, if there was oil in Haiti the U.S. govt. would have no qualms about inserting themselves in the situation. So knowing that there will continue to be no aid from the govt. we should definitely try to find a way to help locally.

[Jim Legington]

Hi Vanessa,

Here is another reason that it is an "Awesome
Question" - Can We Agree, Peers of Love...Win?
Haitians survive by eating dirt cookies, this is
why mankind must rally in Jesus Christ. Because
God is Love, and too many people think that when
one speaks of the love of God today, You are out
of order in circular society. But God knows Best.

I get all my news mostly from the Computer media
and Television. Seldom do I read a newspaper
because everything comes first thru the computer
and the other media is really second hand.

This is the very reason that mankind needs to
hear God's Word, God Is Love, God Is Good, God
Is One.When any human is hungry then we are all
hunger. It's a shame that people are striving to
brag about who has the largest pile of the currency
of money stacked up while others are just trying to
survive another day.

UpperRoom Blessed Mindset in thoughts about our medium
of exchange has been our soap box since we started our
Business On-line. That's the point, as we get favor of
God we are willing to share.

I'm praying that God will grant us the favor as we speak
about the "The Will of God" next Monday February 11, 2008 at
4:00 PM {CST}. John 6:40 John 17:17-21. This is where we are
coming from when we do ministry asking for the abundance of
God's Favor because we care. It's not about us: Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of the living God. Amen and praise the LORD.

We are equipping the saints in Jesus Christ for the unity of
the faith to become a mature man in Jesus Christ.
www.BlogTalkRadio.Com/VisionSphere

[Shelia]

My heart goes out to these Haitians. To think that they are reduced to eating dirt to survive is so disheartening.

From reading the article, it appears that this is not a new practice for those who cannot afford food. While there ability to find methods to avoid starvation are remarkable, the fact that it has to be dirt is awful.

[Vanessa]

Brooke: Thanks for stopping by. You know, I agree with the need to do something but what? As I remove myself from my emotions, I know that realistically there must be systemic change to solve this problem.

I would think that an agency like Red Cross would be in the area but I really don't know. Let's keep in touch on this. There is something we can do.

[Vanessa]

Rev. Jim: There are far too may resources in the world for this situation to exist. If you know of any missions in that area working with Haiti's poor, please let us know. Thanks.

[Vanessa]

Shelia: You're right, that practice is not new and that saddened me also. I admire their resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.

Situations such as this remind me of how blessed we are in this country inspite of all the negatives.

[Jim Legington]

Vanessa,

We have made a Call to "Feed The Children" and
we are expecting a call back from Gwyn. We have
been supporting thru the years this organization
of Bro. Larry & Frances Jones and recommend that
this is a very fine source. Lifted the Report so
that it would come to the attention of Bro. Larry
Jones just in case. I'm sure they already know.
Please join me in helping to "Feed The Children":
-1-800-228-1611 http://www.feedthechildren.org

We will shine some light on the situation at our
www.BlogTalkRadio.Com/VisionSphere Show on this
Monday evening at 4:00 PM CST February 11, 2008.

Supporting the Feed The Children is one way to get some
attention for "Haitians survive by eating dirt cookies".
Let's Roll and Rally together at our Show at
http://BlogTalkRadio.Com/VisionSphere
to add even more support for "Feed The Children".
I'm recommending Larry Jones Organization because
we do support the cause via this channel for years now.
This is our suggestion for now.

[Danielle Vyas]

I read this story here a few days ago and am so saddened.

As I was checking in on another artistic, creator of change Purple Zoe she too spread the word of Haitians resorting to dirt and provided quite a few resources for us to do something.

Here's the link.
http://purplezoe.blogspot.com/2008/01/we-cannot-allow-out-brothers-and.html

In light and love

Danielle