This earthquake has resulted in physical damages that perhaps far exceed those seen in Haiti and the recovery period could last for decades. Homes from the Región Metropolitana, it's capital being Santiago, down as far south as the Araucanía Region have been left devastated and many in ruin.
Media coverage however, has entered a terrible pattern of drawing comparisons between the Chilean quake and that of Haiti. Many things such as "Oh, well Chile was more prepared" and "The Haitians didn't know how to react during an earthquake because no living person there has experienced one on the Island". This, while it may be true, should not be a reason for the lower spec reports about the catastrophe. We have to remember that while many Chilenos survived the quake, hundreds of thousands are now homeless and the country itself has been both socially and economically damaged almost beyond recognition, a reality that will last for years to come.
Chile's outgoing President, Michelle Bachelet, has stated that the nation does not yet require any external aid from other states however, I am not so sure that she truly realises the immense damage that has been caused throughout Chile. Indeed, it is a nice thought to believe that the nation will be able to pick itself up and brush itself off, but I fear that this fantasy will soon fade away and the reality will become a rude awakening. A presence that has been somewhat noticeably absent is that of Chile's new President-Elect, Sebastián Piñera. While he has made a few brief public statements regarding the disaster, it seems, and I may of course stand corrected, that he has been leaving the recovery to the current administration in Chile. If anything, this wold be his opportunity to speak out and encourage the social cohesion that has been absent in Chile for so long.
Of course, as I mentioned, the media are not exactly helping the situation either. A few weeks ago, we saw the "Hope For Haiti Now" telethon in New York during which hundred of stars from various artforms came together in an effort to raise funds for the victims of the Haitian disaster. Can we rely on a repeat of this for Chile? I certainly hope so.
It will be interesting to see how Chileans will work to overcome this natural disaster and its apparent aftermath. Interesting because Chile has been in possession of rather divergent social cleavages for many years. While there is a large middle-class, there is a large underclass and both seem heavily divided. Will this earthquake finally enable people from all backgrounds to meet eye to eye in a bid to bring their nation back to its place amongst the strongest economic and democratic states in the region? Or will there be, as we have seen in so many places before, a vast number of those left behind to struggle on their own?
Here is some information which will guide you on how you can help/donate to the Chilean relief work.
Save The Children
American Red Cross
World Vision
Habitat For Humanity
Huffington Post link with further information on how You can help
Con muchos cariños, cuidanse!
