Brazil: A charitable country
January 12th 2010 will be a day that will not be forgotten for some time. The Haiti earthquake caused destruction on a huge scale, killing more than 200,000 people and leaving many without a home.
What the disaster proved, however, was that nations are willing to help others when they are in peril. Brazil has been doing much to support Haiti and those living there, taking part in a number of initiatives to help out.
For instance, the South American country recently donated $400,000 (£255,150) to finance one of three UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) projects to rebuild Haiti’s devastated education system. Brazilian foreign minister Celso Amorim made the announcement after meeting the director-general of UNESCO Irina Bokova at the organisation’s headquarters.
The money will support training for teachers in psycho-social support and disaster awareness for students traumatised by the earthquake. Teachers and educational support staff will be trained in understanding how learners are affected by the disaster. They will be shown how to use learner-centred pedagogies and methods of behaviour management, as well as how to make referrals for those who are severely distressed.
Bulgaria, Israel and the Norwegian Refugee Council have all provided support in this area alongside Brazil.
Not long after the earthquake hit, Brazil had organised support for Haiti, identifying five priority areas in which its military personnel in Haiti would help out with the humanitarian efforts. This included activities such as medical assistance for the injured, removal of debris, security provision, along with distribution of food and water.
Then on January 14th, more personnel and equipment was flown out from Rio de Janeiro, including a Brazilian air force field hospital.
Later that month, the Ministry of External Relations in Brazil opened a bank account for the receipt of donations, with the money collected from this passed directly to the specialist UN agencies involved in the relief work in Haiti.
Despite the charitable work of Brazil and other nations, there are still concerns over the future of Haiti, as Brendan Gormley, chief executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), noted: "Right now the Haitian people need good quality temporary accommodation and emergency relief. But we are also looking at how we can help people to rebuild their lives over the next three years, leaving Haiti better prepared for future natural disasters.
"It’s important to learn from the Indian Ocean tsunami, after which the DEC aid agencies faced unprecedented devastation. A key lesson is not to rebuild houses and public buildings too quickly but to take the time to get it right."
The DEC highlighted a number of post-tsunami lessons for humanitarian and construction professionals. It said that they should look to ensure effective strategic planning and cooperation between all agencies. The body also encouraged greater use of the construction industry’s skills by employing experts from the sector as consultants or by partnering with the private sector, while being clear about land rights before building starts.
Considering the efforts of Brazil, it would be unsurprising if the country continues to provide aid to Haiti. And if any other major disasters occur, no doubt the South American nation will be on hand to provide support.
Such work indicates that Brazil is not an insular nation and is willing to help others in their time of need – something that will please those moving into Brazilian property in the near future.
