Florida helps Haiti

Florida has been receiving refugees from earthquake-devastated Haiti and they are feeling the financial pressure. Florida officials temporarily halted U.S. military-run evacuations from Haiti when it became unclear who would be footing the bill. Medical costs for the influx of dispossessed evacuees with life-threatening injuries extend into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In these economically hard times, there just isn't enough money to go around.

The problem becomes clear when one takes into account the possibility of overflowing hospitals, which might be forced to work past their capacity. These aren't the only problems; after treatment, what happens to the refugees? We can't just send them back to a country that is still crippled by natural disaster. Reports of unrest and anger at the Haitian government add fuel to the fire; refugees can't and don't want to go back. Florida wants Congress to take money out of their pockets to help support the evacuees and help aid the hospitals overfilled with these evacuees.

Is it not morally justifiable that we, as good neighbors, allow the refugees to come and seek shelter and medical help? The Statue of Liberty reads, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

In a time of crisis, when the entire world is looking, we should allow refugees to seek help at our doorstep.

The cost is certainly a major obstacle. Florida can only do so much. The government must step up, which is what President Obama plans to do.

His administration plans to bring tens of thousands of Haitians into the United States.
And although Florida might not be enthusiastic about its role, the Miami-Dade school district plans to establish three locations for refugee children to attend school. Children will be medically examined, tested and given lessons in Haitian Creole. They will also receive support for different services. In addition, they are preparing 320 different schools for the flood of new students.

Many feel that the schools and hospitals are ill-equipped to handle many refugees. People might recall Hurricane Katrina, with displaced people everywhere and severely lagged humanitarian aid. Many officials are already scrambling to find food, shelter and medical help.

Florida should lead the way to help this nation in need. But if its hospitals are overfilled, what will become of the U.S. citizens who might need the hospital? They may be greeted with a waiting line instead of timely help. They are the ones who are unsure. What about the sudden growth in crime rate that a sharp population increase may cause? Florida might not have enough personnel to efficiently manage an inflated population. Doctors and police officers will be working overtime, and nurses may be on 24-hour schedules.

Floridians may want to help the Haitians, but they are not sure their state can handle it on its own. They don't know how long the Haitians will stay or how many more will arrive. However, the refugees do need help, and I think that Florida should continue to lend a hand.