Hope for Haiti

International aid is already underway after the heavy earthquake on Haiti. But the rapid arrival of huge amounts of aid represents a danger in itself, the daily De Standaard warns: "Disasters that receive this kind of media coverage immediately trigger an outpour of solidarity which however soon dwindles to a just trickle. The generous donors want quick and visible results. This puts the helpers under enormous 'pressure to act', to spend as much money as possible, which not only distorts the local market but in most cases is not sustained. It takes time to deal with a crisis, a lot of time because the money must be used carefully and in close coordination with the recipients. … It is decisive that the development aid workers resist this pressure, because if a disaster like this is handled properly the country affected can emerge stronger from the crisis. So there's a glimmer of hope among all the ruins." 

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