An Overview of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake

The Haiti earthquake was a good example of people pulling together in the face of a natural disaster. However, Haiti relief efforts also illustrated that people can behave horribly when they are desperate.

Disasters like the earthquake in Haiti illustrate the very best in people and the very worst in people. The media covered many stories based on the most important factor in the relief efforts: hope. People from all over the world converged on Haiti to offer help and hope to the people that were so devastated by the earthquake.

However, the media also covered many stories in which that hope quickly turned to desperation. Food aid was sometimes diverted because of unruly crowds. In fact, food was only dispersed to women at one point because it was believed that they would be better at dispersing the food fairly and equally among the crowds of starving people.