www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FY6zWzxWpw

My interview with Edhi — who is known in some quarters for his humanitarian works as Pakistan’s “Father Teresa” — occurred a few weeks after the earthquake struck Haiti.  I spoke to him by phone today to see if his wait for visas was over.  It isn’t.

Initially, Edhi had gone to the Cuban Embassy in Islamabad to get visas for himself and his fellow team members.  However, he said Cuban officials denied their requests because the U.S. military is managing the traffic in and out of Haiti’s main ports of entry.

Edhi then went to the U.S. Embassy.  He has a permanent Green Card for the United States, but his team members do not.  Today, Edhi said he is frustrated because U.S. officials gave him the impression that his team would not receive any visas for at least six months.

The United States has tightened restrictions on issuing visas during the past few years.  In addition, a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman told me today that humanitarian efforts are not given any special consideration, and everyone has to go through the same process.

So as it stands, there is at least a million dollars and a team of workers with quake experience on stand by, half-a-world away.

What do you think?  I’d love to read your comments below about your views on the situation.