Pakistanis have told me that the images coming from the relief effort in Haiti remind them of their own country’s massive earthquake five years ago. The effects of that disaster still are visible. But despite Pakistan’s current hardships, some people, such as Abdul Sattar Edhi, are working to send aid to the small Caribbean nation. Watch the story below:
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.
Tags: Abdul, Ahmad, authority, Chaudri, Cuba, disaster, earthquake, Edhi, embassy, Farooq, Foreign Aid, foundation, green card, Haiti, humanitarian, Iftikhar, Khan, management, Margalla, national, natural, ndma, Pakistan, quake, relief, Sattar, Towers, United States, visas, volunteer, welfare
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That’s great work Sean. It’s really sad to see help not reaching people in need because of bureaucracy or near-neurotic visa policies. I just have a question: does the fact that the air traffic to Haiti is controlled by US military makes it US territory (therefore requiring US visas to enter the country)? It just called my attention, as I would think the immigration rules to be followed should be Haitian.
Thanks for the interview, it’s really good to see people like Mr. Edhi in the world.
Douglas -
Pingback from Stupid politics « Cabeça na Mão on February 11, 2010 at 8:16 am
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Hi Douglas – Thanks for the comment! Let me clarify one thing: the United States does not CONTROL any points of access in Haiti. My colleague, Brian Wagner, has more. He is VOA’s Latin America correspondent and has spent a lot of time covering the current situation in Haiti.
He says: “All [the U.S. officials] were really doing was directing air traffic at the PAP airport and apparently some of the other ones. I drove out to the Dominican Republic when I left, and it’s all Haitian border guards. At the airport, they’ve had a desk for immigration stamps, staffed by Haitian government people.
A lot of people just walk in [the country] without getting stamped… [Edhi] probably needs a U.S. stamp for transit… The only other option is to fly through Europe into Santo Domingo. They have some flights into the Dominican Republic that way. And then make it over to Haiti by land or air. Avoid the United States.”
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Thanks a lot for your clarifications, Sean! Let’s just hope that the Haitians may soon benefit from Mr. Edhi’s assistance…
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yeah right. US needs to stop listening to this snake of a country and bomb Pakistan to hell.
America has a tendency to go overboard with its stupidity and Pakistan is a shining example. I thought with Bush gone, sanity would prevail but Obama has broken all records..btw, smooth talking only goes so far.
like F. Gump said – stupid is as stupid does.
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Wonder why people like ‘Father Teresa’ care TWO HOOTS about their co-nationalists beheading Religious Minorities (Sikhs) in the Heaven on Earth ‘Swat Valley’ of the Best Nation on this Planet “THE” Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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Have you ever wondered what happened to the Buddhists in Afghan-Pak region [remember the BIG BUDDHA Statues destroyed a decade or so back]? Like how the people of North-Eastern States in Socialist Secular Republic of Bharath *realized* the Truth of Christ [refer to the changed demography of N-E states like Meghalaya, Nagaland], I’d assume the Buddhists of Af-Pak in a matter of a few centuries very *VERY* P-E-A-C-E-F-U-L-L-Y did a “Kabool Islam’.
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BTW, Jamaat ud Dawa is also a *Social Organization* – wonder why so many countries (I think including the big Sam US of A) are trying to *ban* it? May be people should just issue Visas to ALL Pakistanis who have enough money and man-power – without ever bothering to check if these assets were going to be used for *proper* reasons.
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I guess one Mohammed (I mean Atta) and one 9/11 is just not enough, is it? Indeed OBL’s statement of the Weak Horse v/s Strong Horse comes to mind.
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Huh – my 2 minutes wasted this morning.
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~ MN -
HI SEAN, DO YOU HAVE FACEBOOK… KISSES
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I believe Mr.Edhi needs a Haitian visa for his team, not a US visa. Haiti is not a state of the US. Its an independant country, one which I would imagine welcome help right now, not later.
I am a little confused why the US is involved with Haitian visas? Or is there more to this story?
In any case, shame on the US for trying to hog all attention in Haiti, its always about PR, Americans really dont give a crap about Haiti or else they would not turn back Haitians coming to the US risking lives escaping hardship. Its just a show-the-world-we-care-for-the-poor typical UaSAnine stunt.
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MN I assume you’re an Indian, instead of shedding croc tears for just 1 sikhs, ever shed any for the 2,000 Muslims butchered by the Gujrat Chief Minster?
Muslims in India live in a constant state of fear, afraid of the Hindu fascists in the SHiv Sena, RSS, BJP etc.
First call for Modis arrest and then worry about Pakistani Sikh citizens, the Taliban are equal opportunity murderers, and have killed more Muslims than Sikhs or anyone else, can you say the same for your crazy Hindu fanatics in India who only kill Muslims and Christians.
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Dear Sean Maroney,
Being a Pakistani Muslim it warms my heart to know there are people like you who take the trouble to highlight the good Pakistan does. These days we are simply the bad guys and with neighbours like India and Afghanistan its hard to see the heart of Pakistanis. I sincerely thank you for this article.
Regards,
Sanam -
i know all about US immigration and how it is a nitemare. As my wife is from Malaysia and it took me over a year after our marriage over in Malaysia to bring her over here. Ha such a bad joke. my hats off to the man, Mr. Edhi.
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I hope Mr.Edhi gets the visas soon. the Haitians require help immediately and we the Pakistanis, having undergone pretty much the same situation in 2005, are more than keen to offer it. thanks for the hard work Sean.
Best regards
SMH -
Instead of dissipating time&resources in afghanistan.d u.s.a should support rebuilding haiti
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Dear Sean
Its wonderful to read your heart warming styory about Mr Edhi. I would have thought people like him “father Teresa” and his team + one million dollars? will be a lot more useful in an impoverished country like Pakistan.
No doubt that the Hatians need help, but “millions & millions” more than the Hatians, need a lot more help in Pakistan itself who remain hungry, sick, and live in abject poverty, including the millions of women with virtually no rights under the Pakistani legal system and frequently come out second best, should be the prime targets of assistance of Mr Edhi the father Teresa and his team.
I am unable to fathom out your fuss and the fanfare about Mr Edhi is unable to obtain a visa for his team to go to Haiti, you should advised him that charity begins at home and he does not need a visa to help his own people at Pakistan “first” who need a lots of help wherever they can get from, that includes Mr Edhi.
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Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!
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