Cholera - Haiti Observer Blog

UN Claims Immunity from Victims' Lawsuit in Cholera Action

Mr. Gustavo Gallon, a human rights expert, who was appointed by the UN, has exposed the international agency for its negligence in accepting responsibility for the 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti. He has released a report that claims a UN peacekeeping force, based in Central Haiti, let sewage leak into a river close to the base. The sewage pipes were not properly maintained and caused sewage to seep into the river.

The UN disclaims responsibility against evidence found during an investigation. Its defense is two-fold: one, it is not possible to locate the actual source where the cholera bacteria developed, and two, even if it was responsible, it is protected by the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN.

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The Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) is fighting for the victims of a cholera epidemic that began nine months after the 2010 earthquake hit Haiti. Investigations as to how the epidemic started revealed the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti was to blame. But the UN deflects responsibility for the epidemic, citing its immunity from prosecution.

In 2013, the IJDH filed a petition in a New York district court to bring a class-action lawsuit by five Haitian victims. The IJDH is asking for compensatory damages for 8,300 victims, who died, and nearly 700,000, who became deathly ill.

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In the wake of Haiti's devastating 2010 quake, a widespread cholera epidemic broke out on the island. To date 682,753 cases have been recorded. The source of the virus has been traced back to Nepali soldiers, part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti for over a decade.

The Nepalese Army refutes the charges, saying their soldiers are routinely vaccinated before being deployed overseas. But Yale Law School's Global Health Justice Partnership (GHJP), in a released 2013 report, states ". . . the cholera strain in Haiti has been scientically linked to a single origin in Nepal." The GHJP report wants the UN, who should have made certain soldiers were vaccinated, make a public apology to the Haitian population, who have suffered the terrible effects of the deadly virus.

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The Haitian government has decided to abandon subsidization of toilet construction, in favor of more cost-effective and sustainable toilets that can be built by homeowners themselves. The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) has been directing research into social and cultural use of toilets; however they are defined within Haitian culture.

Before toilet projects can begin, an understanding of how Haitian households view urination and defecation activities must occur. In the countryside, defecating in a field is an acceptable practice. Residents in these areas hate pit latrines because they smell and despoil the land. Educating them to change their habits will not happen overnight.

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The cholera outbreak hit Haiti in October 2010. It claimed lives of 8,413 Haitians and threatened the health of more than 600,000 people in Haiti. Mexico has recently reported 171 cases of cholera epidemic with same strain that arrived in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba three years ago.

The health officials of Mexico first picked up the problem through routine surveillance of severe diarrhea cases in the states of Mexico, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí and Veracruz between Sept. 9 and Oct. 18. One victim has died already and 39 other cases have required hospitalization.

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According to UN Peacekeeping Deputy Edmond Mulet, the Cholera epidemic that has spread in Haiti is the result of Haiti Underdevelopment and this is what should be blamed. I can't help but to think about something similar that use to happen with women who have been raped. Women were blamed for wearing something too sexy or too tight.

This statement of Edmond Mulet, blaming the victim, in this case Haiti, for the spread of Cholera in Haiti is out of this world. The same way Haiti is now being blamed by Edmond Mulet as the victim

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Are you planning for a trip to China anytime soon? if so, beside the usual screening for things you are not supposed to carry, you might have to undergo additional screening if you come from either Haiti, Mexico, Dominica, Cuba or any country where the Cholera virus was recently found.

China's quality watchdog wants authorities there to implement medical inspections and disinfection routines on any person or vehicles from countries with cholera.

The targeted countries include Mexico, Haiti, Dominica and Cuba.

According to General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), anyone who have been to the countries and have Cholera like symptoms should inform local AQSIQ bureaus ASAP
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Source

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Human rights lawyers have filed law suit in a U.S Federal Court accusing United Nation for misconduct and gross negligence on behalf of the cholera victims in Haiti in 2010. They claimed that the reckless behavior of U.N was responsible for the cholera outbreak because several scientific and medical investigation reports have concluded that one of the most likely sources of the outbreak was leaking sewage system from a Nepalese peacekeepers complex in UN housing. There is no other acceptable explanation how the disease that was present only in the northeastern region of the Indian subcontinent 9,000 miles away, traveled to Haiti.

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If there is one thing the people of Mali should know about UN as they are getting ready to welcome the new UN force in their country is that the UN is a minor and can not be held responsible for his act.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established by UN Security Council on April25, 2013. As it is the case in Haiti with MINUSTAH, MINUSMA in Mali has for objective to stabilize the country.

I would like to bring the attention of the Malian people to one thing. "The UN does no wrong and can not do wrong". This is true even if the entire world thinks otherwise.

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Things are not getting any better in term of the cholera outbreak. After Haiti, Dominican republic and Cuba, this time Mexico seems to be next winner of the cholera epidemic awarded by the United Nations.

There is a warning from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) that the Cholera illness could spread worldwide.

As you know, investigations have revealed that the origin of the outbreak of cholera in Haiti to leaking sewage at a camp for UN soldiers from Nepal. Supporters of the victims have tried to sue the UN, so far: "Nad marinad". This year, representative from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said "petition for compensation was "not receivable" under a 1947 convention which grants the UN immunity for its actions.

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