Posted on 10/29/2005 4:12:45 PM PDT by Graybeard58
After listening to Hurricane Katrina victims and disaster relief workers for several hours Friday, as well as touring parts of New Orleans, United Nations expert on human rights Arjun K. Sengupta, called America's response to the disaster "shocking."
"Something went wrong and it appears to be a gross violation of human rights," said Sengupta, United Nations independent expert on human rights and extreme poverty.
He said the federal government has responded slowly and with poor communications to help some of its poorest and most vulnerable citizens.
"The people in New Orleans and the worst affected areas were very poor and what you have to do is a social responsibility of the federal, state and local governments," he said.
"Budget questions should be resolved. If the United States wasn't the richest country in the world, I'd say international aid should come in. But I don't have to say that for the U.S.," he said.
Sengupta plans to reveal his findings before a United Nations panel in April.
He does not know what the council will do with his report -- perhaps draw up a resolution -- but he wants the world to know what he saw and heard, he said during a meeting at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, 8470 Goodwood Blvd.
"My whole intent is to understand. I don't think I would have understood the extent of the calamity until coming here," Sengupta said. "What is more shocking is that two months later, my impression is that New Orleans is untouched … debris is not cleared. … Relief work in New Orleans is not what I expected with the richest country in the world. Why should it take so much time?"
Sengupta, and other international human-rights advocates, listened to about 35 people, many displaced and living in shelters, who detailed how the hurricane has affected them.
Several residents vented their frustrations about everything from not receiving checks from FEMA, lack of communications, to fraud, price gouging, mass evacuation planning and whether they will ever be able to return to their homes and jobs.
They also blasted the government's role in taking care of the poor as well as providing one place where people can get information about housing and finances.
"I'm so confused now," said Faye Jackson of New Orleans, who is living in a church shelter in north Baton Rouge. Jackson said she's received little money.
"I'm so stressed. I have to use my unemployment money to rent a car. I have gotten nothing from FEMA," she said.
Churches have stepped in where government has not, said the Rev. Belinda Washington of the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Washington said the church operates four evacuee shelters for 352 people, some of whom attended Friday's meeting. The church also runs a distribution center.
"The Allen Chapel will not shut its door until everyone has a place to stay," Washington said.
How well does this chap's home country (sounds like it's India) do in the same circumstances?
I think the response was fantastic. An entire city wwas relocated in days.
I agree..this UN a*shole isn't looking at the PRIVATE response to the disaster i.e. walmart etc..he's looking at it from the UN socialist point of view that gov't is responsible for everything..
The federal government did a great job also. The "disaster" was immediate urban legend.
I don't disagree with that..considering the amount of aid that was pouring in within 2 days of a city being wiped out, it was fantastic..
this fellow seems unfamiliar with the way a constitutional federal union of republics works.
How dare this jerk. The average citizen in most UN countries would do almost anything to have the lifestyle of New Orleans poor.
If the United States wasn't the richest country in the world, I'd say international aid should come in. But I don't have to say that for the U.S.," he said.
Why the hell not? Doe he think we have unlimited funds? Why is it that we put in more money that ANYONE for disasters, and the UN, but no one EVER pays us back, or helps when we need it?
Sengupta is a member of parliament from India’s ruling alliance. Don't more people die of hunger everyday in India than live in New Orleans?
Let's move the UN HQs to the 9th Ward. Two problems solved.
The entire UN is a shole...If they want to stay in business...I want the headquarters moved to the paradise of Harare Zim. Its time the anti-American U.N. lunitics get out of our country.
Best idea I've heard yet.
prevent the poor from not becoming pregnant;
prevent the poor from not doing drugs;
prevent the poor from not drinking to excess;
prevent the poor from working two jobs to save money;
prevent the poor from moving out of flood-prone and poverty stricken areas;
prevent the poor from taking community college course or adult education courses, oftentimes at reduced rates;
prevent the poor from not buying $100 shoes, high-def TVs, lottery tickets and other crap;
..and a few other things I forgot to mention.
Unless you're mentally deficient there is NO EXCUSE to be poor in this country. If you WORK AT IT you can make it. It's not Bush's fault, Clinton's fault, your momma's fault or anybody's fault.
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