Haitians have learnt to be resilient, and will doubtless overcome the latest punishment nature has inflicted. For centuries they were being punished and exploited by colonisers, slave traders, international corporations/miners, and their own dictators and drug lords, since 1802, when they got independence from France after the Slave Rebellion. But they're no better today.

Disasters have both negative and positive aspects. Although the world mourns the loss of those who perished, Haiti is now on the conscience of the world, after decades of neglect and not being on the radar of human consciousness. There has been a huge fund-collection drive worldwide for the people of Haiti. One hundred cargo planes are waiting in neighbouring countries to unload supplies for Haiti. And, as a result, new jobs have been created - both in Haiti, and in the donor countries.

As per one estimate, if we add up all the funds and supplies collected around the world and divide this by Haiti's surviving population, each living person - irrespective of his or her age - will receive $3,000... as compared to the average Haitian earning of around $2 per day, before the earthquake struck. That's equal to four years of earnings for Haitians, right there. Provided all this aid gets to them.

The Canadian Government alone is donating some $165 million, or more. Fund-collecting organizatons have mushroomed, and created new jobs. With each new disaster, new fund-raising organizations - some of them genuine - plan their strategy to play upon Canadians' generosity, because this donated money also comprises their livelihood. Then they take a cut out of the donated funds - some estimated as high as 50 per cent, but mostly between 10-20 per cent. This cut gets back into the Canadian economy.

One may also ask whether 100 per cent of the Haitian population benefits from the balance funds. The answer, sadly, is no. Only a fraction - perhaps 10 per cent - will get the benefit. A chunk of the remainder could well go to major corporations and companies, who will say their helping to 'rebuild the country'. And of course, there is also the notorious bureaucracy, and the traders, to sponge up the rest.

Disaster is such an emotional issue that people don't question while donating. Most trust the relief fund collectors, without knowing how much really goes towards the relief and how much is manipulated. Not only do not-for-profit fund-raising agencies take a cut, but religious organizations also try to take a dip into the trough. In Brampton, the Hindu Sabha Temple collected funds and came to know that approximately $5,000 in cash and cheques got misplaced. Nobody seems to know where it has gone, or how the loss is to be made good. And the donating congregation doesn't seem to know their donation has disappeared. Has there been any official enquiry? No one knows.

Apart from the above method, we notice that 'Penny Jars' for collecting funds have been placed in some ethnic stores, so customers can donate their nickels and dimes and quarters. These type of collections are not accounted for, and one only hopes they're being supervised of run by bonafide individuals.

Once money is donated, people forget to follow up. But donor countries tend to ensure their corporations benefit from their fund collections.

The poor always suffer. Haitians were poor before, and (I hope not but very much fear) they will be poor after. Even the media plays with the sentiments of the public. The poor are just so much material to be used for collecting funds for relief efforts. And Canadians are so innocent they open their wallets just for the asking.

- Rajinder Chadha, Brampton