Real Help for Haiti

Years ago I watched the video of AOL Founder and Chairman Emeritus, philanthropist, West Point grad, Vietnam veteran, entrepreneur, diplomat, and so much more, James “Jim” V. Kimsey, on a 60 Minutes segment with Correspondent Scott Pelley.  I learned later that this was Scott Pelley’s first segment.  Kimsey was not only interviewed extensively, but the crew followed him to far away lands – far away to war torn, feared and uncertain lands.  No, this segment was not about the frightening world of the internet, e-commerce and online communication. This piece was a gritty in depth look at the world of missing persons buried in mass graves, particularly in Iraq.

Before 2003, when the piece was aired, the stark reality of mass graves was overwhelming. There were thousands upon thousands of full bodies, skeletons, and body parts that were heaped together and left to rot in the ground. They were buried and forgotten, at least by those who covered them up.  There were no funerals, no memorial services, no soldier knocking on the family’s door alerting it of the death of its son or daughter.  There were no individual graves with markers, only a mass of bodies thrown together and buried.  There was no respectful remembrance of who these people were, whom they left behind, who was missing them, who loved them, whom they loved, what they did in their lives.

Thankfully, with the help of the International Commission on Missing Persons, which Kimsey continues to Chair, and the advanced scientific technology of DNA tests, the golden key to answers so many families and loves ones were crying out to know, became a reality.  The 60 Minutes segment called “Answers From The Grave” brought goosebumps to many as well as tears to the eyes. While DNA tests don’t bring back the dead, it brings those who want to see the remains of loved ones and then respectfully bury them, answers. It brings closure.

Fast forward to 2010.  The horrific scene of Haiti post-earthquake has been forever emblazoned in our minds, as it should be.  While the ICMP has continued to do its work across the globe in turning mass graves into resting places for deceased individual human beings in war torn and areas destroyed by natural disasters, it has yet to enter this recent tragedy.  Kimsey, who also has the esteemed position of Chairman Emeritus of Refugees International (RI) and proudly remembers when he brought on beloved and revered past RI President Kenneth Bacon (who sadly passed away from brain cancer last summer-Dan Glickman is serving as current President), knew that he was in a position to help this devastated country.  It was simply through his history and involvement with these two important organizations with which he was extremely familiar, as well as his diplomatic knowledge of how Haiti and the Dominican Republic can work to a solution.

This weekend, he and the Head of Inter-American Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno, headed down to meet with Haitian President Rene’ Preval and the DR’s President, Leonel Fernández.  It was imperative for IDB to be there, as it continues to and will play a significant role in the financial restructuring of Haiti.  Refugees International could have a vital role because the people left to rebuild their lives on the island are by definition “refugees”.  In fact, climate refugees, because they are displaced from their homes as a result of a natural disaster.

Kimsey and Moreno have returned back to American soil after this quick and productive trip with a hopeful, yet extremely realistic and pragmatic outlook.  Much needs to be done, but with the possible swift and thorough work of well run organizations like ICMP and RI, the outlook appears to be better…at least better than before.

Read about the 60 Minutes segment and watch the video: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/26/60minutes/main585798.shtml

Learn more about ICMP: http://www.ic-mp.org/

Learn more about RI: http://www.refugeesinternational.org/