By night fall on January 12, 2010 the world found its heart. A shattering earthquake toppled Haiti and the world responded. As we were clued to our televisions, radios, and internet some of the poorest and the riches nations in the world dug deep into their cash strapped pockets and sent financial and material help to Haiti. U.S. media has focused on the aid from this country but the outpouring from the African Diaspora and Latin America has been impressive and heart warming.

Haiti is the first nation of slaves to militarily throw off the yoke of European rule and become a free nation. The Haitian story proved to be an inspiration for African and Latin American leaders around the colonialized world.  Decades after African nations declared political independence there is still a financial burden that prevents true independence. Many counties survive on aid from the western world. But despite this economic burden Africa and Latin America has come to aid of Haiti.

According to the Guardian Newspaper in London, the civil war torn nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which receives billions of dollars in foreign aid after more than a decade of war, has offered $2.5 million to help the people of Haiti. The African Ghana has offered $3 million. Senegal is sending $1 million and land to any Haitian who seeks to immigrate to this west African country.  And oil-rich Equatorial Guinea has offered $2 million. Sierra Leone, another country plagued with decades of war and strife, has pledged $100,000. South Africa has sent cash and two search and rescue teams. Namibia and Gabon have each pledged $1 million.

In this hemisphere, Venezuela has stepped in with full force. Within days of the quake CITGO, which is owned by the government, shipped 20 tons of aid to Haiti in the form of tents, cots, and on radio which do not need batteries. In a recent press release, the Venezuelans vowed that they will commit more than 120 tons of aid ‘aimed at helping between 8 – 10,000 Haitians left homeless by the earthquake.’ Since the day after the quake CITGO has send nearly a dozen shipments of food aid, equipment, and trained professionals to Haiti to help with search and rescue, medical needs, and other basic necessities after a tragedy of this magnitude.

Reports from the ground say that Cubans were among the first to set up medical facilities among the debris and to revamp hospitals immediately after the earthquake struck. According Al Jazeera News Agency, Haiti and Cuba signed a medical cooperation agreement in 1998. Before the earthquake struck, 344 Cuban health professionals were already present in Haiti.  More doctors were flown in from Cuba shortly after the earthquake.

The solidarity of the African and Latin American world should be an example for the work still ahead in helping Haiti to its’ feet. There has to be vigilance to assure the Haitian people are the leaders in the rebuilding of the nation and establishing its place in the world economic and political construct. Bravo to Africa and Latin America for digging deep into the coffers to provide assistance. Your presence will be needed for a long time.

Nicole C. Lee, Esq. is the President of TransAfrica Forum