The unimaginable devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti has shocked the world and drawn sympathy and condolences from all its corners. Thanks to modern communications technology the world has seen the scale of destruction unleashed by the 7.0-magnitude quake. Images on TV and the Internet show the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince has been reduced to rubble and helpless survivors waiting for relief.

So far, at least 50,000 people are feared dead, and tens of thousands left injured or homeless in one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. The number of dead is bound to rise with each passing hour for a few days. Considering Haiti's total population is only about 8.5 million, the extent of damage will percolate to every layer of the country's social fabric, making full recovery a long-time affair.

The international community's response to the natural catastrophe has been immediate and generous. Rescuers from countries such as China, the United States, France and the Dominican Republic have already reached Haiti, carrying essentials like food and medicines, sniffer dogs, life-detecting devices and other rescue equipment. Politicians, NGO workers and Hollywood actors have opened their wallets and called for donations to help disaster relief.