Responding to editors’ requests for a regular sampling of current commentary from around the Catholic press, here is an unsigned editorial titled: “Puerto Rico’s recovery not a remote concern” which appeared in the Sept. 12 issue of Catholic New York, newspaper of the Archdiocese of New York.
It’s been one year since Hurricane Maria smashed into Puerto Rico, causing catastrophic damage and bringing a major humanitarian crisis to an island that was already drowning under a monumental debt and a host of related problems.
The widespread flooding that trapped thousands of residents in their homes, the almost total destruction of the power grid in populated areas that left residents without electricity for months and the resulting food and water shortages severely tested the ability of public and private relief agencies to deliver aid.
Just a few weeks ago, the number of hurricane-related deaths – estimated in the immediate aftermath at fewer than 100 – was updated to 2,975, following a study by the Milken Institute of Public Health at George Washington University.
And let’s not forget that Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States, was facing huge financial problems even before the storm hit, including a barely functioning infrastructure and an exodus of its educated young people who couldn’t find jobs. In May 2017, under the weight of $73 billion in debt, the commonwealth filed for bankruptcy.
As the Sept. 20 anniversary of Maria approaches, there remains an estimated $100 billion in storm damages to overcome.
Full recovery, it seems, is still a long way off.
Still, there has been progress, though slow and step-by-step. Electric power is reported to have returned to 99.99 percent of the island, the first wave of $18.5 billion in federal funds is due to arrive to help rebuild one- and two-family homes, and the sense of crisis has greatly diminished.
We hope these efforts are the foundation of a stable recovery as Puerto Rico, with the help of the U.S. Congress, works toward developing a sound economic future.
As Puerto Rico enters its second year of recovery, we call on our charitable and governmental agencies to remember that the island still needs help and to commit to standing with its people in their struggle.
The views or positions presented in this or any guest editorial are those of the individual publication and do not necessarily represent the views of Catholic News Service, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Diocese of Trenton or The Monitor.