Haiti Devastation Issue

I did not know about the poverty in Haiti or the issues they have had with the hurricanes. I don't understand how their government can let the living circumstances of citizens get so bad. Honestly this news is very sad but I don't pay attention to the news that often because I am so involved with what's going on in my own life. I know this is terrible but I usually just hear about things from other people or every once in awhile when I get a chance I'll listen to the news. Events like these never seem to be real but after seeing the pictures of the children and floods it is heart wrenching. As an American on a day to day basis I don't see how children and families live in third world countries. In Nicaragua you talked about the dumpster kids who rummage through garbage so they can make some money. In the United States things like this would not happen because the government has programs and places for children without parents to go. They would send them to orphanages and make sure they went to school and were fed. My family is from Trinidad and Tobago and it's so beautiful over there. But on the streets you see so many people that are homeless or living in little shacks. The living condition of many people is very poor. Right next to nice neighborhoods there are people who live in these shacks and don't have all the luxuries of others. It's so different to go and visit Trinidad and to see how the lifestyle is so different. The culture is so rich and they have so many traditions which is wonderful but not everyone benefits from the wealth of the small island. I think after a devastation like this the United States should send some aid for the people in Haiti. But after helping get them get on their feet I feel that the United States should step back and let them deal with the problems of their country. The United States can't just come in and tell Haiti how to run their country. If they do end up stepping in and clean up the country what about the other third world countries that need help. Will the United States have to go help them out also? I'm not saying don't offer help at all I'm just saying I think there's a limit to how much we should do. Organizations like the Red Cross offer help to countries after a devastation which I think is great. But it has become hard to tell where our money is going if we donate it. I am reluctant to sign up for one of those donation businesses that are on television because I've heard that some are scams and they don't even send the money to help a family or child in need. If everyone offered as little as five dollars a month to a family in need it would go a long way. I just don't know what organizations to trust or where to go. I do feel bad for those who are suffering and I hope that the government is able to fix these problems.