On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States, devastated the low-lying areas of the Gulf Coast, killing more than 1,800 people and destroying hundreds of thousands of homes.Nearly five years later the suffering continues. In New Orleans and throughout the Gulf Coast, there is a continued lack of access to housing and health care, and issues related to the criminal justice system persist. Communities displaced by the storms remain unable to rebuild and return to their homes.
A new report by Amnesty International, Un-Natural Disaster, states that these failures constitute a violation of human rights by the U.S. government.
The Stafford Act, legislation that governs federal disaster response, fails to live up to the human rights standards outlined in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. The Stafford Act must be strengthened to guarantee the rights of all people displaced by disasters.
Take action today to restore dignity to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and respect for human rights here at home.
» Call on Congress to amend the Stafford Act
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