Puerto Rico is in the midst of a calamitous humanitarian disaster.

Today, 3.5 million people in Puerto Rico are without power. Water supplies are running low. Fuel shortages are rampant. Communication lines are unreliable. Much of the agriculture and infrastructure is destroyed. People are stranded and vulnerable.

Under these circumstances, the United Nations would typically activate it’s emergency response systems. This includes sending in telecoms specialists to restore communications, set up shelter, and distribute food and other relief supplies.

But since Puerto Rico is pa