Two months after the Haitian earthquake
U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jay M. Chu
At just before 5 p.m. local time on January 12, 2010, the Port-au-Prince region of the island nation of Haiti suffered an earthquake that measured 7.0 on the Richter scale. The quake generated tsunami waves reaching as far as the U.S. Virgin islands.
USGS: The quake occurred along the boundary separating the Caribbean plate and the North America plate. There were at least 59 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater and sixteen over 5.0.
USGS map of six weeks of Haiti quake aftershocks
At about the six week mark, the USAID working with the Haitian government and other groups put together a map illustrating the severity of the shaking from the earthquake, the damage assessment in various communities and the internal movement of population.
Map of assessed damage and population movements after Haiti earthquake. Click for larger image.
USAID says the following about Haiti:
Haiti is a semi-arid, mountainous country with densely populated coastal plains, river valleys, and a large elevated plateau. The country’s greatest assets are the more than 9 million resilient Haitians, limited but diverse agricultural resources, and a potential garment export industry. One of the world’s poorest countries and recently suffering an estimated $900 million in hurricane-related damages, Haiti is defined as a low-income chronic food deficit country by the World Bank, only able to produce less than half of food needs (43 percent in 2008).
Under the leadership of President René Préval, economic growth was 2.5 percent in 2006, but dropped to 1.3 percent in 2008. Many challenges remain, including:
- 54 percent of Haitians live on less than $1/day (UNDP HDR 2007) while illiteracy is estimated at 44 percent;
- Unemployment rate in the formal sector is between 70-80 percent;
- 46 percent of Haitians do not have sustainable access to potable water (UNDP HDR 2007);
- Haiti ranks 154 of 177 countries in the UN’s Human Development Index.
The hardest hit community is Leogane. Here is a map showing the preliminary damage survey. Some 80% of the town was damaged or destroyed.
damage assessment for Leogane Haiti through February 2010. Click for a larger image.
In a series of articles this week, we will look at Haiti, the relief effort at this time, and what the future might bring to that poor nation. With the emphasis shifting from earthquake disaster relief to reconstruction, it is a good time to examine the changes that Haiti may see and the things that will remain the same.
There will be link-rich content, photos, and some finger pointing.
Over 60 articles about the Haitian earthquake, U.S. military assistance to Haiti after the quake, American giving to earthquake relief and other related topics can be found at the link Haiti Quake 2010.
Table of contents for Haiti quake aftermath
- Two months after the Haitian earthquake
- Haiti – a nation of smiles and struggles
- The damage from the Haitian earthquake
- Who is in charge in Haiti
- The current situation in Haiti
- What is the best way to help the Haitians?
- Air National Guard members honor Hotel Montana dead
- Haitian homeless still homeless
- Army landing craft aid Columbian Navy in Haiti
- Louisiana National Guard to lead assistance exercise in Haiti
- ND Guard finishes Haiti mission
- Haiti is still a disaster area, even without Anderson Cooper
- Just a roof over their heads
- United States military continues Haiti aid mission
- Marines coming home to Haiti
- Haiti – Two Years After the Earthquake
the attachments to this post:
Leogane
damage and movements
aftershock map
100212-N-5025C-002
