Projects

Haiti - One year later

Haiti One Year On 1Nine year old Rodenson lost his foot during Haiti's January 2010 earthquake when he ran back into his family's collapsing house to save his younger sister. Read more in 'Rodenson's story', below. © CBM/Shelley

One year ago, on January 12th 2010, Haiti was struck by an earthquake. Both the immediate and the long-term effects were enormous. CBM, with 30 years of experience in the country, was involved in the initial emergency phase, has continued to support partners throughout the year and is now focusing its efforts into plans for the future.

The effects of the earthquake

Haiti One Year On 2A boy in the ruins of buildings, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, immediately after the January 2010 earthquake ©CBM / GrossmannA year has passed since a devastating 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti killing an estimated 230,000 people, injuring another 300,000 and displacing well over a million.

All institutions normally involved in disaster response were impacted - hospitals, government offices, administrative and economic infrastructures.

The Government of Haiti lost 100 per cent of its buildings and 40 per cent of its staff. The country's main air and sea ports, land transportation facilities and critical communication systems were all badly damaged.

The international emergency response was hampered by the loss of the United Nations headquarters in Port-au-Prince and 100 UN staff. The UN typically coordinates any international emergency response.

Many international organisations already positioned in Haiti also suffered the loss of staff, infrastructure and supplies. For the survivors - especially those with a newly acquired disability - the challenges were just beginning.

CBM Response

Haiti One Year On 3Following the Jan 2010 earthquake in Haiti there were fears Washline (pictured here in school) might lose her left leg. But thanks to the work of her physicians and CBM physiotherapists she is once again running and playing with her friends ©CBM/ShelleyImmediately following the disaster, CBM's emergency response focused on supporting our local partners.

Together, we provided medical care to children and adults in hospitals and community settings and we established Child Day Care Centres so children with and without a disability had a safe place to gather, play, learn, and overcome the traumatic experience of and after the disaster.

Now that the emergency phase is over, CBM is focusing its programming efforts in five core areas:

  • Health care
  • Inclusive education and child protection
  • Advocacy and accessibility
  • Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)
  • Disaster preparedness

It is our dream, one shared by our partners, that as Haiti rebuilds it will be transformed into a barrier-free and inclusive society where persons with disabilities have equal rights and opportunities and are empowered to actively participate in the sustainable development of their communities.

Earthquake facts

Date: January 12th, 2010
Time: 3:53pm (local time)

  • Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
  • Population is more than 9 million
  • Estimated 230,000 casualties
  • Estimated 300,000 injuries
  • Up to 1.5 million people left homeless
  • 1300 spontaneous settlements (tent camps) have been set up
  • 190,000 houses collapsed or were badly damaged and 100,000 were completely destroyed.
  • 60 percent of government buildings were destroyed including the Presidential Palace, the Parliament, and the city's main Cathedral.
  • 80 percent of schools in Port-au-Prince were either destroyed or damaged and forced to close.
  • Eight hospitals were totally destroyed and 22 others seriously damaged and need to be rebuilt.
  • The total value of damage and losses caused by the earthquake is estimated at US$7.8 billion.
  • The earthquake reduced Haiti's gross domestic product by 70 percent

How your support is making a difference in Haiti

To date €5 million have been pledged to CBM for earthquake recovery programmes.

Your gifts have helped more than 73,000 earthquake survivors.

Your gifts have provided more than 126,000 medical treatments in hospitals, tents and community settings.

Your gifts also supported the distribution of:

  • 10,000 pairs of glasses
  • 2,000 assistive devices
  • 900 cataract surgeries
  • 40 glaucoma surgeries
  • 300 tarps
  • 260 mattresses
  • 50 tents

Your generosity has enabled CBM to send 26 international staff to Haiti and hire 48 Haitian nationals to assist people with new and pre-existing disabilities.

CBM is committed to Haiti for the long-term and will remain on the ground helping the poorest of the poor rebuild their lives.