Case study: Haiti (2010)

Where is Haiti located?

• on an island in the Caribbean Sea

• West of the Dominican Republic

• borders the Dominican Republic

• South-East of Cuba

• East of Mexico

• on the Caribbean plate

• South of the conservative plate boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates

What were some primary effects of the earthquake?

• 230,000 deaths

• 300,000 injuries

• 4,000 amputations

• 180,000 homes destroyed

• 5,000 schools damaged or destroyed

• 70% of buildings in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, collapsed

• key public and government buildings damaged or destroyed

• roads severely damaged and blocked by debris

• 52 aftershocks

• 4,000 prisoners escaped

• communications severely damaged

What were some secondary effects of the earthquake?

• cholera epidemic (7,000 deaths of cholera)

• 1.5 million people made homeless

• traumatised survivors

• brain drain

What were some immediate responses to the earthquake?

• the Dominican Republic sent in supplies of water, food, and heavy lifting machinery

• the Dominican Republic permitted people to cross the border to recieve help

• an emergency response team sent by Iceland arrived within 24 hours

• water was delivered by the US military

• rescue and recovery dogs were brought in from the USA

• many survivors were treated outside in makeshift field hospitals

• many survivors fled to their family homes in rural areas

• up to 1,500 camps were set up all over Port-au-Prince

• bodies were laid out on pavements for identification

• aid was sent by the UK

What were some long-term responses to the earthquake?

• teachers trained to deal with traumatised children

• decentralisation of services away from Port-au-Prince

• modernising the legal framework of the country

• building new homes out of wood

• drawing up a Disaster Plan

• the Haitian government's Plan of Action for Recovery and Development