CASE STUDY, Haiti

why is Haiti considered hazardous?

• hurricanes and tropical storms

• earthquakes

• floods

• landslides

• drought

• deforestation

• poor infrastructure

• poverty

• socioeconomic vulnerability

• political instability

hurricanes and tropical storm

Hurricane Mathew 2016 resulted in over 500 deaths and effected more than 2 million people, causing significant infrastructure damage.

earthquakes

2010 earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0, causing the death of approx. 230,000 people and displacing 1.5 million.

floods

Haiti experiences regular floods, affecting communities and agriculture. data on specific events may vary.

landslides

steep terrain, combined with deforestation, contributes to frequent landslides during heavy rains

drought

periodic droughts impact water sources and agriculture, affecting food security

deforestation

has lost significant percentage of its forests, contributing to environmental degradation and increased vulnerability to natural hazards.

primary forest cover = 60% in the 1960s, less than 1% today.

poor infrastrucutre

weak infrastructure leads to increased casualties and damage during hazard events. 2010 earthquake highlighted this vulnerability.

poverty

60% of the population live below the national poverty line, limiting resources for hazard preparedness and recovery.

lowest GDP in the western hemisphere, high unemployment rates, reliance on remittances

socioeconomic vulnerability

limited access to education (1 in 3 Haitian adults illiterate) and healthcare contribute to the vulnerability of the population during hazard events

political instability

political unrest can hinder effective disaster response and recover efforts, slowing down aid delivery and reconstruction.

(country ranks 168/180 (on Transparency International Corruption Perception Index) + frequent changes in governance + weak governance)

public services provided by NGOs and the UN

Corruption reduction for standards enforcement

what?

• implementing measures to reduce corruption in order to enforce and maintain building standards effectively.

positives

• reduce the risk of substandard construction and increases thee overall resilience of buildings.

• enhance public trust in government institutions.

negatives

• achieving sustained reduction in corruption is a complex and long-term challenge.

• it requires systemic changes in governance and cultural shifts.

• the success of this scheme is crucial for the sustainability of other hazard management efforts.

establishment of a National Early Warning Program (Programme National d’Alerte Précoce, PNAP) and early Warning Flood System (Système d’Alerte Précoce Inondation, SAPI)

what?

• monitor and forecast floods, earthquakes, and landslides.

• this program aims to provide early warnings to the population and enhance local emergency operational processes.

positives

• if run effectively the system could give people the opportunity to take steps to protect their lives and property.

negatives

• there is not a stable and functional institutional framework for the SAPI, this lack of clarity may hinder the program’s overall efficiency.

• lack of involvement of local actors is making the schemes less effective, people need access to information and training so they can act at a community level.

Building life-safe buildings

What?

• implementing and enforcing stringent building codes to ensure structures are earthquake resistant and can withstand hurricanes.

positives

• enhance the resilience of infrastructure to natural hazards.

• protects lives and reduces the potential for widespread damage.

negatives

• different considerations are needed for earthquake-proof and hurricane-proof buildings.

• the availability of appropriate materials especially in the aftermath of events like extensive deforestation.

Collaboration with international partners

what?

• Haiti is collaborating with international organisations like the World Bank and the European Union to strengthen its resilience to natural hazards.

• data tracking and forecasting available via the US gov.

positives

• by adopting technological solutions and investing in human resources, the country is making significant strides in enhancing its (disaster risk management) DRM-specialised institutions, which are instrumental in disaster preparedness and response.

• tracking and forecasting allows prewarning so people can better prepare.

negatives

• however, as Haiti is an island, resilience on foreign aid is a risk as if the harbour or runway is destroyed, aid cannot be provided.

• not all the population have access to media/are literate - disseminating information very difficult.

• much of the population cannot ‘respond accordingly’ should they receive the information - evacuation centres are few and far between and structures are inadequately built to withstand winds.

Afforestation

reduces risk of mass movements

cheap and environmentally friendly

But - many rely on wood as an energy source

hard engineering on a slope (other possible solution)

e.g. pinning + netting

No

cost and quantity needed is prohibitive

better education (other possible solution)

difficult when illiteracy rates are so high.

spreading information difficult due to lack of media.

but

cheaper than many schemes.

‘bottom up’ approach could develop schemes that meaningfully impact the community.

but still have little ability to ‘react accordingly’