HAITI EARTHQUAKE
Crisis Management
Master in Global Health Group Assignment by
Tuula Marshalls, Christine Ohanga, Stanley Samoei, Lydia Osebe, Prakash Khanal
Haiti is a country underlying vulnerabilities like systemic poverty, fragile governance and insecurity.
The earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, measured 7.0 magnitudes on Richter’s Scale. The
earthquake struck near the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Haiti’s infrastructure was demolished by
most important government buildings, hospitals and roads. The crisis resulted from 230,000 up to
316,000 people dead, above 300,000 people injured and 1.5 million people internally displaced.
Haiti earthquake was one of the largest humanitarian efforts ever carried out by the international
community involving many governments, aid agencies, humanitarian organizations and individuals
from all over the world. More than 4 million affected people received food, 1.5 million received
emergency shelters, 2.1 million received household basics and more than a million people received
cash or other inputs for work.
BACKGROUND OF THE COUNTRY:
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The Hispaniola Island lies in the Caribbean oceanic tectonic Plate and experiences regular
seismic activity and hurricanes (Fragala Smith, 2010).
The Republic of Haiti mainly mountainous deforested area. Exploitation of nature as charcoal
burn, soil erosion and unsustainable water supply. Lack of sufficient disaster early warning
increases the vulnerability. (UN, 2004.)
Only 20% of arable land -> agriculture heavily concentrated to coastal plains and valleys.
High population growth -> approaching 10 million (UNDP, 2013) -> the most densely nation
in Western Hemisphere -> concentrated in urban areas, coastal plains and valleys.
Demographic feature is young age structure (Daumerie & Hardee, 2010).
Poor governance throughout history -> wrecked economy up to date -> public unrest,
corruption, gang violence and organized rebel activity (Fragala Smith, 2010; Daumerie &
Hardee, 2010). Insufficient infrastructure and public services.
Since 1971 among the Least Developed Countries (UN, 2014) -> the poorest country in the
Western Hemisphere.
Extreme unemployment.
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INTRA-CRISIS RELIEF RESPONCE
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A large scale, international relief operation launched soon after the quake hit -> supply, search
and rescue efforts from governments, world partner countries and individuals around the globe
(UN, 2011).
Priority on search and rescue, treatment and survival (food, clean water, sanitation and
medical assistance), relocation (emergency shelter) and rehabilitation, early recovery and
long-term reconstruction (infrastructure and logistics operations).
Relief challenges by damaged roads, communication systems, lack of transportation
infrastructure, bureaucratic problems, lack of access and concerns of security, potential
looting and violence.
POST-CRISIS SITUATION
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Delayed treatment, inconsistent wound care and rehabilitation for trauma victims and
amputees -> infections, disabilities and complications such as gangrene and sepsis.
Rapidly increased Complex injuries (as amputations and spinal cord injury) -> lack of
rehabilitation services (Michel et al., 2010).
Increment of respiratory illnesses based on dust and smoke in the air.
Densely populated zones and tent settlements with limited sanitary infrastructure and access
to potable water -> cholera epidemic and rapidly growing exacerbating medical problems
especially for children (WHO, 2011; David et al. 2011).
Diarrhea and suspected malaria (WHO, 2010).
Low supply of drugs for chronic health problems (antibiotics, BP and diabetes medications)
(Dominique et al. 2010) and interrupted treatment for tuberculosis or HIV treatments.
Human trafficking and sex trafficking of children (Grupta et al., 2010).
Gender-based violence (Sontag, 2010; WHO, 2010).
Emotional and psychological trauma attention (Kuriansky, 2010).
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REFERENCES
Daumerie, Beatrice & Hardee, Caren. 2010. The effects of a very young age structure on Haiti. Country case study. The
shape of things to come series.
Dominique Bayard, 2010. Haiti Earthquake Relief, Phase Two — Long-Term Needs and Local Resources. Engl. J
Med 2010; 362:1858-1861May 20, 2010DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1003839
Fragala Smith, Karen. 2010. Reasons Behind of Haiti`s Poverty. Newsweek 16.1.2010
http://www.newsweek.com/reasons-behind-haitis-poverty-70801 (accessed 19.1.2015)
Gupta, Jhumka & Agrawal, Alpna, 2010. Chronic aftershocks of an earthquake on the well-being of children in
Haiti: Violence, psychosocial health and slavery.
Michel D. L, Colleen O., Gaetan T & Anthony B. 2010: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2Team Canada Healing Hands, Fredrisson, New
Sontag D. 2010. Rural Haiti struggles to absorb displaced. New York Times .Mar. 16; Sect. A4
United Nations, UN. 2011. Report of the United Nations in Haiti 2010: situation, challenges and outlook. United
Nations.
UNDP 2013. Human Development Report, 2013. Haiti. http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/CountryProfiles/HTI.pdf (accessed 19.1.2015)
United Nations 2014, List of Least Developed Countries.
www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/cdp/ldc/ldc_list.pdf (accessed 19.1.2015)
World Health Organization, 2010. Public health risk assessment and interventions. Earthquake: Haiti. Geneva,
Switzerland: World Health Organization. Available at http://
www.who.int/diseasecontrol_emergencies/publications/
WHO 2012, Haiti. Neonatal and Child Health Profile.
http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/epidemiology/profiles/neonatal_child/hti.pdf (accessed 19.1.2015)
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