EARTHQUAKE
Above: Key populations affected by the August 14th earthquake
- Jerèmie — Major devastation, population 97,000, broken roads & bridges, difficult to access
- Camp-Perrin — Site of FBR/TPC bridge fabrication, bridge damaged but repairable
- Les Cayes — Major devastation, population 126,000
- L'Asile — Major devastation, remote town, population 40,000, closest to epicenter
- Miragoâne — Capital of Nippes Department, nearest population center to B-R
- Belle-Rivière — Less directly affected but connected to relations throughout the affected area
Critical Needs: Two Organizations that Can Help
Medical Assistance
Access to medical assistance has been particularly difficult in the aftermath of this disaster. International response has been slow in coming and difficult to deliver. Many hospitals, churches, schools, and public shelters, have been destroyed. Affected areas are remote. Roads are broken. Medical professionals are in short supply and overwhelmed. Medical supplies are exhausted or unavailable.
Health Equity International
Health Equity International (formerly the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation), oversees the operation of St. Boniface Hospital at Fond des Blancs which has been serving Southern Haiti for nearly 40 years. It typically serves over 3,000 patients per year including many from the B-R community which is less than an hour away. Following the 2010 earthquake the hospital established a long-term orthopedic rehabilitation facility to help patients with crushed limbs recover. St. Boniface Hospital is particularly well positioned to treat casualties from the most recent earthquake.
Rights-Based Aid
Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, IJDH
The earthquake of 2010 proved that Haiti suffered as much from the absence of a foundation of law & justice as from the natural disaster. Throughout its history, Haiti has been vulnerable to international predators. Now, following the assassination of President Moise in July, it is particularly vulnerable to outside manipulation. Since 2004 the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti has been training attorneys and laying foundations for a Justice system as well as defending Haitian rights in international courts. These are essential steps for genuine, long-term recovery.
Here is their argument for a "rights-based" approach to aid delivery:
Human Rights Organizations Respond to Devastating Earthquake in Haiti
Here is their argument for a "rights-based" approach to aid delivery:
Human Rights Organizations Respond to Devastating Earthquake in Haiti
At Belle-Rivière
Although many homes were damaged, particularly those of traditional thatched-roof & tuff construction, residents are not asking for outside assistance at this time. Rather they are focused on helping others by offering refuge to friends and relatives from more affected areas. Days after the quake they shared a pick-up load of supplies with friends in the town of L'Asile which is very close to the epicenter of the earthquake.
Later, tropical storm Grace drenched B-R with heavy rains flooding the river and blocking the road for two days. The long-awaited footbridge intended for that river crossing was at Camp-Perrin, near Les Cayes. The trial assembly was nearly complete. It was damaged but can be repaired.
Before and after pictures below.
Later, tropical storm Grace drenched B-R with heavy rains flooding the river and blocking the road for two days. The long-awaited footbridge intended for that river crossing was at Camp-Perrin, near Les Cayes. The trial assembly was nearly complete. It was damaged but can be repaired.
Before and after pictures below.
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Updates on Damages
Photo Report — The Atlantic
We Need Help — Aljezerra
Neocolonialism — Vox
Churches Destroyed — New York Times
Lessons from the Past
Two Articles by Jacqueline Charles of The Miami Herald written in January of 2020 illustrate what to expect in the wake of this disaster without long-term assistance from the international community.
