Slow, unequal restoration: a decade to the earthquake that destroyed Haiti

Photo: AP

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Hundreds of thousands perished in the powerful noise that flooded the island on January 12, 2010. Despite billions of dollars in assistance, many buildings have not yet been rebuilt, including government symbols. "Haiti has no mother or father"

Reuters

After a decade and billions of dollars in aid, Haiti is still rebuilding itself after one of the deadliest earthquakes in history. Rehabilitation is slow and unequal. In the noise, which was 7 in force, tens of thousands of people were killed and many remain homeless, flattening most of the buildings in the capital at Port-au-Prince.

"Haiti has no mother or father," said Jean Baron Wilga near the remains of the National Palace, the former residence of the president. "Because ten years after the earthquake, the palace should no longer be destroyed." The palace and other iconic buildings, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, were not rebuilt and many residents still live in temporary housing.

The ruins of the cathedral, described by Father G. Crispin as a "temporary cathedral," can accommodate 1,500 people. "We are saying temporarily because we plan to rebuild the previous one, but it requires a lot of money," Crispin said.

The actual number of victims is still unknown, and estimates range from less than 100,000 to 316,000, which is the official figure of the government.

One of the deadliest in history. Mass grave of earthquake killers on the outskirts of the capital, 2011 (Photo: Reuters)

Mass grave of earthquake killers on the outskirts of Haiti's capital, January 11, 2011 (Photo: Reuters)

After the earthquake, more than 12,000 relief organizations launched one of the largest humanitarian operations ever. However, since then, their efforts have been strongly criticized, with UN observers also accidentally causing a cholera epidemic that resulted in the deaths of 9,300 people, with another 800,000 more infected. Other aid workers have been prosecuted for sexual exploitation of women and children.

In a country where nearly 60% of the population lives on less than $ 2.4 a day, the restoration of Haiti University Hospital, the main public hospital in the capital, is one of the more advanced projects. Outside the still-functioning hospital building, building materials were piled up.

The state is still rebuilding itself. Children playing in the earthquake-ravaged neighborhood this month (Photo: AP)

Children play soccer in the neighborhood for residents whose house was destroyed in the earthquake a decade ago, January 7, 2020 (Photo: AP)

Jean Rodney, whose son is being treated at the hospital, said he appreciated the efforts of the medical staff, whose resources are limited. Like many in the country, he has high hopes for the new medical center.

"We all need it, it's been too long," he said. "They should have ended a long time ago, but we know it's because of the political problems in the country."

Haitian President Joyce Moyes, who has faced violent protests against his rule in recent months, has called on the international community to support the fight against the ongoing humanitarian crisis. More than a third of the country's 3.7 million citizens need urgent assistance to meet their daily food needs.

Icon buildings have not yet been rebuilt. Cathedral in Haiti's capital destroyed in earthquake, 2010 (Photo: Reuters)

Cathedral in Haiti's capital destroyed by earthquake, January 23, 2010 (Photo: Reuters)