A Year After the Earthquake

One year ago a massive earthquake struck the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The devastation was unimaginable and the loss of life tragic. Today, across the world, we memorialize the more than 240,000 people who died that terrible day.

The effects of the earthquake are profound. The Haitian earthquake, unlike the tsunami, devastated the country’s government, killing 17 percent of its work force and destroying all but one ministry building, along with its phones, vehicles, computers and other infrastructure. Haiti must deal with all this destruction as well as the pressing issues it faced before the earthquake.

Port-au-Prince lies in ruins, a million people remain homeless, and Haitians still bear the scars and trauma of a horrible disaster.  While the international community responded with substantial humanitarian aid, significant work still needs to be done.

• Remove the Rubble: More than 50% of the original 19 million cubic meters of rubble remains uncleared. President Clinton called the situation “totally unacceptable.”
• Provide Safe and Secure Shelter: One million Haitians are internally displaced. More than 1,000 camps dot the country, potential incubators for cholera, sexual violence and the spread of HIV.
• Provide Clean Water and Sanitation: 40% percent of camps lack access to water. 30% do not have toilets. Water-borne cholera has claimed more than 3,000 lives.
• Provide Jobs: Post-quake, unemployment quadrupled in areas of Port-au-Prince and its outskirts. The estimated Haiti unemployment rate is 80 percent.

The Clinton Foundation  is leading collaborative efforts to help Haiti rebuild. In the months after the earthquake, President Clinton helped deliver more than $18.5 million in emergency relief and nearly $8.4 million in immediate grants to Haiti. In June 2010, he and philanthropists Frank Giustra and Carlos Slim announced a $20 million fund to help grow small and medium-sized enterprises that play an important role in building a modern, self-sustainable economy. At the 2010 meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, members made commitments valued at $224 million. The Clinton Foundation continues to respond to critical needs, including building emergency shelters, assisting people living in camps, responding to the recent outbreak of cholera, and helping Haitian artisans access new markets for their crafts.  Months and years of work remain to help the people of Haiti build a country they want to become instead of the country they used to be.   For more information click here