The IRC in Haiti
Photo: Melissa Winkler/IRC
When the devastating earthquake struck Haiti on Jan.12, 2010, the International Rescue Committee sent a team to Haiti that provided clean water, sanitation and health care to survivors, and addressed the special needs of women and girls. Two years later, the IRC continues to work in camps and neighborhoods that lack basic services, assisting Haitians who are struggling to get by as their country slowly recovers and rebuilds.
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Inside our work in Haiti
The IRC launched its efforts in Haiti immediately after the January 12, 2010 earthquake and continues to address environmental heath, family reunification and protection issues as the country recovers and rebuilds.
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How We Help
- The IRC is continuing to work to reunite separated children with family members. So far we have reunited nearly 800 families.
- We provide “child-friendly spaces” as a refuge to children in crowded camps.
- To prevent the spread of cholera and other diseases, we are providing clean water, building and repairing latrines and washing facilities, promoting good hygiene practices, and managing waste.
- The IRC is working to prevent sexual violence against women and to protect and support survivors.
- We are mentoring adolescent girls, keeping them safe from sexual exploitation and offering new opportunities through such programs as financial literacy and skills training.
Snapshot: How the IRC put your donations to work in Haiti in 2011
In Haiti, where violence against women has increased dramatically since the January 2010 earthquake, the IRC gives teenage girls safe places to go to talk with their peers and explore their feelings with trained counselors.
THE Haiti EARTHQUAKE
On January 12, 2010 a powerful earthquake hit Haiti, killing more than 200,000 people and destroying much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other cities and towns. Some 1.5 million people lost their homes in the disaster and moved into crowded camps and settlements.
The quake separated tens of thousands of families. Many children became orphans.
Prior to the disaster, Haiti was already in crisis: Most Haitians had no jobs and lacked basic services, like medical care, clean water or sanitation. Many children were out of school and tens of thousands lived in orphanages, whether or not they had parents. The use of domestic child labor was common.
The earthquake made an existing humanitarian crisis worse.
Two Years Later
Nearly two years after the earthquake, international and local aid organizations continue to work with the Haitian government to help Haiti recover and rebuild, but progress has been very slow.
There are many challenges, especially with finding permanent shelter for hundreds of thousands of people whose homes were destroyed. The quake left many houses beyond repair. Many people who owned homes or rental property can’t afford to rebuild or make repairs as they have no income.
Before the quake, most people in Haiti rented their homes — today, there’s little left to rent and they can’t afford what’s available. Government efforts to build new homes outside of cities have moved at a snail’s pace. And many city residents refuse to move to the countryside where there are few jobs. So they stay where they are.
More than 500,000 people remain in camps and settlements and their future is uncertain. Conditions in the camps are getting worse because funding for vital services like water, sanitation and protection are diminishing.
People in the camps are increasingly vulnerable and must not be forgotten as critical efforts continue to build new housing and resettle people elsewhere.
Research
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Selected Web Resources
In The Media
January 12, 2012 | Le Monde
December 19, 2011 | Ecuavisa
December 16, 2011 | CG Latin Magazine
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