Haiti reveals its many faces of recovery following earthquake

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake devasted the south-west of the Caribbean island, an area which was already struggling with a humanitarian crisis and long-term underdevelopment. More than 2,200 lives were lost and over 12,700 other people were injured in the most recent natural catastrophe to hit the region.

Over one hundred thousand houses were destroyed or left inhabitable; farmers lost food stocks and seeds and in some cases their land was ruined by landslides; and expectant mothers were forced to give birth in make-shift shelters.

Despite the challenges the communities in the earthquake zone have faced, they are beginning to reclaim the life they once led. They’re being supported by the Government of Haiti, as well as the United Nations and its partners, as the region looks to a period of reconstruction and recovery.

Their stories and those of the people who have supported their recovery are being highlighted in a UN campaign called Faces of Recovery.

The seeds of recovery

Farming communities in Grand’Anse department were impacted heavily by the earthquake and Souveraine Corney, a member of a women’s cooperative says the planting season was disrupted, but she remains positive: “The houses of some members were destroyed, and we stopped working for a short while, but since the rains have come, we are planting again with the support of FAO. Climate change, earthquakes and cyclones make cultivation harder, but we won’t be discouraged.”

 New lives

The UNFPA and UNICEF-supported community hospital in L’Asile in the department of Nippes was badly damaged by the earthquake and Eluderne Dénius, a senior nurse was involved in the immediate emergency rescue effort. Since then, she has worked to ensure that women can continue to give birth in a safe environment in a temporary structure on the grounds of the hospital.

A recipe for education

As a headteacher of a school in Grand’Anse department, Franesie Sylvestre says her priority is to make sure children, including those affected by the quake receive WFP-supported school meals: “The big impact has been on the parents of these students who can no longer cultivate food, so cannot feed their children properly. That’s why this school feeding programme is so important.”  

Healthy systems

Eveline Dominique Chery works as a health and nutrition officer for UNICEF in Sud department and when the earthquake struck, she helped to evacuate some of the most badly injured people. The work that has followed has been equally important: “After two months of planning and work we can say that the health system is now more resilient.”

Citizens’ role

The contribution of Sadrac Saint Fleur, a disaster risk reduction specialist with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), towards healing his community began after Haiti’s last devastating earthquake in 2010 when he began setting up nationwide seismic survey stations. “Today, volunteers who I call “seismic citizens” help to monitor seismic activity so we can better predict where and when an earthquake may occur, which can help to prevent potential disasters. The contribution of local people is a very important part of this process.” Read more stories here.