There has been significant impacts to Haiti’s environment, that both rely on the well-being and livelihood of the society and also to the countries overall economy and economic growth. The Haitian government is already unstable and the lack of funding and cooperation is leading Haiti to a worse off situation than the day before the earthquake. Damages and losses are estimated at $8 billion USD (United States dollar) money to which is phenomenal in relation to how poor Haiti is. According to the Action Plan for National Recovery and development of Haiti recognize that the capital city accounts for more than 65percent of the country’s economic activity and 85 percent of Haiti’s tax revenue. All these major factors have dramatically contributed to the overall effect of the earthquake on Haiti as a whole.
Infrastructure/ shelter
The 7.0M earthquake which hit Haiti destroyed over 250,000 buildings, many people were forced to squat with there families on unsafe and unprotected hilltops as a result of losing their home. Make- shift homes from wooden poles and bed sheets are what most people are living in. Around 1,300 camps exist as a result of the earthquake that accommodates hundreds of thousands of people who were left homeless. According to the United Nations environment programme the major impact and issue in the area due to the earthquake is the extent of the vast amounts of rubble and debris remaining. In Port-au-Prince and other surrounding areas, an estimated 40-50 percent of the buildings fell as a result of the earthquake killing many civilians. There are still civilians dead and trapped under the debris, causing extreme risks to water and waste management in many areas of Haiti. Due to the disruption of the capital city Haiti lacks decentralisation, leaving the country in a vulnerable way.
Water
There are many threats to the water quality and the abundance of it, due to lack of sanitation and the correct waste management were water has either become to contaminated and unsafe to drink or limited due to efficiency of donated aid reaching areas quick enough to those who need it the most. The lack of waste management has enabled water to be a vector for diseases, and in recent cases this has caused outbreaks of cholera. Water.org explain that in a disaster such as the earthquake in Haiti an earthquake can cause underground water and sanitation pipelines and concrete water storage tanks to be highly susceptible to damage by the earthquake and will likely need to be repaired or replaced. The earthquake caused this system to fail, and the progress of repairing and replacing this system is slow if not non-existent. Access to safe water and sanitation services are among one of the major impacts to Haiti.
Woodland
A lot of the woodland previous to the quake had already been subjected to the vast amounts of deforestation, and now the rest of which remains is used for the reconstruction of temporary shelter or sold to get money for the local people in the form of products like charcoal. There has been a 100% price increase due to the dramatic impacts of the earthquake on the Haitian economy and well-being. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) suggests that environmental issues such as extensive deforestation and soil erosion, can be adverse effects as a result of the earthquake
Agriculture
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) states that the largely destroyed rural environment could not fully feed its population or provide adequate livelihoods. There has been significant loses in rural areas to the west of Port au Prince extending beyond Jacmel and Petit Goave to the west. Indirect earthquake impacts are also emerging in areas such as Les Cayes and Gonaives, which are hosting disaster survivors displaced from Port au Prince. An estimated 598,000 individuals have been forced to move from urban areas such as the port-du-prince area as a result of lack of shelter, food, water and several other basis human needs.
Coast/ fisheries
There has been coastal zone degradation around the Haiti region, many of which have been further exacerbated by the recent earthquake. Many fisheries have felt the earthquakes impacts significantly, although previous to the earthquake, overfishing was seen throughout Haiti, the earthquake has just escalated the effects.
Reconstruction efforts and future strategies
There have been many efforts made internationally to help reconstruct Haiti, with substantial donations and vast amounts of volunteers who have attempted to help Haiti in the recovery state and also long term. The World Bank has played a significant role in the recovery and reconstruction of Haiti, the World Bank have already donated US$479 million to target and address areas that had been dramatically impacted by the earthquake. Work for cash is a programme that has been set up to employ Haitian people who had lost there jobs due to the earthquake. The work for cash programme allows the Haitian community to clear away rubble from sidewalks and roads, improving there living standards but also providing money for basic needs and has been a great success.
Camp co-ordination and camp management (CCCM) according to the United Nations (UN), have ‘coordinated provision of camp management to over 60% of the displaced population. It has led the registration and monitoring of the displaced population and provided expert training to 400 people from over 80 organizations in camp management skills. CCCM has also established the Displacement Tracking Matrix, which provides a birds-eye-view of the situation in 95% of camps in order to assess levels of service and raise awareness about difficulties.’
In relation to water supply there are short term responses that typically include bottled water and the use of high volume purification equipment. Although this can be expensive, it can be quickly deployed as a short-term solution. There have been many relief agencies who have been involved in these types of efforts, in the hope that it brings Haiti clearer and safer water. The responses of organisations all over the world have been significant. Water.org is one of the leading organisations who has been involved in the rehabilitation and expansion of sustainable water and sanitation infrastructure in the region of Haiti. Water.org has previous to the earthquake helped Haiti through the use of several programmes. Water.org was already coordinating with the Clinton Global Initiative, the United Nations, and other agencies to provide Haiti with clearer and safer water to the Haitian society. Water.org aims to increase the level of access to sustainable, safe water and sanitation. Also to decrease the prevalence of water and sanitation related diseases. And lastly to promote integrated water resource management, increase awareness of good hygiene, and finally to be able to measure the demand of water supply and sanitation on a community level.
Much of Haiti’s educational system was greatly affected by the catastrophic impacts of the earthquake. There have been many efforts of reconstruction to which thousands of children now attend private schools across Port-Au-Prince, and receive hot meals each day. Efforts within the educational sector are thanks to the World Bank support programme who donated a significant sum of money for the wellbeing of the children. The programme intends to extend this to more children in the coming months with new improved grants. The programme also helps train those who are willing to teach at a cost of noting. Education overall within this society can be a key of development. Resilience and enthusiasm are the primary keys to improving a country like Haiti.
FACTS/STATISTICS
Affected schools: 4,992: 23% of all
schools in Haiti
Total number of learners affected:
1,093,415
Total number of learners deceased:
38,000
Total number of teachers affected:
55,793
Total numbers of education personnel
deceased: 1,527
Percentage of primary schools reopened
(according to school inspectors):
Port au Prince: 80%, Leogane: 72%,
Petit et Grand Goave: 100%, Jacmel:
100%
Table 1: A table showing the impact on education in Haiti
The U.S. response to the disaster includes providing 20,000 civilian and military personnel who supported key early efforts such as the largest urban food distribution in history to 3.5 million people; emergency shelter distribution to 1.5 million people; and a vaccination campaign for more than 1 million people. Many organisations just like the above that were stated have donated a tremendous amount of money to which will target many areas around Haiti that felt the impacts of the earthquake.
Overall the efforts made to reconstruct Haiti have been crucial but progressive, although many organisations are collaborating and working for a better future for Haiti. Strategies should be correctly targeted and implemented in the success that Haiti will once again in the future be better facilitated and supported in any way possible in the future.
Suggestions for the future/ key strategies
- Access to water and sanitation services
- For the Government of Haiti to create co-ordination and to maintain a strong economy and society.
- Education for children, one of the key objectives for development
References
BBC news, 2010. Haiti's history of misery. [Online] Available at: <> [Accessed 28 March 2011].
United Nations, 2011. Haiti, 6 months later [Online} Available at: <> [Accessed 30 March 2011].
Overview: A year progress and challenges. 2011 [Video] Haiti: World Bank
World Bank, 2011. Country Brief. [Online] Available at: <> [Accessed 28 March 2011].
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2010. Haiti [Online] Available from:
<> [Accessed 29 March 2011].
USAID HAITI, 2010. WHAT HAPPENED? [Online] Available at :< > [Accessed 30 March 2011].
Water.org, 2011. Haiti Earthquake. [Online] Available from: <> [Accessed 30 March 2011]
Water.org, 2011. Haiti. [Online] Available at :< > [Accesses 30 March 2011].
The World Fact book 2009. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2009. [Online] Available at: <> [Accessed 29 March].
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CGAP, 2010. Haiti Earthquake: How microfinance is helping. [Online] Available from:
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CIA world fact book
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United Nations, 2011. Haiti, 6 months later [Online} Available at: <> [Accessed 30 March 2011].