The disastrous earthquake that occurred across the island country in 2010 left more than 300 000 people dead, with a further 300 000 injured and over a million people left homeless. Since that time massive aid efforts from international governments and non-profit organizations have been instituted, but there is still a long way to go before Haiti reconstruction will be complete.
Although the epicenter of the quake was in a small town with few residents, the main effects were felt in the densely populated capital city. As well as leaving more than half a million people dead or injured, the quake also destroyed the infrastructure of the city.
As an immediate response to the tragedy, dozens of international governments pledged their support to help the island recovery, sending volunteers and aid packages to the stricken country. As the initial pressing needs of the Haitians were dealt with, so the focus moved to rebuilding the country infrastructure.
A United Nations special envoy was deployed by the United States shortly after the incident to assess the main areas of need in the country and coordinate fund raising for the recovery of the island. The initial priorities were found to be clearing the roads, clearing dead bodies from the streets and re-establishing an effective government structure.
Despite these aims, however, the country remained a mess more than 6 months after the incident, with the vast majority of the rubble yet to be cleared. The widespread devastation and obstruction made the city difficult to navigate, and hundreds of thousands of people remained homeless.
Still today, more than 2 years after the tragedy, the island has not come close to recovering. More than 500 000 Haitians are still homeless, living in tents or under tarpaulins, and less than half of the money pledged by the US has actually been delivered for recovery. Every citizen can still make a difference by offering a donation or even just their time to assist in haiti Reconstruction, to help the people affected by this natural disaster to recover.
Although the epicenter of the quake was in a small town with few residents, the main effects were felt in the densely populated capital city. As well as leaving more than half a million people dead or injured, the quake also destroyed the infrastructure of the city.
As an immediate response to the tragedy, dozens of international governments pledged their support to help the island recovery, sending volunteers and aid packages to the stricken country. As the initial pressing needs of the Haitians were dealt with, so the focus moved to rebuilding the country infrastructure.
A United Nations special envoy was deployed by the United States shortly after the incident to assess the main areas of need in the country and coordinate fund raising for the recovery of the island. The initial priorities were found to be clearing the roads, clearing dead bodies from the streets and re-establishing an effective government structure.
Despite these aims, however, the country remained a mess more than 6 months after the incident, with the vast majority of the rubble yet to be cleared. The widespread devastation and obstruction made the city difficult to navigate, and hundreds of thousands of people remained homeless.
Still today, more than 2 years after the tragedy, the island has not come close to recovering. More than 500 000 Haitians are still homeless, living in tents or under tarpaulins, and less than half of the money pledged by the US has actually been delivered for recovery. Every citizen can still make a difference by offering a donation or even just their time to assist in haiti Reconstruction, to help the people affected by this natural disaster to recover.
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