Case Study Haiti Earthquake Flashcards
Where?
Port au Prince, capital of Haiti
Date?
12th January 2010 (16:53)
Richter Scale?
7.0
Aftershocks and scale?
52 aftershocks measuring > 4.5
Other background info?
Quite shallow, epicentre near capital
Causes?
Conservative plate boundary between Caribbean and North American plate, sudden movement 13km below and shock waves radiate out of epicentre at Leogane, 17km west of capital
Deaths?
230,000 killed
Secondary: homelessness?
1 million homeless no most still living in temporary camps with no running water, electricity or sewage disposal
Primary: people killed?
Many killed including government officials and public figures so lack of leadership and also people killed by poor construction of buildings
Primary: buildings?
250,000 residences collapsed/damaged: inc. presidential palace, very poorly constructed and not earthquake proof
Secondary: aftershocks?
52 aftershocks > 4.5 caused buildings weakened by earthquake to collapse
Primary: infrastructure?
30,000 commercial buildings collapsed/damaged also the port, airport and so economic activity grounded to a halt in both capital and country
Primary: stealing?
Looting reported due to slow distribution of resources, made worse by break down of government and lack of authority
Primary: street environment?
Bodies on street and within days city’s morgue facilities overwhelmed and bodies stacking up in streets in equatorial heat begin to smell and decompose
Secondary: economic development?
Growth in recent years undone, GDP growth rate of -8% in 2010 which was second to bottom in world ranking
Secondary: cost of damage?
Around $10 billion which was more than country’s GDP in 2009 and other countries had to pay large amounts of it and therefor affecting their economy as well as the Haitian economy
Secondary: diseases?
Cholera outbreak in October 2010 due to lack of sanitation, people forced to drink infected local river water, and this spread rapidly through crowded temporary camps
Secondary: environmental?
6 months after quake 98% of rubble remained unmoved due to poorly coordinated government response
Immediate response: international aid?
Huge and rapid global response with £20 million from the UK, money, aid worker, food and medical supplies sent, hover damage to government and transport network slowed arrival or aid workers and distribution of aid
Immediate response: government control?
Government paralysed by destruction of presidential palace and loss of personnel and documents, aid not being distributed and US steps in to run country
Long-term response: aid?
Aid decreases as some donors not following through on pledges and inflow of aid has slowed down due to other priorities such as Pakistan flood appeal
Long-term response: government?
Remains ineffective: government claimed unable to focus on clearing rubble and rehousing refugees because had other priorities to minimise effect of summer hurricane season (100,000 still homeless in 2015)
Sustainability: response?
Response was unsustainable though difficult to judge long-term as it was quite recent.
Sustainable: people, economy and environment now?
No changes to ensure it can cope on its own once inflow of foreign aid and support stops, leaving people, environment and economy unprotected
Sustainable: people, economy, environment in future?
No political changes or changes to building regulations to ensure this
Response: projects?
MCC project gives money for schools in rural areas, built houses my provides clean piped water and supports farmers
Response: donations other than money?
People donate seeds to grow crops
