Haiti

Question 1

Richter Scale

Answer 1

7.0

Question 2

Epicentre

Answer 2

20km from Port au Prince

Question 3

Focus

Answer 3

very shallow, only 13km

Question 4

Vulnerability

Answer 4

High population density in Port Au Prince 2million
Unstable soil built on, liquefaction
Port area suffered from lateral spreading+ land falling into sea
Poorest country in western hemisphere
38% of population under 14

Question 5

Individual Responses

Answer 5

people tried to recover their belongings

Question 6

Actual aid effort

Answer 6

almost non-existent from within Haïti as its institutions had been destroyed or did not have the resources to cope

Question 7

Foreign Aid

Answer 7

was slowed down by the lack of transport infrastructure and a lack of coordination.

Question 8

Satellite Imagery

Answer 8

was used in London to guide relief efforts on the ground in Haïti.

Question 9

Social Impacts

Answer 9

316,000 died
Over 1 million people were made homeless
Large parts of this impoverished nation where damage, most importantly the capital Port Au Prince, where shanty towns and even the presidential palace were destroyed.
3 million people in total were affected.
Few of the Buildings in Haïti were built with earthquakes in mind, contributing to their collapse

Question 10

Economic Impacts

Answer 10

250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged.
The port, other major roads and communications link needed replacing.
The clothing industry, which accounts for two-thirds of Haïti’s exports, reported structural damage at manufacturing facilities.
1 in 5 jobs were lost as a result of the quake
Rubble from collapsed buildings blocked roads and rail links.

Question 11

Environmental Impacts

Answer 11

The port was destroyed
Sea levels in local areas changed, with some parts of the land sinking below the sea
The roads were littered with cracks and fault lines

Question 12

Long Term NGO responses

Answer 12

$1.1 billion had been collected for Haïti for relief efforts, but only two percent of the money had been released

Question 13

Long Term International Responses

Answer 13

EU gave $330mn + World Bank waived the countries debt repayments for 5 years.
The Senegalese offered land in Senegal to any Haïtians who wanted it!
6 months after the quake, 98% of the rubble remained uncleared; some still blocking vital access roads.
The Dominican Republic which neighbours Haïti offered support and accepted some refugees.
USA took charge of trying to coordinate Aid distribution.