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Cause of Earthquake
The Haitian earthquake was caused by a vibration of the earth’s tectonic plates. Haiti sits on the fault line between the Caribbean and North American plates. The Caribbean plate constantly moves west, and the North American plate constantly moves east. These plates usually move about two centimeters a year, but these plates slipped over four meters on January 12th 2010, the day of the devastating earthquake. When the two fault lines slipped past each other, it caused pressure that had been building for centuries to collapse. The earthquake was 6.2 miles beneath the surface, which is extremely shallow for an earthquake. The Haiti earthquake was the seventh deadliest earthquake ever recorded.
The Haitian earthquake was caused by a vibration of the earth’s tectonic plates. Haiti sits on the fault line between the Caribbean and North American plates. The Caribbean plate constantly moves west, and the North American plate constantly moves east. These plates usually move about two centimeters a year, but these plates slipped over four meters on January 12th 2010, the day of the devastating earthquake. When the two fault lines slipped past each other, it caused pressure that had been building for centuries to collapse. The earthquake was 6.2 miles beneath the surface, which is extremely shallow for an earthquake. The Haiti earthquake was the seventh deadliest earthquake ever recorded.
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Short Term Effects
The structural damage that affected the country was immediately present after the earthquake. Thousands were left dead and even more were left injured by the mass destruction from the quake. Many of the survivors were left homeless, forced to sleep in streets, on sidewalks, in cars, or in crude towns. Haiti soon began to move homeless people out of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, to temporary camps in the Dominican Republic. On January 14, the Haitian government estimated over 150,000 casualties. Later, on February 10, the Haitian government increased the number to 230,000 casualties. In the instant aftermath of the earthquake, the country had to brace for a series of over 50 aftershocks, each with a magnitude of over 3.5. Rescue efforts began immediately with survivors searching through rubble for loved ones.
The structural damage that affected the country was immediately present after the earthquake. Thousands were left dead and even more were left injured by the mass destruction from the quake. Many of the survivors were left homeless, forced to sleep in streets, on sidewalks, in cars, or in crude towns. Haiti soon began to move homeless people out of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, to temporary camps in the Dominican Republic. On January 14, the Haitian government estimated over 150,000 casualties. Later, on February 10, the Haitian government increased the number to 230,000 casualties. In the instant aftermath of the earthquake, the country had to brace for a series of over 50 aftershocks, each with a magnitude of over 3.5. Rescue efforts began immediately with survivors searching through rubble for loved ones.
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Transportation, medical facilities, and communication systems were unable to cope with the influx of people in need. By January 14th, morgue facilities were overwhelmed and exhausted of resources. Over a thousand bodies rotted in the sun, while government crews attempted to collect them to be buried in mass graves or above-ground tombs, or even burned.
Immediately, health became an issue as two of the three hospitals in Port-au-Prince collapsed from the first earthquake. With the collapsed hospitals, most medical staff killed or injured, and medicine and pain killers in low supply, the remaining hospital resources were soon exhausted. “We are seeing the difficulties that arise when disaster strikes an already disastrous public health situation,” said Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Water was instantly contaminated. Malnutrition became a major immediate concern due to difficulties of getting emergency food and supplies to people and children, because of the crippled transportation systems and the roadways filled with debris.
Immediately, health became an issue as two of the three hospitals in Port-au-Prince collapsed from the first earthquake. With the collapsed hospitals, most medical staff killed or injured, and medicine and pain killers in low supply, the remaining hospital resources were soon exhausted. “We are seeing the difficulties that arise when disaster strikes an already disastrous public health situation,” said Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Water was instantly contaminated. Malnutrition became a major immediate concern due to difficulties of getting emergency food and supplies to people and children, because of the crippled transportation systems and the roadways filled with debris.
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Long Term Effects
Haiti suffered greatly in the aftermath of the natural disaster. Many buildings were destroyed, including: the National Palace, the Palace of Justice, the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, and the Port-au-Prince Cathedral. Over 1,300 schools and 30 health care facilities were ruined. The destroyed city caused the Haitian government to set up a makeshift base outside the city as they attempted to restore order. Plans to rebuild Haiti have been crafted, but no reconstruction or attempts at reconstruction have taken place since the earthquake and do not appear to be happening in the immediate future.
Haiti suffered greatly in the aftermath of the natural disaster. Many buildings were destroyed, including: the National Palace, the Palace of Justice, the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, and the Port-au-Prince Cathedral. Over 1,300 schools and 30 health care facilities were ruined. The destroyed city caused the Haitian government to set up a makeshift base outside the city as they attempted to restore order. Plans to rebuild Haiti have been crafted, but no reconstruction or attempts at reconstruction have taken place since the earthquake and do not appear to be happening in the immediate future.
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Many major health issues arose, including the return of cholera, which had not been seen in Haiti in over a hundred years. It was confirmed on October 21, 2010, over ten months after the earthquake, and left more than 600,000 ill and 7,500 dead by 2012. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy doubled the number of patients infected with cholera from 20 to 40 everyday. Cholera is an infection of the small intestine, and is caused either by water contaminated by feces or certain environments in the Gulf of Mexico that hold the bacteria. The disease leads to rapid loss of bodily fluids and dehydration, leading to shock and eventual death. Medical centers in rural areas are most often closed, causing people to have to travel long distances to an urban medical center, which often cannot be reached in time.
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Government and Worldwide Response
In the days following the tragic event, the US military and the UN disaster relief arrived. The US military arrived with the basics for human survival, such as food and water for the hundreds of thousands that became homeless from the quake. After the first shipments of food and water were made, tents were shipped to create makeshift shelters. With the tents, the UN and other countries helped make tent cities. Even though the tent cities were dirty and packed with many people to one tent, it was the best effort that could be made at the time. The people that survived in Port-au-Prince would be considered the lucky ones, despite the current events. The reason for this is because the main focus on the relief efforts was in the capital, where most of the population was located. Other big cities were helped at the same time as Port-au-Prince and the outside small towns and communities were treated last.
In the days following the tragic event, the US military and the UN disaster relief arrived. The US military arrived with the basics for human survival, such as food and water for the hundreds of thousands that became homeless from the quake. After the first shipments of food and water were made, tents were shipped to create makeshift shelters. With the tents, the UN and other countries helped make tent cities. Even though the tent cities were dirty and packed with many people to one tent, it was the best effort that could be made at the time. The people that survived in Port-au-Prince would be considered the lucky ones, despite the current events. The reason for this is because the main focus on the relief efforts was in the capital, where most of the population was located. Other big cities were helped at the same time as Port-au-Prince and the outside small towns and communities were treated last.
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Some of the aid organizations did not want their workers to be working in some parts of Haiti, like the big cities, because they believed their workers would be in danger if they did. Haiti was in a difficult spot as a result of being one of the poorest countries in the world. Many of the major countries donated or loaned money in order to help them to rebuild from the rubble.
Here are some following donations:
Here are some following donations:
- Alone, the US entertainment industry raised $60 million
- Red cross involved
- $100 million from the US + disaster relief
- $474 million from the UN + UN workers
- $210 million from Brazil
- $131 million from Brazil
- World banks also made loans to Haiti
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Current Status
Three years have passed after the 2010 Earthquake occurred in Haiti near the capital, Port-au-Prince. Many people and governments helped with the initial payments and support for the relief of the earthquake. Eventually, those donations died down and not much more came in. The UN still has workers in Haiti helping with the camps that still exist. There are still more than 400,000 people that do not have a structural home. All of these people live in the tent cities that still exist. Out of all the houses destroyed, 20,700 have been replaced as of January 2013. Out of the billions donated toward Haiti, 210 million have been pledged towards housing of the population. Along with the Housing problem, the outbreak of Cholera brought more problems that are now being subdued. The overall status of Haiti, in comparison to before the earthquake occurred, is still quite bad. This is because of disease and homelessness, which are still in the process of being fixed.
Three years have passed after the 2010 Earthquake occurred in Haiti near the capital, Port-au-Prince. Many people and governments helped with the initial payments and support for the relief of the earthquake. Eventually, those donations died down and not much more came in. The UN still has workers in Haiti helping with the camps that still exist. There are still more than 400,000 people that do not have a structural home. All of these people live in the tent cities that still exist. Out of all the houses destroyed, 20,700 have been replaced as of January 2013. Out of the billions donated toward Haiti, 210 million have been pledged towards housing of the population. Along with the Housing problem, the outbreak of Cholera brought more problems that are now being subdued. The overall status of Haiti, in comparison to before the earthquake occurred, is still quite bad. This is because of disease and homelessness, which are still in the process of being fixed.