Rebuilding Haiti

Haiti, three years later

Since the devastating earthquake of 12 January 2010, enormous efforts have been made to help the government achieve its objectives and to improve Haitians’ living conditions.

The aftermath of the earthquake that killed more than 200 000 people, damaged or destroyed more than 300,000 buildings and left 1.5 million people displaced, is still visible in the capital and surrounding areas. In addition, in 2012, Haiti was hit by the passage of Hurricane Sandy, which caused casualties and considerable damage, especially in the agricultural sector.

But Haiti is striding forward. The Government, the private sector and international organizations are not the only driving forces behind the reconstruction process. Families, communities and women themselves are at the forefront of the collaborative efforts in building a more resilient in Haiti.

Recovery and poverty reduction

Today, 80% of the ten million cubic meters of debris generated by the earthquake have been cleared from the streets. The joint UN debris management project alone contributed to the removal of one million cubic meters of debris and recycled the rubble into paving stones, stairs, corridors, houses and public places.

The number of people living in camps has decreased from 1.5 million to 358,000 today. UNDP contributed to these efforts alongside the Haitian Government and its partners through the 16 neighbourhoods/6 camps programme. Neighbourhoods, roads and houses have been rehabilitated; thousands of jobs have been created in low-income communities where the population suffer from chronic unemployment. Women have accounted for over 40% of those employed, thereby revitalizing the local economy.

Capacity building

Placing the Haitian people and their communities at the centre of the recovery process is the key to success. Within the neighbourhoods, community platforms have allowed community members to decide on the planning priorities for their neighbourhoods, not to mention the establishment of crucial infrastructure resistant to urban risks as a means of further strengthening the resilience of the communities.

Disaster risk reduction

UNDP and partners continued to work with the Haitian government, including the Directorate of Civil Protection (DCP), to strengthen its National Disaster Risk Management System, as was especially evident during Tropical Storm Isaac and Hurricane Sandy in late 2012.

In 2012, UNDP also developed a methodology for risk prevention in urban settings. A complete mapping analysis was conducted in eight high risk neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince and more than 9,000 students and 500 teachers were educated about earthquakes and tsunamis through simulation exercises carried out in key communities in the North.

Environmental protection

Environmental protection programmes were intensified in certain vulnerable regions of the country and women, particularly in the town of Aquin in the South, were directly involved in the reforestation projects.

Democratic governance

Over 80% of the inmates in Haiti's various prison facilities are in prolonged pre-trial detention. In 2012, UNDP worked with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security on holding judicial inspections aimed at improving the situation in the 18 jurisdictions in the country.