Who? What? When? Where? Why? ‘A poor neighbourhood shows the damage after an earthquake measuring 7 plus on the Richter scale rocked Port au Prince Haiti just before 5 pm yesterday January 12, 2010.’ Posted on Flickr website by the United Nations Development Programme Posted on Flickr website by the United Nations Development Programme

Responding to the Haiti Earthquake Evaluate the role of immediate response and relief efforts linked to the Haiti earthquake (a tectonic hazard).

Where is Haiti?

Background Information Video clip (in Y11 folder – transfer it across) of Haiti’s history. Set scene before earthquake. Write down a few facts about Haiti before the earthquake happened. How well prepared was Haiti?

Background Information Once the richest colony in the Americas slave revolt against France. Compensated France for loss of property. Took 120 years to repay. Thirty years of dictatorship and military rule put country deep into international debt. Poorest country in western hemisphere In 2008, four hurricane killed at least 800 people and caused over $ 1 billion damage. Food riots in Farmers forced out of business by changes in subsidies and tarifs on imported food. Urban slum population grew. In 2009 Haiti’s $1.2 billion debt cancelled.

The Earthquake CONSERVATIVE

The Earthquake The Richter Scale is a logarithmic scale, which means that an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 is ten times worse than an earthquake of 6.0. The Haiti earthquake measured 7.0 on the Richter scale

Impacts Death toll: 200,000 (estimated) Homeless: 1.5 million (estimated) Tens of thousands without food, water and medical supplies Port-au-Prince port badly damaged Country’s entire supply chain network devastated Roads damaged or blocked by rubble NGOs (non-governmental organisations) lost staff and equipment, e.g. Action Aid lost their building

Impacts

Write down some of the impacts that the earthquake had

"We have already collected around 50,000 dead bodies," Paul Antoine Bien- Aime, Haiti's interior minister told Reuters. "We anticipate there will be between 100,000 and 200,000 dead in total, although we will never know the exact number." The leading US general in Haiti has said it is a "reasonable assumption" that up to 200,000 people may have died. Rescuers pulled more people alive from the rubble at the weekend, but at least 70,000 people have already had burials.

Response Short-term emergency relief – help and aid provided to an area to prevent immediate loss of life because of shortages of basics, such as water, food and shelter. Long-term planning – planning that looks beyond immediate costs and benefits by exploring impacts in the future. Immediate aid is needed to keep people alive, especially if, as in Haiti, there are few local resources to fall back on.

The aid urgently needed usually includes: Tents Blankets Garbage bags Antibiotics Baby food Milk Canned food Generators Tranquilisers Jerry cans Prefab toilets Disinfectants Mobile field kitchens Imagine you were involved in assembling aid packs for after an earthquake. Which of the thirteen bullet point items would be your essential choice for emergency aid? You may choose up to six. Provide clear instructions for local aid workers as to how your six could best be used.

Response US took control of Port-au-Prince airport 150 planes landed daily US and UN worked together UN World Food Programme increased food aid to survivors, e.g. 2 million meals delivered on one day US military deployed (sent) in large numbers to help with aid effort and maintain law and order. US carried out air drops Hospital ships deployed, e.g. USS Comfort. USS Carl Vinson moored near Port-au-Prince. Used as floating airport.

What is the cartoon’s message?

Problems with the Response The Haitian authorities were not prepared for the earthquake. Port-au-Prince airport has limited capacity. Volunteers were required, especially from professional rescue and health services, but it was difficult to get them into the country. Medicin San Frontiers said the rush to get military there stopped humanitarian supplies, e.g. 12 tonnes of medical supplies turned away repeatedly despite prior permission to land. Aid could not be distributed when it arrived. Trucks were needed to transport it and depots to store it. Lack of fuel. Need permission to use land for camps for homeless. Government buildings damaged (including the presidential palace) and authorities in disarray. Air drops least effective response as often the most needy do not benefit. US criticised for not coordinating an effective response even a month after the disaster.