By Romina Acosta Bimbrera, Communications and Public Relations Advisor
Fifteen years of resilience
On January 12, 2010, Haiti was hit by a powerful magnitude 7 earthquake that claimed over 220,000 lives, injured some 300,000 people and left 1.5 million homeless. The resilience of the Haitian people was also tested repeatedly thereafter by a succession of socioeconomic crises and natural disasters such as hurricanes and more earthquakes.
To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 2010 earthquake Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada is raising funds for Haiti as a gesture of solidarity with the Haitian people, who have been facing disproportionate violence from street gangs for the past year.
We are also allocating $100,000 in emergency aid. This amount is in addition to the $180,000 approved last summer for four projects through which our partners are offering some respite to the people.
Political instability, violence and food insecurity
Unfortunately, with continuing political instability and gang violence, and the people’s need for help is increasing. By September 2024, the International Organization for Migration had estimated that over 702,000 people were internally displaced (see report in French). Initially, most displaced people fled south to escape the gangs that were concentrated in Port-au-Prince. Now, the violence and displacement are much more widespread.
A Mercy Corps report highlights four major challenges linked to impact of gang violence on food systems. These include inflation resulting from broken supply chains; mass displacement and economic stress; the disruption of agricultural production and land use; and the unpredictable closure of ports and airports.
Other organizations’ reports on the situation, too, have revealed some striking figures:
- 5.4 million people (more than half the population) face acute food insecurity.
- $1.34 billion will be required over the next two years to meet immediate needs generated by the security crisis.
- Over $600 million is needed to regain control of the country from armed gangs.
Supporting and accompanying displaced persons
Our partners in Haiti’s southern peninsula are witnessing a constant flow of displaced people fleeing the violence in Port-au-Prince. These displaced families, often headed by single parents, are seeking refuge with relatives in rural areas who were themselves already struggling to provide food for their own families.
Your donations will help our partners meet the immediate needs that they have identified among displaced people currently living in communities in the Sud and Sud-Est departments, including through:
- Agricultural initiatives that will enable host families put food on the table
- Counselling and psychological support for displaced persons, including women victims of gender-based violence
On this 15th anniversary of the earthquake, please join us in expressing solidarity with the Haitian people and our partners like ITECA, who assure us that:
“Together, we can transform this commemoration into a moment of hope and renewal for Haiti.”
