Haiti’s Earthquake: 18 Months On With Little to No Housing Relief

A year and a half has passed since a devastating earthquake killed more than 300,000 Haitians and left a million more homeless. Today, between 300,000 to 650,000 Haitians remain stuck in temporary camps across the country as a housing crisis threatens to leave more than 94 percent of households in rural areas in debt while a further 80 percent of households living below the poverty line will be caught in the debt cycle as well.

A year and a half has passed since a devastating earthquake killed more than 300,000 Haitians and left a million more homeless. Today, between 300,000 to 650,000 Haitians remain stuck in temporary camps across the country as a housing crisis threatens to leave more than 94 percent of households in rural areas in debt while a further 80 percent of households living below the poverty line will be caught in the debt cycle as well.

According to Roger Annis, a volunteer at the Canada Haiti Action Network, the situation in Haiti remains “very troubling”. In an interview with Straight, Annis said that a significant amount of Haitians were returning to unsafe and damaged homes as housing progress remains slow in the aftermath of the earthquake.

[quote]“Because of either the slow pace of the reconstruction, or people losing faith, they’re moving back into the damaged buildings,” said Annis.[/quote]

A recent report by the International Crisis Group has also portrayed a negative light on the housing situation in Haiti.

[quote]“Since the earthquake killed approximately 250,000 and forced an estimated 1.5 million into camps, government policies on resettlement and housing have been mostly lacking,” the report read. “In their absence, rampant evictions – without due process and tenable housing alternatives – are forcing unplanned returns.”[/quote]

More than a thousand emergency camps are still spread across the country, with the majority being makeshift sites that are unable to meet international humanitarian standards.

[quote]“Living conditions are harsh due to overcrowding and inadequate sanitation,” the report read. “Escaped prisoners and armed gangs have infiltrated several camps, adding insecurity to the challenges, particularly for women and girls, who are increasingly victims of sexual violence.”[/quote]

According to Haiti Libre, a study by the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED showed that the general Haitian household had debts that were more than 13 percent higher than it was before the 12 January 2010 earthquake. 15 percent of households surveyed noted that house repair and reconstruction was the major financial burden facing their household, with school fees and the lack of income-generating activities being the other main financial constraints.

On 19 July 2011, Haitian President Michel Martelly announced a US$260 million plan in order to build public housing in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. However, the country only plans to provide partially subsidized public housing, instead of free houses, for the victims of the January 2010 earthquake.

“We have to … put this country on the path of reconstruction,” said Martelly as quoted in the People’s Daily. “I want to remind you that I am committed to finish the reconstruction process of Haiti.”

However, Martelly will also need to plead his case with the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission on Friday if his plans are to be fulfilled and the recovery commission’s mandate is to be extended by a further year.

The Interim Haiti Recovery Commission is a panel that was set up several months after the earthquake in an effort to coordinate reconstruction projects and ensure transparency to donor nations. The panel is co-chaired by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and outgoing Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive.

In October this year, the panel’s mandate to repair Haiti will expire, thus requiring the current Haitian President to ask for an extension.

Annis though is sceptical.

[quote]“It’s been…almost four months since Martelly was selected, or elected…and he still hasn’t created a government…

We’ve had decades of undermining of national government and of public services and public institutions in Haiti, and we’re seeing the result today,” he said.[/quote]