The Reconstruction of Haiti
1. Introduction
The earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010 was one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. The quake killed more than 220,000 people, left 1.5 million homeless, and caused damage worth billions of US dollars. In the aftermath of the disaster, the international community came together to help Haiti rebuild.
The task of reconstruction is a daunting one. Haiti must not only rebuild the homes and infrastructure that were destroyed by the earthquake, but also address the underlying problems that made the country so vulnerable to disaster in the first place. This essay will discuss the tasks that need to be performed in order to reconstruct Haiti, as well as the role that different organizations (including the government, NGOs, and the private sector) can play in this process.
2. The tasks to be performed in the reconstruction process
There are three main tasks that need to be performed in order to reconstruct Haiti: the removal of debris, the construction of new buildings, and the provision of basic services.
2. 1 The removal of debris
One of the most immediate needs after the earthquake was the removal of debris from streets and buildings. This was necessary both for health and safety reasons (to prevent further injuries and deaths) and to clear the way for rebuilding. Debris removal was a massive undertaking; it is estimated that 10 million cubic meters of rubble needed to be removed from Port-au-Prince alone.
In order to speed up the process, the Haitian government created a “cash for work” program which paid people to clear debris from their neighborhoods. This program was supported by international organizations such as the World Bank and USAID. By April 2011, it is estimated that 1.5 million cubic meters of debris had been removed from Port-au-Prince through this program.
2. 2 The construction of new buildings
The second task in reconstruction is the construction of new buildings to replace those that were destroyed by the earthquake. This includes both homes for people who were left homeless by the disaster, as well as public buildings such as schools and hospitals.
The Haitian government has created a “Housing Reconstruction Program” which provides grants to families who lost their homes in the earthquake. The Program is funded by international donors such as USAID, EU, World Bank, etc. As of September 2011, more than 26,000 families had been helped through this program.
In addition to housing reconstruction, there is also a need to build new public infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. For example, after the earthquake there was a dramatic increase in demand for health services; however, many health facilities were damaged or destroyed by the quake. As a result, NGOs like Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) set up mobile clinics to provide basic health care services.
2. 3 The provision of basic services
The third task in reconstruction is providing basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity, and healthcare. This is necessary not only for rebuilding homes and infrastructure, but also for improving living conditions in general and preventing future disasters.
One example of an organization working to improve living conditions in Haiti is WaterAid America. WaterAid has been working in Haiti since 2003, and in the aftermath of the earthquake they set up a “water, sanitation, and hygiene” (WASH) program. This program provides clean water and sanitation facilities to people living in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Another example is the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which is working to improve health care in Haiti. The IRC has set up a number of health care facilities around the country, as well as training programs for Haitian health care workers.
3. The role of different organizations in the reconstruction of Haiti
The reconstruction of Haiti is a massive undertaking that will require the efforts of many different organizations. In this section, we will discuss the role that the government, NGOs, and the private sector can play in the process.
3. 1 The role of the government
The Haitian government has a lead role in the reconstruction process. This is because the government is responsible for coordinating the efforts of different organizations, as well as setting priorities and making decisions about how reconstruction funds will be spent.
The government has created a “Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti” (CRH) to coordinate reconstruction efforts. The CRH is made up of representatives from the government, NGOs, business sector, and civil society. It is funded by international donors such as USAID, World Bank, EU, etc.
3. 2 The role of NGOs
NGOs also have an important role to play in reconstruction. As we have seen, there are many NGOs working on projects to improve access to water, sanitation, healthcare, etc. in Haiti. These organizations have expertise and experience in areas that are critical for rebuilding, such as engineering and construction.
In addition, NGOs can provide funding for reconstruction projects. For example, WaterAid America has committed $10 million to its WASH program in Haiti. This funding will be used to construct water and sanitation facilities, as well as to train Haitian health care workers.
3. 3 The role of the private sector
The private sector also has a role to play in reconstruction, both through providing funding for projects and through partnership with NGOs and the government. For example, the Swiss company SGS has partnered with WaterAid America to provide expertise and resources for its WASH program in Haiti. SGS has also partnered with other organizations such as Save the Children to provide funding for reconstruction projects in Haiti.
4. Conclusion
The earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010 was one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. The quake killed more than 220,000 people, left 1.5 million homeless, and caused damage worth billions of US dollars. In the aftermath of the disaster, the international community came together to help Haiti rebuild.
The task of reconstruction is a daunting one. Haiti must not only rebuild the homes and infrastructure that were destroyed by the earthquake, but also address the underlying problems that made the country so vulnerable to disaster in the first place. This essay has discussed the tasks that need to be performed in order to reconstruct Haiti, as well as the role that different organizations (including the government, NGOs, and the private sector) can play in this process.
The reconstruction of Haiti is a massive undertaking that will require the efforts of many different organizations. The Haitian government has a lead role in the process, but it will also require the support of NGOs, the private sector, and the international community. Only by working together can we hope to rebuild Haiti and create a better future for its people.