The Haiti Earthquake – One Year On

The earthquake that killed over 250,000 people in Haiti struck one year ago. Since then a lot of funding has been promised, and a lot of projects have been started, but a huge amount remains to be done.

In a report today the BBC discusses the lack of progress in reconstructing Haiti, and itemises the funding shortfalls. According to the BBC:

• 188,383 buildings collapsed in the earthquake, of which 105,000 were completely destroyed
• 2 million cubic meters out of a total of 10 million cubic meters of rubble has been cleared so far.
• Donors had provided just over $1 billion of the $1.5 billion required for earthquake relief and recovery.
• Only $1.28 billion of a total of $2.01 billion pledged for 2010 has been disbursed.
• The number of people living in camps has fallen from a peak of 1.5 million to 810,000.
• 2,729 tent schools have been set up, out of a target of 4,000.
• 298 semi-permanent schools have been built, out of a target of 464.
• 15,309 latrines have been set up, out of a target of 34,000
• $44 million out of a total of  $174 million required to tackle the outbreak of cholera in Haiti has been received.

Finally according to the  Haitian Ministry of Public Health 3759 people had died in the cholera epidemic by January 7th 2011.

It seems a further $2.45 billion has been pledged to Haiti during 2011. Let us hope that by this time next year those promises have been fulfilled, and the statistics from Haiti make for cheerier reading than those for last year.