Many Haitians, when they speak of the earthquake, refer only to “before” – before, in 35 seconds, they lost so much: friends, family, homes, schools, churches – and their visions of the future.What happened here on January 12th was a disaster of a magnitude that would have set any country reeling. Over 222,570 people have died, 300,572 injured and a staggering 2.3 million – nearly one quarter of the population – displaced. Despite these very difficult and painful circumstances, the humanitarian response was one of the largest of its kind ever mounted and continues every day to help survivors of this tragedy. It is the largest urban natural catastrophe in recorded history, and it devastated a country already deep in humanitarian crisis.
In 2009:
- 58 percent of children were under-nourished.
- 58 percent of the population lacked access to clean water.
- 55 percent of Haitians lived on less than $1.25 per day.
- Per capita annual income was $660.00
- Earthquake followed devastating hurricanes in 2008, which affected 800,000 people.
- Deforestation had left the nation with less than two percent forest cover. Source: Office of the Special envoy
- On UNDP’s Human Development Index 2009, Haiti came 149 out of 182 countries, the lowest in the whole of the Americas
- Probability of not living to 40 was 18.5% - higher than Eritrea
- Life expectancy 61 years – worse than in Myanmar
Source: UNDP HDR 2009
- 40% of households did not have reliable access to adequate food
- More than half a million children between the ages of 6 and 12 did not attend school
- 38% of the population over 15 was completely illiterate
- In 2001, 56% of Haitians were living below the $1-a-day line. Source: PDNA March 2010
- Unemployment in Haiti was up to 80%. Source: Protection Cluster referenced in the CAP
- Up to 173,000 children regularly exploited as domestic workers
- 50,000 children separated from their families in institutions
- At least 2,000 trafficked annually through and to the Dominican Republic
Source: Child Protection Cluster referenced in the CAP
- 50-55% of children were not enrolled in school
Source: Education Cluster referenced in the CAP
Infrastructure
- Only 3,400 kilometres of road, of which only 800 km was paved
- Only 12.5% of the population had access to electricity Source: Ministry of Works, Haiti 2006 – NB this goes up to 45% in Port au Prince
Agriculture
- 60% of the active working population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture.
Source: PDNA - Haiti was still recovering from the hurricanes of 2008 which devastated 70% of the agricultural sector. Source: CAP
Health and Nutrition
- 44% of seriously ill or wounded people were unable to access health services prior to the earthquake due to lack of money for fees. Source: CAP
- Acute malnutrition was 4.5% in 2008-9 – including 15,967 children and 1,549 babies under six months
- Up to 60% of children and 46% of women suffered some kind of anemia
Source: Health and Nutrition Clusters, CAP
