Humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake explained

See main article: 2010 Haiti earthquake.

See main article: Casualties of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

The response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake included national governments, charitable and for-profit organizations from around the world which began coordinating humanitarian aid designed to help the Haitian people. Some countries arranged to send relief and rescue workers and humanitarian supplies directly to the earthquake damage zones, while others sought to organize national fund raising to provide monetary support for the nonprofit groups working directly in Haiti. OCHA coordinates and tracks this on a daily basis.[1] The information is disseminated through the UN news and information portal, ReliefWeb. As of September 5, 2013, ReliefWeb have reported a total relief funding of $3.5 billion given (and a further $1 billion pledged but not given).[2]

The United States was by far the largest single contributor to the relief efforts. The international community also committed numerous major assets such as field hospitals, naval vessels, a hospital ship, aircraft carriers, transport aircraft and emergency facilities soon after the extent of the disaster became apparent. The Dominican Republic was the first country to mobilize resources to aid and rescue Haiti immediately after the earthquake.

Progress in responding to the earthquake was hampered by a number of factors, including loss of life, a number of aftershocks, destroyed infrastructures, collapsed buildings blocking streets, the lack of electricity for gasoline station pumps, loss of the capital's seaport, and loss of air traffic control facilities. The damage to the Haitian government ministries, all of which suffered varying degrees of destruction and personnel deaths, impeded coordination of the disaster response.

In April 2010, the Haitian government asked that food distribution in the Pétion-Ville camp cease in order to allow the normal economy to resume.[3]

Appeals for aid

Appeals for international aid were immediately requested by Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the United States and his nephew, singer Wyclef Jean,[4] The American Red Cross quickly announced that it had run out of supplies in Haiti and appealed for public donations.[5]

Response by national governments

See main article: Humanitarian response by national governments to the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Response by intergovernmental organizations

In early January 2010 the EU released €3 m in emergency funding.[6]

The European Council and its member nations later announced more than €429 million in emergency humanitarian aid, rehabilitation aid and medium-to long-term reconstruction aid.[7] The aid was to be provided as detailed:

Humanitarian AssistanceThe EU pledged €122 million in humanitarian assistance:Emergency relief aid package: €30 million (incl. a €3 million ECHO fast-track decision). Commission funds were to be distributed via UN agencies, international NGOs and the Red Cross.€92 million from member countries.
  • Support for Early Recovery and Reinforcing State Capacity.The European Commission pledged to provide €100 million for short term recovery and rehabilitation.
  • Reconstruction and Rehabilitation.The European Commission pledged to provide €200 million from the 10th and 9th EDF funds for Haiti. They would be in addition to bilateral contributions from EU Member States' budgets.[8]
  • The European Union thus pledged at least €429 million to Haiti in both emergency and humanitarian aid to help the medium and long-term work of rebuilding the country devastated by the earthquake. In addition, the 27 countries decided to send some 150 troops from the European Gendarmerie to ensure that humanitarian aid would reach the people affected by the earthquake.

    The financial contribution of the EU as a whole totaled €429 million, broken down as:

    Organization of American States

    The Organization of American States donated .[10]

    Union of South American Nations

    The Union of South American Nations pledged to help rebuild Haiti in the long term. A meeting was held in Quito in order to discuss how it would be utilized.

    United Nations

    As the extent of the catastrophe unfolded, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commented: "There is no doubt that we are facing a major humanitarian emergency and that a major relief effort will be required". The U.N. mobilized an emergency response team to help coordinate humanitarian relief efforts.[11]

    Response by non-governmental organizations

    See main article: Humanitarian response by non-governmental organizations to the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

    Many non-governmental organizations, including international, religious and regionally-based NGOs, immediately pledged support in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. NGOs contributed significantly to both on-the-ground rescue efforts and external solicitation of aid for those rescue efforts.

    Response by corporations

    See main article: Humanitarian responses by for-profit organizations to the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

    Responses by notable persons and groups

    Response by online communities

    around 16,000 users raised over US$5479.00 which were sent to the American Red Cross.

    Long-term effect of humanitarian response

    As of 2015, 5 years after the earthquake, over 500,000 victims were still living in temporary shelters without electricity, plumbing or sewage. Lack of proper sanitation is thought to be the foundation upon which the ongoing cholera outbreak is based.

    Much of the US aid funding was hindered by US statutory restrictions limiting spending to US products, materials and employees, which had to be transported to Haiti. This not only raised the costs involved, compared to local, but also prevented the aid from stimulating the Haitian economy.[50]

    See also

    External links

    Emergency aid
    Contacting friends and relatives in Haiti
    Maps and photos

    Notes and References

    1. https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/jan/14/haiti-quake-aid-pledges-country-donations "Haiti earthquake aid pledged by country"
    2. Web site: Financial Tracking Service. www.reliefweb.int.
    3. News: Mary . St. Pierre . Rebuilding Haiti one small step at a time . Florida Catholic . Orlando, Florida . A1 . April 23 – May 6, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100613123327/http://thefloridacatholic.org/iv/view/item/222 . 2010-06-13 . dead.
    4. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/12/haiti.aid/ "Appeals for aid after quake strikes Haiti"
    5. News: Associated Press . American Red Cross says it has run out of medical supplies in Haiti . . 2010-01-15 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100116103319/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-us-haiti-red-cross%2C0%2C3443905.story . 2010-01-16 .
    6. News: RTÉ News: Charities appeal for Haiti earthquake aid . Rte.ie . 2010-01-13. 2010-01-13.
    7. Web site: Sapa-AFP . EU earmarks over €420 million for Haiti . Businessday.co.za . 2010-01-18 . 2010-01-23.
    8. News: Factsheet on Haiti earthquake . EU Commission . 20 January 2010 . 8 August 2013.
    9. Web site: EU nations pledge $575 million for Haiti aid – Yahoo! News . News.yahoo.com . 2010-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100122211745/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100118/ap_on_re_eu/eu_eu_haiti . 2010-01-22.
    10. News: 2010-01-15 . Associated Press . OAS donates $100,000 in aid to Haiti . Etaiwannews.com . 2010-01-23 . 2011-06-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604035328/http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1156873&lang=eng_news . dead .
    11. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/13/haiti.quake.world.reaction/index.html U.N. chief calls on world to help crisis-hit Haiti
    12. News: Security Council authorizes 3,500 more UN peacekeepers for Haiti. 19 January 2010. UN News Centre.
    13. Web site: World Bank to Provide an Additional $100 Million to Haiti, Following Earthquake . Web.worldbank.org . 2010-01-13.
    14. http://www.unicef.org.uk/emergency/emergency_detail.asp?emergency=63 "Haiti Earthquake Children's Appeal"
    15. Web site: WHO response in Haiti . https://archive.today/20120805201032/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2010/haiti_earthquake_20100113/en/index.html . dead . August 5, 2012 . 2010-01-14.
    16. Web site: WFP response in Haiti . 2010-01-16 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100116013121/http://www.wfp.org/stories/haiti-wfp-bring-food-devastating-quake . 2010-01-16 .
    17. Earth Times, "IAEA ships X-ray units to Haiti", 29 January 2010 (accessed 29 January 2010)
    18. OCHA, "OCHA's Response – Fact Sheet", 29 January 2010 (accessed 9 February 2010)
    19. News: Aniston donates $500k to Haiti appeal . Ireland Online . January 26, 2010 . 2010-01-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100130144736/http://breakingnews.iol.ie/entertainment/aniston-donates-500k-to-haiti-appeal-443553.html . 2010-01-30 . dead.
    20. Web site: Charles Aznavour to record music video to raise funds for quake-stricken Haiti . January 18, 2010 . Kuwait Times . 18 January 2010 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110510040805/http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NzcxNjA4MDE2 . 10 May 2011 .
    21. Web site: Sandra Bullock Gives $1 Million to Haiti Relief. .
    22. Web site: Gisele Gives $1.5M to Haiti, Other Stars Step Up to Help. Donaldson-Evans. Catherine. 15 January 2010. People. 16 January 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100117233202/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20337201,00.html. 17 January 2010.
    23. Web site: Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers supports UNICEF's emergency relief efforts in Haiti :: News from the Field :: Media Center :: U.S. Fund for UNICEF . Unicef Usa . 2010-01-15 . 2010-01-23.
    24. Web site: Leonardo DiCaprio Donates $1 Million to Haiti Relief . Hollyscoop.com . 2010-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100123210523/http://www.hollyscoop.com/leonardo-dicaprio/leonardo-dicaprio-donates-1-million-to-haiti-relief_22808.aspx . 2010-01-23 . dead.
    25. Web site: 500. The Telegraph.
    26. Web site: The Queen's message to The President of Haiti. Official website of the British monarchy. Royal Household. 23 December 2013.
    27. Web site: United Nations Foundation » Evanescence Teams Up with the United Nations Foundation . unfoundation.org . January 22, 2010 . 2010-01-22 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100208182033/http://www.unfoundation.org/press-center/press-releases/2010/evanescence-teams-up-with-united-nations-foundation.html . February 8, 2010 .
    28. Web site: Welcome to the United Nations Foundation: Donate to the CERF . Unfoundation.org . 2010-01-23 .
    29. Web site: Lady Gaga Pledges Haiti Earthquake-Relief Donation On 'Oprah' . https://web.archive.org/web/20100117091001/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1629858/20100115/lady_gaga.jhtml . dead . January 17, 2010 . . 15 January 2010 . Jocelyn . Vena . 16 January 2010.
    30. Web site: Lady Gaga Fans Raise $500,000 For Haiti . ContactMusic.com . 27 January 2010 . 27 January 2010.
    31. News: Alyssa Milano: My Tweet Challenge: Will A Corporation Match My Donation? . Huffingtonpost.com . 2010-01-23.
    32. Patricia McDonagh and Jason O'Brien, Irish Independent, "O'Brien pledges €3.5m as charities plead for money", Thursday January 14, 2010
    33. Web site: Tampa Bay Rays' Carlos Peña doing anything he can to help neighbors in Haiti – St. Petersburg Times . Tampabay.com . 2010-01-23 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110606152716/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-carlos-pe241a-doing-anything-he-can-to-help-neighbors-in/1066434 . 2011-06-06 .
    34. Web site: T-ara is donating $10,000 of their own income to Haiti . Allkpop.com . 2010-01-19 . 2010-01-23.
    35. News: James Taylor to Perform Benefit Concert for Haiti at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center . TheaterMania.com Theater News . 2010-01-19 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111004163549/http://www.sana.sy/print.html?sid=267714&newlang=eng . 2011-10-04 .
    36. Web site: Miguel Tejada lleva ayuda a Haití . Elnuevodiario.com.do . 2009-08-16 . 2015-06-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150616124920/http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/mobile/article.aspx?id=183303 . 2015-06-16 . dead .
    37. News: John Travolta flies aid and Scientologist group to Haiti . USA Today . January 26, 2010 . 2010-01-26.
    38. Web site: 'House' star Olivia Wilde in Twitter appeal for Haiti earthquake | Amy Andrews Gossip Girl . IrishCentral . 2010-01-13 . 2010-01-23.
    39. Web site: Oritsé talks of the disaster in Haiti . JLSOfficial.com . 2010-01-19 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100121152854/http://www.jlsofficial.com/gb/newsdiary/post/oritse-talks-of-the-disaster-in-haiti . 2010-01-21 .
    40. News: Tiger Woods donates $3m to Haiti quake victims . Timesofindia.indiatimes.com . 2010-01-15 . 2010-01-23 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100118105127/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/off-the-field/Tiger-Woods-donates-3m-to-Haiti-quake-victims/articleshow/5448396.cms . 2010-01-18.
    41. News: Boy raises thousands in quake aid. 2010-01-25. BBC. 2019-02-27. en-GB.
    42. Web site: Read The's story. JustGiving. www.justgiving.com.
    43. Web site: Simon Cowell praises schoolboy Charlie Simpson's Haiti fund as it hits £160,000. Matt. Blake. . 26 January 2010.
    44. News: 2010-01-25 . Schoolboy Charlie Simpson raises £120,000 for Haiti . The Guardian . James Meikle . 2010-01-26 . London.
    45. News: 2010-01-25 . London boy raises £130k for Haiti quake aid by cycling . BBC. 2010-01-26 .
    46. Web site: 2010-01-26 . Charlie's Fundraising for Haiti page. JustGiving . 2010-01-26 .
    47. News: 2010-01-25 . Boy, 7, raises $240,000 for Haiti appeal . CNN. Agnes Teh . 2010-01-26 .
    48. Web site: Direct Relief International: Support Us – Tributes . Dri.convio.net . 2010-01-23 . 2010-01-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100122043246/http://dri.convio.net/site/TR?pg=fund&fr_id=1030&pxfid=1511 . dead .
    49. Web site: Belfast's Haiti Relief Fund . fastfude.org . 2010-02-01 . 2010-02-02.
    50. News: Haitian Money Pit. 14 May 2015. Vice. 29. 24 April 2015.