Launched TUESDAY February 4, 2019 on www.zReportage.com Story #722: Moment Of Truth: LOST DECADE: 2010 Haitian Quake Aftermath: When Haitians started their day on 12 January ten years ago, they could not have imagined the devastation that was about to befall their country. Later that day, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck, claiming the lives of more than 220,000 people. The quake, one of the deadliest natural disasters on record, destroyed much of the country's fragile infrastructure and left many Haitians in dire need of assistance. Some 1.5 million people were displaced, according to the International Organization for Migration. Donors from around the world gave billions of dollars to aid agencies who made promises to rebuild. But a decade later, Haitians who survived say they feel forgotten, as much of the goodwill and billions have been lost to waste, greed and corruption. The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicenter near the town of Leogane and approximately 25 kilometres west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.
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Fort National is a neighborhood that was heavily damaged during the 2010 earthquake. People have struggled to rebuild with varying degrees of success.
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ANDIE EXAINE must carry all her water to the hut. There is no running water in St. Christophe and residents must fill up on Tuesday when a charity brings free water for residents to fill their barrels with. Otherwise 5 gallons of clean water can cost 5 cents or more in town: an expense that can add up for Haiti's poorest. The St. Christophe settlement at Titanyen is located where the January 12, 2012 memorial is located. Over 10,000 people are buried here in mass graves after the 2010 earthquake. The memorial is a sad and neglected homage to all who died without being claimed by family members.
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Groundskeepers DUENET ALEXAND and BERTHENID DASNY have been maintaining the grounds at The St. Christophe memorial at Titanyen without pay. The January 12, 2012 memorial is where over 10,000 people are buried here in mass graves after the 2010 earthquake. The memorial is a sad and neglected homage to all who died without being claimed by family members.
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A commuter tries to avoid the heat and smoke from a burning tire. A demonstration against Haitian President Jovenel MoÏse began in downtown Port-Au-Prince and ended near a barricade by the Haitian police near the United States Embassy A demonstration against Haitian President MoÏse began in downtown Port-Au-Prince and ended near the United States Embassy.
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Protesters sounded off against Haitian President MoÏse at an underpass downtown. A demonstration against Haitian President Jovenel MoÏse began in downtown Port-Au-Prince and ended near the United States Embassy.
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A fruit vendor was treated for tear gas fired by police. A demonstration against Haitian President MoÏse began in downtown Port-Au-Prince and ended near the United States Embassy.
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Haitians made their way past smoke created by burning tires on a road leading to the US embassy. A demonstration against Haitian President MoÏse began in downtown Port-Au-Prince and ended near the United States Embassy.
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RONNY ESPERANCE,19, looks for scrap metal in the toxic where plastic and other garbage are burned. He hopes to make a few dollars a day, some of which he wants to save to go to a trade school to improve his lot in life.
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Jalousie is a poor neighborhood across Peitonville where many of Haiti's elite live. Cynically some say the neighborhood was given free paint only because the rich have to look at them everyday. Right after the 2010 earthquake, many survivors moved in with friends and relatives because Jalousie remained relatively unscathed.
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There is general displeasure with the quality of housing built by UNOPS after the earthquake with poor workmanship leading to flooding. Fort National is a neighborhood that was heavily damaged during the 2010 earthquake. People have struggled to rebuild with varying degrees of success.
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A snack shop with an older video game console provides diversion for the young. Fort National is a neighborhood that was heavily damaged during the 2010 earthquake. People have struggled to rebuild with varying degrees of success.
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JACKUELENE PAGEOTE, 21, lives amidst the rubble that that is common. Fort National is a neighborhood that was heavily damaged during the 2010 earthquake. People have struggled to rebuild with varying degrees of success.
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TELIA ST. LOUIS, 70, still lives in a makeshift shack nearly 10 years after the earthquake. She spent two years in temporary shelters downtown before moving back to Fort National. This is a neighborhood that was heavily damaged during the 2010 earthquake. People have struggled to rebuild with varying degrees of success.
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Pastor FRANCOIS JOSEPH celebrates 21 years ministering to his small flock in Jalousie. The church, the size of a chapel is a refuge for those who attend. Jalousie is a poor neighborhood across Peitonville where many of Haiti's elite live. Cynically some say the neighborhood was given free paint only because the rich have to look at them everyday. Right after the 2010 earthquake, many survivors moved in with friends and relatives because Jalousie remained relatively unscathed.
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Handyman CLERGER JEAN helps fix a neighbor's fence in Canaan. There is little work and sometimes does work hoping to be paid. Canaan is a 200,000 people + neighborhood where victims of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake moved to when the government opened up the land for settlement. Near Canaan is the Haiti earthquake memorial literally known as January 12, 2010.
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Several crosses overlook the memorial and the villages that have sprung up since people moved there from temporary shelters after the earthquake. The St. Christophe settlement at Titanyen is located where the January 12, 2012 memorial is located. Over 10,000 people are buried here in mass graves after the 2010 earthquake. The memorial is a sad and neglected homage to all who died without being claimed by family members.
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MARIE JOSEPH sits on a pile of building material she intended to sell for building material. Life is hard but peaceful there. There is little work but raises a herd of goats to make some money. The St. Christophe settlement at Titanyen is located where the January 12, 2012 memorial is located. Over 10,000 people are buried here in mass graves after the 2010 earthquake. The memorial is a sad and neglected homage to all who died without being claimed by family members.
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A brass band plays during the funeral of Gegeta Gilles, 70, died at the age of 70 of a heart attack and was being interned at a cemetery in Leogane, the epicenter of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Gegeta Gilles, 70, died at the age of 70 of a heart attack and was being interned at a cemetery in Leogane, the epicenter of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Her death was honored by a marching brass band and a huge throng of relatives who wept her loss. Unlike the 10,000 buried at the St. Christophe memorial at Titanyen, her name will be written on the grave.
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GEGETA GILLES, 70, died at the age of 70 of a heart attack and was being interned at a cemetery in Leogane, the epicenter of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Her death was honored by a marching brass band and a huge throng of relatives who wept her loss. Unlike the 10,000 buried at the St. Christophe memorial at Titanyen, her name will be written on the grave.
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ROSEMANILIE SENLIUS looks after her grandson WOODMYSON, 8 months and feeds him some rice while his mother is out running an errand. The St. Christophe settlement at Titanyen is located where the January 12, 2012 memorial is located. Over 10,000 people are buried here in mass graves after the 2010 earthquake. The memorial is a sad and neglected homage to all who died without being claimed by family members.
© Richard Tsong-Taatarii/ZUMA Wire
