Haiti Recovery

It's been over six months now since a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the impoverished island nation of Haiti, exacting a huge toll in lives and property damage. Millions of people were affected, and nearly 1.5 million people were left displaced or homeless. With 26 years experience working in Haiti, Habitat for Humanity was uniquely placed to offer their expertise and assistance on the ground.

Habitat's response in Haiti

Habitat implemented immediate relief efforts while also seeking to address long-term shelter solutions. Based on current information and past experience with international disasters, Habitat developed a multi-phrase strategy of response, focused on six cities, Cabaret, Lèogâne, Jacmel, Carrefour, Port-au-Prince and Croix-des-Bouquets. To see Habitat International's latest update (click here)

Phase one: relief

• Providing emergency shelter kits to help families make immediate repairs and construct emergency shelter.
• Re-establishing the Habitat Haiti office in Port-au-Prince which was destroyed in the earthquake to oversee operations.

Phase two: rehabilitation

• Helping families remove or salvage debris from their home sites.
• Organizing unaffected families to host affected families.
• Constructing transitional shelters.

Phase three: reconstruction

• Training local engineers in the internationally-recognized ATC-20 method of post-earthquake building safety evaluation. Based on a visual inspection, engineers recommend repairs where possible or complete demolition where it is not.

To find out where you can help (click here).