On 12th January 2010, a violent earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale struck Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.
According to estimates, up to 230,000 people are thought to have been killed and more than 300,000 were injured. Over 1.5 million people lost their homes and, at the end of November 2011, 500,000 people were still living in 1,200 temporary camps.
Two years on, our team in Haiti is continuing its work in support of disabled and vulnerable people, and planning for the future.
© William Daniels / Handicap International |
Since the start of its operations in Haiti, more than 500 expatriate staff have taken part in the work of Handicap International. At the height of the operation, the teams on the ground included up to 600 people, including 80 expatriate staff. Handicap International has brought its expertise in logistics, reconstruction, orthopaedic-fitting, psychological support and inclusion in aid of the earthquake’s victims.
To date, 1,459 people have been fitted with orthopaedic devices, 20,000 tonnes of aid has been transported, 1,050 transitional homes have been built to re-house around 5,250 people. 90,000 rehabilitation and basic care sessions have been provided and 25,000 people have benefited from psychosocial support activities. 5,600 mobility aids have been distributed, and our physiotherapists have performed 4,500 rehabilitation sessions.
In 2012, Handicap International aims to achieve two main goals: Firstly, to ensure that our emergency operations are completed successfully – this will probably require the construction of some 500 new transitional shelters for the most vulnerable individuals yet to be provided with accommodation. Secondly, building the capacity of Haitian stakeholders to case-manage and include people with disabilities and set up structures to reduce the human impact of future natural disasters.
> Read the latest Situation Update for Haiti here, with key figures and detailed information about our activities.
