Haiti earthquake 2010

Haiti earthquake 2010

The Haitian earthquake of 2010 occurred on January 12th on the west Indian island of Hispaniola. Haiti and the Dominican republic were the two places that were majorly affected by the devastating Hurricane. There was an estimated death count of between 200,000 and 250,000. The initial reading was a 7.0 followed by two aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5. Even after these, for days to come there was still several aftershocks that were of considerable damage.

The year before this earthquake took place, Haiti’s GDP stood at around 11 billion, and the haitian earthquake of 2010 cost the country around 7.8 billion. Now after the earthquake more than 80% of the haitian population is under the poverty line. Not just money was taken in those days after the earthquake though, hundreds of thousands of buildings were destroyed leaving people in ruins of what use to be their homes.

The Haitian government and economy was struggling even before the earthquake but now they are completely in a hole and they, even today 6 years later, are struggling and are hoping for a miracle. The resources that were scarce before the earthquake are even worse now that almost half of shelter, food, water and jobs were destroyed during the earthquake. In nearby Haitian areas where necessaries are sold, they are now more expensive and seeing how the majority of the population is poor, nobody can afford to buy these things.