Southern Haiti’s Devastating Earthquake: One Year Later
It has been one year since the devastating earthquake that struck southwestern Haiti on August 14, 2021. The magnitude 7.2 earthquake damaged more than 83,000 homes, destroyed nearly 54,000, and left thousands of families homeless. Schools, hospitals, roads and bridges were also destroyed, disrupting transportation, agriculture, and commerce. The disaster also left 2,248 people dead, 12,763 injured, and 344 missing.
The earthquake struck Haiti in the midst of a political crisis following the assassination of the country’s president in July 2021, worsening existing concerns for Haitian society. To make matters worse, a hurricane struck the country shortly after the earthquake, causing even more damage to the affected areas including flooding.
When the situation calmed down, our teams were able to conduct more surveys and found that the affected communities’ greatest need was for repairs to their homes. Peace Winds responded by distributing repair kits with the tools Haitians needed to rebuild, and over the last seven months, 1,676 households in 8 villages (Chantal, Camp-Perrin, Mniche, Torbeck, Aniquet commune) were able to repair their homes. Prior to construction, volunteers helped clear villages of debris, and Peace Winds held information sessions to help beneficiaries use the tools properly.
Following the distribution of home repair kits, Peace Winds remains committed to supporting the Haitian people in their long-term road to recovery. This includes Peace Winds’ multi-purpose community centers which serve as training sites for disaster preparedness drills and temporary shelter in times of disaster, helping Haiti’s rural communities mitigate the effects of future hurricanes and earthquakes. In calmer times, Peace Winds’ community centers also serve as hubs for women’s livelihood training and youth educational activities, helping Haitians rebuild their lives in addition to their homes.
Below are comments from some of our beneficiaries.
Mayor of Camp-Perrin (Cenisir Macius)
“The Camp-Perrin Commune is one of the villages that suffered the most damage in the earthquake. Haitians have been deeply affected by this disaster and still need support in infrastructure and education; however, Peace Winds’ home repair kits have given residents a bit of hope, and the smiles on their faces made the atmosphere here a little brighter. Thank you to Peace Winds and Japan Platform.”
Torbeck Civil Servant (Marie-Jusceline Beauvoir)
“This was the first time since Hurricane Matthew in 2016 that my commune has received any support. Until now, it felt like we had been abandoned. After receiving our home repair kits, people can sleep inside their homes instead of outdoors, and we’re protected from the wind and rain. We are now in a period of reconstruction, and things like vocational training, agricultural support, and soil conservation will be important for our village in the near future. I would like to thank Peace Winds for supporting us.”
Below are comments from Peace Winds staff members.
Peace Winds Project Project Manager (Williame Denis)
“Peace Winds’ emergency response has greatly improved the lives of Haitians affected by this disaster. Residents need sustainable solutions to rebuild their homes and make a full recovery, and in the future, there will be a need for disaster-resistant housing design and construction technology.”
Peace Winds Accounting Manager (Jean Brunord Clerger)
“Haiti is still a centralized country, with much of its infrastructure, industry, education, and economy concentrated in urban areas. To solve this problem and support rural communities, we need involvement from NGOs like ours. I always keep this in mind as I work with Peace Winds. The August 14 earthquake has devastated southwestern Haiti, worsening the precarious economic situation. Thanks to Peace Winds’ support, 1,676 households living in five communes in Southern Province were able to receive supplies.
“I am glad to see firsthand the way this project has improved the lives of earthquake survivors. I myself lost my family in the earthquake, and I learned a lot from interacting with other Haitians during this project. The disaster survivors were very pleased with the supplies they received, and it was clear that they were in great need of the home repair kits. In the future, it will be possible to build houses that are resistant to earthquakes and typhoons, provide opportunities for training in disaster-resistant construction techniques, and reduce the number of people who are left homeless.”
Peace Winds Engineer (Maceus Mackenson)
“The thing that made me happiest was that many disaster survivors have been using the home repair kits since the day they received them. The damaged houses were short of materials, but beneficiaries have been working with their neighbors to trade supplies and make repairs. In my area, there are people who think that even the city council has given up on them, so we’re really proud of the results of this project. We look forward to rebuilding the community, and I would like to continue providing support so that all destroyed homes can be repaired.”
A year after the earthquake, Haiti has survived the disaster and is now on its way to long-term recovery and reconstruction. This requires a revitalization of social services such as housing, health, education, and food security. In addition, there is a growing need to promote agriculture, commerce and industry, repair major infrastructure, and protect the environment.
However, due to conflicts between gangs and nationwide fuel shortages, the security situation continues to deteriorate, and there has been an increase in kidnappings and attacks. Peace Winds plans to continue to provide support for sustained recovery and reconstruction, and we thank you for your donations and continued support.