Haiti devastated by massive earthquake

A major earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale hit the Caribbean nation of Haiti on Tuesday 12 January 2010 at 4.53 pm (9.53pm GMT).  The quake hit south of Port-au-Prince and was followed by two aftershocks measuring 5.9 and 5.5.

Reports from the Haitian Government state between 217,000 and 230,000 people have been identified as dead, although the final death toll is still expected to rise.  The report further estimated 300,000 people were injured, and 1,000,000 Haitians have been left homeless. 

Damage suffered was severe in Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and other settlements.  Many landmark buildings suffered major damage or were completely destroyed, including the Presidential Palace, the Tax Office, the Ministry of Commerce and the Foreign Ministry.  The Haitian government estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or suffered major damage.

Many were killed when the UN local Head Quarters collapsed.  

Responding humanitarian aid from the world over arrived to help, including medical teams, engineers, support personnel and rescue teams.  Early relief efforts were, however, hampered by lack of communications systems, transport facilities, hospitals, and electrical supplies which were all damaged in the earthquake.  Tens of thousands of bodies were buried in mass graves due to overwhelmed morgues and resources.

On 23 January the search for survivors was officially cancelled by the Haitian government. 

The UN paid tribute to the 101 staff lost in the earthquake on 9 March 2010.  The ceremony held one minute’s silence in memory of those killed, the majority of which died when UN headquarters and adjacent buildings collapsed.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has recently suffered a number of disasters including the four hurricanes which killed hundreds in 2008.