Over the weekend, Haiti marked a dismal anniversary. Three years ago on January 12, the small country, known as the La Perle des Antilles (the pearl of the Caribbean) was ravaged by a catastrophic earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale.
Commemorating the three-year anniversary, Haitian President Michel Martelly held a small ceremony at the presidential palace. During the event, Martelly announced a new building code in an attempt to strengthen the small nation’s ability to withstand other natural disasters.
Former President Bill Clinton was also on hand, expressing hope for Haiti’s future. “I think that you will see particularly in the economic sphere, a lot more in the coming year,” he said. “Haiti is projected to have the highest growth rate in the Caribbean but we have to speed up some of the infrastructure. We have to repair the agriculture. We’ve got to build more houses. We’ve to get people out of those tents.”
Unfortunately, even with his optimism, Clinton has not been exempt from an inability to bring in money for Haiti. His $55 million-business fund for the country, founded with former President George W. Bush halted operation last month.
In the aftermath of the quake, devastation was widespread with dilapidation reaching hospitals in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, ruining communication centers, blocking roads with debris, and damaging roughly 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings, and claiming more than 200,000 lives.
Three years later, and with delayed rebuilding efforts, many residence are still living in living on make-shift camp grounds.
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Photos: AP/Reuters
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In hopes of bringing as much publicity to the earthquake as possible, Wyclef Jean was tireless in his efforts to raise money for his home country, via his Yéle Haiti organization. Yet within months of the tremor, cracks in the foundation of his non-profit were unearthed. Following a failed bid for president of Haiti, it was reported that Jean left a “trail of debts, unfinished projects, and broken promises.” Further audits of Yéle Haiti’s finances revealed that more than $250,000 of its charity donations were pocketed by the one-time Fugees front man.
Regardless of the bad press, and alleged faulty practices, Jean has vehemently denied doing anything wrong. “Let me be clear, I denounce any allegations that I have profited personally through my work with Yéle Haiti. These baseless attacks are simply not true,” he said in a statement last year.
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One positive note to emerge from the earthquake was increased adoptions in Haiti. In September of last year Haiti announced the re-opening of its adoption program. The change in policy and procedure will allow the country to strengthen its adoption relationship with the U.S. and help to police the regulation of orphanages and homes where children will be placed.
For the youngsters who remain in Haiti, the importance of education is being stressed, while schools have been under construction, and roads are (slowly but surely) being repaired.
The Holy Trinity Music School—Haiti’s oldest and largest music school—is using the arts to lift spirits. “I think people recognized the fact that music can help their children keep going in the right direction,” said Janet Anthony, music professor at Lawrence University. Anthony has been teaching in Haiti since 1996. “There are more and more music schools springing up every day.”
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As has been the case with the earthquake and accompanying tsunami in Japan, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and other global natural disasters, no matter the destroyed structures, a strong sense of faith in Haiti has not been shattered. “A lot of people who never prayed or believe—now they believe,” said 24-year-old clerk Cristina Bailey, days after the quake. “People don’t blame Jesus for all these things. They have faith. They believe that Jesus saved them and are thankful for that.”
“Thank you God, because he saved my life,” said 11-year-old Anaika Saint Louis pulled from the rubble after the earthquake, only die from her injuries. The little girl’s leg had been crushed, and even after learning that doctor’s would have to amputate her feet, her faith never faltered. “Thank you God, because he saved my life,” she said. “If I lose my feet, I always had my life.”
Click below to see photos from the quake and updated images of the area.
An area of the quake-damaged Santa Ana Catholic church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 12, 2013.
Haiti’s President Michel Martelly, left, and former President Bill Clinton attend memorial in Haiti, on Jan. 12, 2013.
Relatives of those who died in the earthquake walk to place a cross on a hilltop at Titanyen, a mass burial site north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 12, 2013.
