Between the need for international solidarity and vigilance so as not to repeat the same mistake post january 12, 2010
On Saturday August 14, 2021, at around 8:29 am, the departments of South, Nippes and Grand’Anse were savagely hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake 7.2. It occurred 13 km south-south-east of Petit Trou de Nippes and 10 km deep. The whole country felt the first shock. Other aftershocks followed.
Given the extent of the damage and the need for solidarity, on the same day the US President Joe Biden appointed USAID administrator Madam Samantha Power as US aid coordinator for Haiti. Canada, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic expressed their solidarities and pledged their supports
Faced with the inability of the Haitian government to provide adequate answers to this tragedy, the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights (CARDH—Centre d’Analyse et de Recherche en Droit de l’Homme) supports international solidarity and aid. However, the society must be vigilant, given the unfortunate experience made after the disaster of January 12, 2010 where more than 11 billion US dollars had been mobilized “in the name of the Haitian people and to rebuild the country,” but have been, in fact, used for other purposes.
This should also be seen as one of the reasons for the damage caused by the August 14 earthquake, as the infrastructures were not reinforced.While being attached to its mission to denounce human rights violations, to follow the humanitarian action post August 14, 2021 which must be carried out with respect for the dignity of Haitians, the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights (CARDH) demands transparency in the process and will denounce the grand corruption which, in all likelihood, will result from it.
1. 941 deaths – 9.900 injured – 12.194 houses destroyed – 10.785 others damaged – more than 75,000 stricken families (August 17, 8h: 40 p.m.)
