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Haiti Earthquake

Surrounded by rubble, people are standing up – women, mothers, fathers, children – and UNICEF’s role will be to help Haitians stand up together, to turn their hopes into reality, and to ensure that children grow up with access to the full range of services they need to survive and thrive, reaching their full potential to contribute meaningfully to the development of their nation.

Françoise Gruloos-Ackermans
Representative
UNICEF Haiti

The deadliest earthquake on record in the Western Hemisphere hit Haiti on January 12, 2010.

The situation was devastating. The earthquake in Haiti compounded the very difficult humanitarian conditions that already existed. Before the earthquake, the odds for Haiti’s children were already against them: one out of every 13 infants died before the age of five and over 30 per cent of children under five were chronically undernourished. It was declared a children’s emergency.

For the past six months, UNICEF has been instrumental in ensuring the survival, development and protection of children. This is our key priority. On the ground UNICEF leads the coordination of international partners in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Education and Nutrition. In part, thanks to UNICEF’s leadership, so far in this humanitarian response, there has not been an epidemic or disease outbreak, nor has there been an increase in malnutrition.

The situation in Haiti remains more than precarious. The children of Haiti continue to need our undivided attention and our efforts must continue. Recovery and reformation will not happen in six months. The over 20 million cubic metres of rubble and debris - at the current rate of removal, 300 truck loads a day – alone could take six years to finish. The road ahead is long, but we must stand alongside the people of Haiti with renewed commitment to help them realize their dream of a Haiti fit for children.