The 2010 Haiti Earthquake


Haiti may have gained its independence from France in 1804, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t had its own share of hardship since. For one, Haiti’s geographical location above a major fault line has made it a prime target for earthquakes. 

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 hit Haiti, leaving 220,000 people dead and 300,000 injured. Humanitarian aid immediately began to pour in from countries and disaster relief organizations all over the world as the Haitian government scrambled to supply essential services to its citizens. This proved to be difficult because the earthquake had taken the lives of many government officials and demolished the UN headquarters, parliament, and National Palace.

Even more recent events have challenged Haiti to devise a plan of action after disaster—examples being the 2021 earthquake and assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, just to name a few. It’s important to understand the responses to these events because, in a sense, disaster recovery is exactly what this committee is tasked to do. The timeline of committee begins after the Conflict of June 1793 leaves 3,000 dead and the city of Cap Français in ruins. Delegates must rebuild Haiti while quelling political unrest, a situation not unlike the aftermaths of the Haitian earthquakes. 

If you want to read more about the 2010 earthquake, a great article to look at is NPR's recount of the incident. While you read through the article, consider these questions: What repercussions did the Haitian Revolution result in, and how have those affected the nation’s ability to recover from major natural disasters today? Comment your thoughts below!

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