Haiti Earthquake: Over 1,200 Dead and 13,000 Displaced

An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude caused massive destruction in Haiti last Sunday. Consequently, the death toll reached 1,297 just a day after the tremor. As the rescuers continue working to find survivors, the death count is expected to rise.

The epicenter of the earthquake was only 12km away from the town of Saint-Louis du Sud. However, the disaster had repercussions in a much larger area. The densely populated capital Port-au-Prince was affected, as well as neighboring countries.

Destroying 13,694 and damaging another 12,785, the disaster affected the lives of thousands of residents. With at least 5,700 people injured, along with the increasing number of deaths, Haiti is experiencing a state of emergency.

Hospitals are struggling to help the survivors as roads have been blocked, and vital supplies are in lack. As the maximum patient capacity is reached, medical workers across different regions are trying their best to help the most affected hospitals.

“When it comes to medical needs, this is our biggest urgency. We have started to send medications and medical personnel to the facilities that are affected,” Prime Minister Ariel Henry said. “For the people who need urgent special care, we have evacuated a certain number of them, and we will evacuate some more today and tomorrow.”

According to Henrietta Fore, the UNICEF Executive Director, the country desperately needs health care, clean water, and shelter. Children who have been separated must be given protection. Therefore, rescue and medical teams from across the continent are arriving in Haiti, hoping to improve the situation.

The terrible impact of the earthquake is worsened by the current circumstances in the country. Only a month after President Jovenel Moïse was shot, Haiti was battling a political crisis when the disaster took place. Additionally, a huge tropical storm is expected to pass over the nation next Monday.

Tropical Depression Grace might further complicate the state of Haiti by triggering landslides with the heavy rain. Roads that have already been destroyed could suffer more damage during the following week. Therefore, aid teams aim to get provisions to the worst affected areas before the storm hits.

Bibliography

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Erol, R. (2021, August 13) Buildings destroyed following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Les Cayes. [Photograph] Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/14/powerful-earthquake-strikes-western-haiti

N.A. (2021, August 17) Death, destruction and thousands of injured people in wake of Haiti earthquake. [Photograph] Médecins Sans Frontières. https://www.msf.org/haiti-violence-puts-patients-medical-activities-and-staff-risk

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