Remembering the earthquake in Haiti five years ago today
Exactly five years ago today, the people of Haiti suffered a terrible earthquake that registered a catastrophic 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale. What was the result and what has happened since?
- The death toll will never be known but estimates vary between 90,000-300,000.
- The number of people displaced was around 1.5 million.
- A cholera epidemic which started later that year has killed a further 9,000.
- According to one UN leader, the money needed in international aid is $2.2 billion.
- The amount of money pledged so far by international donors is $407 million – just 18% of the total required.
Source: article in today’s “Guardian” newspaper