AID effectpveness after natural disasters. the case of Haití: a unique tragic story
| Autor | Elisa C. Lledó Benito |
| Cargo | Master in International Relations 2012-2013 IE School of International Relations, Madrid |
| Páginas | 157-177 |
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The 21st century is characterized by interdependence and solidarity. These two words are constantly seen in international agreements, in the media and are applied to all circumstances and events such as the economic and financial crisis, bailouts in Europe regarding the countries that have adopted the euro currency and are nowadays facing problems such as Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain or Cyprus. But also during the Arab Spring, solidarity could be appreciated in Facebook where flags of Egypt, Libya, Syria and more recently Turkey, were shown in the profile status of million of people around the world.
Moreover, interdependence and solidarity were also shown with humanitarian interventions, the responsibility to protect, climate change, even terrorism has a global and awareness effect. Indeed, in the XXI century, everything in this world is connected therefore the consequences are shared by all of us.
On January 12th 2010, shortly before 5pm, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7,0 on the Richter scale shook Haiti for 35 seconds, the longest and most unforgettable 35 seconds for Haitian population who were at that time enjoying their day-to-day life.
The earthquake created an unprecedented situation. Not only was it the most powerful earthquake to hit the country for 200 years but also was magnified by the fact that it destroyed the most populated área of the country as well as its economic and administrative center.
It was a sad outcome for a country which was already the poorest nation in the American continent and one of the poorest in the world, with a GNI per capita of 700 US $ (low income) according to the World Bank data.
Solidarity was the driving forcé that characterized the unprecedented wave of international assistance received by Haiti. Solidarity must be understood as an intangible element but moral. When a natural disaster happens, TV, radios, news papers, in short all media show the sad images of countries (normally poor) that had been hit by a natural disaster and do not have anything to survive because they have lost everything in the earthquake: house, money, food and family. That feeling of delibérate help is called solidarity. Donors normally show that type of feeling and aid is disbursed not only from the developed countries but also from developing countries, for example, Brazil. Solidarity must be understood as a moral component, for some, even as an obligation of human beings.
When a natural disaster occurs, two main elements might be highlighted:
=> Immediacy
=> Solidarity
The case of Haiti was not an exception and those two components were applied:
Immediacy of international mobilizations: countries such as the US, Chile, Brazil, Canadá, indeed the whole international community mobilized their efforts in order to send food, medicines, water, soldiers to help Haiti in that moment. Indeed military planes landed in Haitian ground just a few hours after the earthquake happened. But also immediate private donors helped Haitian sending million of dollars, euros and pledging loans, grants etc.
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Solidarity understood in the sense that the whole global society mobilized1 to help Haitians in that terrible situation. Furthermore, solidarity understood in the sense of the willingness of the international community to assist and support the government and people from Haiti. As I have explained before, solidarity is not something impose, but an altruist action. In that particular case, the commotion of the terrible earthquake and the images broadcasted in TV, caught the attention and the hearts of million of people who started contributing with the cause.
Undeniably, the whole international community, the whole world turned their attention, their solidarity and their compassion to this small and poor country and showed how united the globalized world can be.
Three years after the devastating earthquake destroyed the economic and the administrative center of the country, the solidarity that characterized the whole effort relief seems to have disappeared. The economy is still stagnant, not significant change has happened since that terrible date (I2th January) and the situation appears to be worsened (cholera spread among the population, shortages of food, etc.). Where "that unprecedented wave of international assistance" that Haiti received three years ago has gone?
It seems that this solidarity, this compassion, follows a process where people are first affected by the aggressive event (earthquake), then they have a kind of "overshooting effect2" (as adrenaline) and finally, when time goes by, this "overshooting effect" goes down and falls into oblivion. Are we witnessing a situation of "donor's fatigue"? Or is it more a domestic problem?
It is true that Haiti suffers from internal problems such as corruption and also suffers problems within the government. In the particular case of Haiti, we face the two sides of the coin concerning international aid. On the one hand, "donor's fatigue" can be understood as the situation when donors invest money in order to assist and solve an economic development problem or a natural disaster relief, and they realise that positive results never arrive. On the other hand, it can also be a problem of the donors themselves who do not invest their money in good projectsi therefore the result of the effect of the aid is negative as it seems is the case in Haiti. However, it looks that the internal affairs has a lot to do with the "disappointment" of donors but particularly, of Haitian population.
Is international aid effective when talking about natural disasters?
Although there is no simple answer to this question, the Haitian history may provide some insights on key issues that should not be avoided since aid does not seem to have been effective in this case.
Indeed, is Haiti these days, the symbol of the failure3 of aid?
After the terrible earthquake and chaos that hit Haiti, we can state that the Caribbean island has been since then in a dramatic situation. This situation has put this small nation on the front pages of newspapersi but the weak economic, political and social situation goes way back in time.
Haiti has actually a unique tragic history: natural disasters, poverty, diseases, racial disputes, and political instability have all plagued the small country throughout its history.
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Haiti has suffered since 1564, eleven earthquakes and seisms4 and has faced all over its history: cyclones, hurricanes, tropical storms, torrential rains and floods.
Indeed, Haiti is a country prone to environmental and natural disasters and is vulnerable to climatic changes. Furthermore, Haiti is located in what it can be considered as the corridor of hurricanes and tropical depressions, and is placed between complex systems of fault lines.
Actually, from May-June to November, Haiti is exposed to cyclones and hurricanes that involve considerable damage, when touching its territory. However, these adverse natural events cannot explain all the disasters that have taken place in Haiti. In addition, poverty, deforestation and climate change make Haiti more vulnerable when is struck by natural disasters.
According to the European Commission report about Humanitarian Aid in Haiti "From 2001 to 2007, tropical cyclones andñoods left more than 18,000 dead and 132,000 persons homeless and approximately 6.4 million people were affected. During the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and líe, all ofwhich hit the country within a month, devastatedHaiti. As a result, eight out often departments were severely affected'5. Moreover, the fact that the biggest population in Haiti leaves in the cities (Port au Prince), and in weakly constructed buildings is an incentive for the increase of the vulnerability of the country towards earthquakes.
Besides, according to Haiti Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report 2010, "Haiti has the highest índex of vulnerability to cyclones ofall the developing small island states. Haiti is located in the middle of the Caribbean Basin, and 96% of its population Uve in constant danger of 2 or more risks"6. It keeps saying, "In addition to the hydro meteorological threats, Haiti is in a seismically active zone. Thus, four fault lines capable of producing high magnitude shocks cross its territory. The recurrence interval is estimatedat 150-200years, with the country's two biggest towns, Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien situated directly on the fault lines".
The last earthquake7 that Haiti faced was the one in January 12th 2010 with a magnitude of 7,0 in the Richter scale. Its epicenter was situated approximately at 25 kilometers from Port au Prince, the capital of Haiti where all the main administrative and community buildings were, including the cathedral, the main hospital and the UN peacekeeping headquarters. Port au Prince is also the most populated city in Haiti. The devastating earthquake cost the lives of more than 300,000 people and left 2.1 million displaced8.
That is why, after the bitter experience of the last earthquake, the government was foreseeing to move the capital from Port-au-Prince to the north where it does not suffer those intense and powerful earthquakes.
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