Haiti: Five years after devastating earthquake, desperation continues

Five years on from a devastating earthquake in Haiti, tens of thousands of people remain homeless as government policy failures, forced evictions and short-term solutions have failed many who lost everything in the disaster, said Amnesty International today.

The new report, “15 minutes to leave” - Denial of the right to adequate housing in post-quake Haiti, documents worrying cases of people being forcibly evicted from  temporary, make-shift camps. The report also explores how the influx of development aid that came in the wake of the disaster failed to be transformed into long-term, secure housing solutions.

“Many people who lost everything in the 2010 earthquake have faced renewed hardship as they are thrown out of their shelters and makeshift camps. Others face homelessness and destitution in the long-term as financial support programmes from international donors begin to dry up,” said Chiara Liguori, Caribbean Researcher at Amnesty International. 

“Five years ago the eyes of the world were on Haiti after the devastating earthquake tore lives apart and left more than 2 million people homeless. Sadly, since then the world’s interest has waned while tens of thousands of people remain destitute and homeless.”