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  Haiti

Disaster Assistance at a Glance

Recent Disaster Declarations:
Hurricane, Food Crisis, Tropical Storms and Floods

OFDA Response:
Emergency relief supplies, Debris removal, Seed purchase and distribution

OFDA Preparedness:
Disaster preparedness, capacity building

Latest OFDA Report:
LAC Humanitarian Assistance in Review (152KB)

Haiti Earthquake Fact Sheet #55 (69 kb PDF)

Haiti Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Programs Fact Sheet #1 (79kb PDF)

Map of Haiti



Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Haiti Earthquake, 01-13-2010

On January 12 at 1653 hours local time, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southern Haiti. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake epicenter was located 10 miles southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince, West Department. Numerous significant aftershocks followed the initial quake. According to the U.N., the earthquake caused extensive damage in Port-au-Prince, including to the Haiti presidential palace and the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) headquarters. An unknown number of people remain trapped under collapsed buildings, including a hospital in Petionville town, West Department. International media cited the Government of Haiti as reporting at least 100,000 deaths from the earthquake as of January 13, with the number of casualties expected to rise in the coming days. Humanitarian organizations expect a considerable number of affected individuals to require emergency shelter assistance and other relief items.

On January 13, U.S Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth H. Merten declared a disaster due to the effects of the earthquake. In response, USAID/OFDA provided an initial $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince for the implementation of an emergency response program. In addition, USAID/OFDA has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) to Haiti and has activated a Washington D.C.-based Response Management Team to support the USAID/DART. Two USAID/OFDA-supported heavy urban search and rescue (USAR) teams from Fairfax County, VA, and Los Angeles County, CA, each composed of approximately 72 personnel, 6 search and rescue canines, and up to 48 tons of rescue equipment, have deployed with the USAID/DART. USAID/OFDA expects to support up to two more heavy USAR teams from Florida to deploy to Haiti.

Additional Disaster Declarations:
Haiti Hurricane, 09-02-2008

On August 26, Hurricane Gustav passed over Haiti, producing heavy rains and winds, particularly affecting Gonaïves Department as well as Cotes de Fer, Bainet, Jacmel (Marigot), Aquin, and Petit Riviere de Nippes in Southeast Department. Beginning on September 1, the approach of Tropical Storm Hanna led to additional rainfall throughout Haiti. Heavy rains produced floodwaters up to three meters deep in Gonaïves, according to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. On August 30, the Government of Haiti (GOH) Civil Protection Directorate announced that flooding had led to 76 deaths, left 9 people missing, injured 35 people, forced 8,789 people to evacuate to shelters, destroyed 2,121 houses, and damaged an additional 8,155 houses. Flooding and landslides cut off land routes and hampered humanitarian access.

On August 28, the first member of a three-person USAID/OFDA team arrived in Haiti. The team worked closely with USAID/Haiti to coordinate the U.S. Government’s humanitarian response with the GOH, U.N. agencies, and other humanitarian organizations. Overflights, assessments, and relief agency meetings also began on August 28.

On September 2, U.S. Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson issued a disaster declaration in response to Hurricane Gustav and resulting flooding throughout Haiti. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $100,000 through USAID/Haiti for the purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies for displaced populations and for the support of early recovery activities.

Haiti Food Crisis , 04-28-08

Between August 2007 and March 2008, the price of basic food commodities increased by up to 65 percent. In November 2007, heavy rains and floods damaged infrastructure and crops in critical production areas, making the recovery of high-cost products difficult. The food price increase led to widespread civil unrest throughout the capital city of Port-Au-Prince and the provinces of Gonaives, Jacmel, Les Cayes, Petit Goave, and St. Marc from April 7 to April 11. On April 12, the Haitian Parliament approved a vote of no confidence, calling for the formation of a new government.

On April 28, U.S. Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson determined that the current food crisis warranted U.S. Government emergency assistance and requested USAID/OFDA disaster support. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $150,000 in consultation with USAID/Haiti through non-governmental organizations for relief activities, including the purchase and distribution of seeds to farmers in urban and peri-urban production areas for the coming growing season.

Floods and Tropical Storm, 11-07-2007

Continuous rains over the past six weeks, exacerbated by the passage of Tropical Storm Noel, resulted in severe flooding in southern, southwestern, and western departments of Haiti, as well as in Artibonite Department. The rains and associated flooding killed 103 people, with 20 others reported missing, and affected more than 25,000 families, according to initial assessments by the Government of Haiti (GOH). In addition, the rains and flooding destroyed nearly 3,200 houses and damaged more than 14,000 others. The GOH’s Directorate of Civil Protection and humanitarian organizations had been managing the response with previously stockpiled relief supplies, which became significantly depleted.

On November 7, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Thomas C. Tighe declared a disaster due to the effects of the floods and tropical storm.  In response, USAID/OFDA provided $100,000 through USAID/Haiti for emergency relief activities. A four-person USAID/OFDA assessment team coordinated with the U.S. Embassy in Port-Au-Prince, USAID/Haiti and GOH officials to survey flooding impacts and determine whether additional assistance is needed.

For information on additional USAID disaster responses in Haiti, please see OFDA Annual Reports.

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