US Implemented Programs in Haiti
The earthquake in Haiti claimed the lives of 200,000-250,000 people and over 1 million people were left homeless after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake ravaged the nation (White 2). About 2% of the population in Haiti was lost, the economic costs according to Inter-American Development Bank was estimated at $8.5 billion to the nation’s economy (White 7). It happened when the economy of Haiti had shown signs of growth after the United States passed the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act, the Act was crucial in boosting the apparel industry in Haiti as they were allowed to export certain products duty-free to the United States (Farmer 45-52).
The USAID has worked with other government agencies in the United States and other international organizations to provide emergency responses as well as recovery programs. The United States government has in Haiti, providing long-term sustainable development in energy, food security, health care, education, improvement in democracy, and good governance. The governments of the United States with other external partners strive to continually build Haiti to be viable in its economic needs.
USAID/Haiti, In regards to the development of infrastructure in Haiti, the US has formed a partnership with several international organizations and nations for the provision of emergency shelter to more than 1.5 million Haitians who were left homeless by the earthquake. Also, the government has worked to provide shelter solutions, this has included the provision of damaged homes, provision of support to families displaced after the disaster, and provision of transitional shelters.
The United States government also collected, recorded, and validated several land tenure information for people who lost their documents and information during the earthquake. The United States government has also worked to remove massive amounts of rubble across Haiti left after the earthquake.
According to USAID/Haiti, on energy in Haiti, the US government undertook a project of constructing a power project that will provide an estimated 10 MW to the national grid. The government has also worked to rehabilitate and upgrade 5 power substations in Port-au-Prince affected by the earthquake. The United States government is also involved in ensuring the country regains economic stability. Achieved by supporting and creation of Haiti Apparel Center, the organization has the responsibility of rebuilding the sector to ensure it is viable again. Additionally, have enabled access to the United States market and Haitians can sell their products duty-free.
The Government of the United States has also provided finance to over 46 institutions involved in financing sectors that affect the poor. The funding was more than $10 million and was more involved in developing agriculture, which is important to the country. The funds have been used in providing loans to farmers in the coffee sector, cocoa, and providing opportunities for the improvement of access to the market both globally and locally.
According to Phillips, the United States government has also worked with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help in the development and provision of mobile money campaign in the country that allowed Haitians to use their mobile phones in several transactions. This has ensured the service has penetrated in many communities and targeted the unbanked members in society.
According to USAID/HAITI, on improving food security, the United States government has worked to increase agricultural income on households through the improvement of rural roads, support of farm produce, and improvement of irrigation projects in the country. The United States government has also introduced seeds, farming technology, and fertilizer to the farmers in the country. Also used are programs on the training of farmers on better farming practices and animal husbandry. Other aspects include the improvement of health services in the country through the provision of primary health care, HIV counseling and testing, prevention, and treatment of tuberculosis among others.
Role of the media
According to Phillips, after the earthquake, official lines of communication in the country were seriously affected. The user-generated content was crucial in reaching out to the rest of the world on what was happening in Haiti. Social media played a huge role in what was required by the suffering populations and the events as they unfolded (White 216). Twitter feeds gave the information on the events happening in Haiti such as emergency operations and the provision of essential services to those affected by the earthquake.
Organizations such as BBC and CNN had reporters on the ground who updated the world on the events as they happened. The media has played a role in informing the world of the plight of the poor Haitians and the challenges they go through in rebuilding their nation affected by the earthquake (Farmer 67). The media has been used in relief efforts as well as charity work for the people in Haiti by appealing to their clients to help in the charity.
The media has also played a part in airing the voices of Haiti people to the whole world. It has focused on all aspects of the country such as the development taking place, the recent elections carried out in the country, and the social aspects of the people (Farmer 32).
Works Cited
Farmer, Paul. Haiti after the earthquake. New York: PublicAffairs, 2011. Print.
Phillips, Adam. “Haitian-American Media Play Important Role for Haiti Quake Victims, Haitian-Americans Abroad.” Voice of America. N.p. 2010. Web.
USAID/HAITI. “Earthquake.” USAID/HAITI. N.p. 2012. Web.
White, Connie. Social media, crisis communication, and emergency management : leveraging Web 2.0 technologies. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2012. Print.