Haiti: One Year After the Earthquake

Survivors of the earthquake face new dangers.

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A sick girl stands inside a hospital tent in Haiti. (AFP/Getty Images)

When an earthquake rocked Haiti last January, more than 1 million residents lost their homes. The homeless moved into "tent cities" that sprang up around Port-au-Prince. That is the country's capital. There, Haitians lived in filthy and unhealthy conditions.

That was almost a year ago. Today, Haiti's homeless continue to sleep on the ground. Parts of the poor nation are still so damaged that it looks as if the earthquake just struck.

As Haitians struggle to pick up the pieces on the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, they have a different kind of emergency to face. Recently, a deadly disease began sweeping through the nation.

A Spreading Sickness

The illness is called cholera. That is a disease of the intestines that causes severe stomach pains and vomiting. People who have cholera can become dehydrated. To be dehydrated is to not have enough water in the body.

Cholera is most often caused by contaminated food or water. The disease first surfaced in Haiti in late October. Since then, the contagious illness has killed hundreds of people and hospitalized thousands more. A contagious disease is transmitted from one person to another.

"Sometimes cholera is mild and people don't feel sick, but it can also be very serious," Brittany Raines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told WR News. "Infected people can die within hours."

Desperate Times

Experts are not sure how cholera reached Haiti, a country about 700 miles southeast of Florida. But they say its rapid spread is due, in part, to the poor living conditions there.

“Standing water, mud, [and] lack of garbage collection ... make the camps a [breeding ground] for [a] cholera outbreak," says the U.S.-based Partners In Health aid group.

To move the homeless out of the tent cities, Haiti needs money. The United States first offered $1.1 billion in relief. In March, the U.S. Congress set aside another $1.15 billion for Haiti, but it has not yet been delivered.

Without funds, there is no money to build shelters. The country also can't afford to clear the rubble from the quake. Some U.S. lawmakers want Haiti's government to prove the funds won't be misused by corrupt officials. Someone who is corrupt is dishonest.

Hope for Haiti

Some U.S. officials, including former U.S. president Bill Clinton, are working hard to persuade the government to deliver funds to Haiti faster.

In the meantime, health-care workers are trying to control the cholera outbreak. Doctors have set up clinics around Port-au-Prince. The disease can be treated with medicine. American Red Cross workers visit tents in Port-au-Prince. They talk with residents about protecting themselves from cholera. That includes frequent hand washing and methods of cooking food properly.

"This is a large ... population [that is in danger]," says Red Cross worker Ricardo Caivano. "[We] are working hard to help them stay healthy."

Think About It

Should the U.S. help people in other countries? Why or why not?

I feel bad for them

Submitted by Romeo E. on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 19:05.

I feel bad for them

earthquake

Submitted by mr.awesome on Tue, 12/06/2011 - 20:29.

that stinks we should help out cause if we were in the same position and they had as much money they would help us out you can do it haiti

THIS

Submitted by hiah on Tue, 12/06/2011 - 17:50.

THIS IS SAD

reading

Submitted by pie on Mon, 11/14/2011 - 14:13.

i feel so bad i think we should help Haiti becuase if that was our country alot of people would do stuff and thats very close to my country "Dominican Repudlic" my grandmother sends so much food over there so if all of us did that it would make a big change

8)

Submitted by fred on Tue, 11/08/2011 - 18:02.

once me and my friends sold bractles and we made $80 off of it and we sent it to hati that was during the earthquake that went through!

ouch

Submitted by christian on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 17:30.

thats so sad i should help

haiti

Submitted by claudia on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 17:55.

i think that the people in haiti should get out of there and go to someplace else where thres no eartquakes because if another goes by more people will die

haiti needs our help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted by Annalisa on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 13:43.

Since haiti is the poorest country is the WORLD, we need to donate some money to haiti to fix the damages. Plus we need to help them kinda cure the sickness in haiti. AMERICA HELP HAITI

In need of help!

Submitted by Felisha on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 04:08.

In my opinion, I believe the U.S should help Haiti.
If we were in their position, we would cry for help too. Think about all the sick babies and families that are dieing because they have nothing. They can't go to the stores and get medicine like we can, they can't eat and drink non-contaminated things like we do. They are a foreign country that has little of everything except people.
U.S should help, and maybe other states should pitch in too.

Should The United States Help?

Submitted by Janell on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 15:57.

We've given them so much, though we still don't think we can trust them so much. I do agree, I think it's sad how they have to suffer through all this tough time. But I think we should STOP giving Haiti money, or else we're going to loose our nation, too. I think we should keep on sending them food and doctors, just NO MORE MONEY HAITI!

Haiti

Submitted by Chris on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 15:56.

I think that the US should help them because what if we were them we would want them to help us

Why

Submitted by Tyler on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 15:55.

Robbie why should we start a fundraiser

Hi people of earth shelby is

Submitted by Nolan on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 15:51.

Hi people of earth shelby is weird

Haiti

Submitted by Millea on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 15:51.

I think we should help Haiti because it's the right and nice thing to do. And I don't want our country to sound selfish. Because we have a bunch of money and Haiti does not have as much money. Restraints should take peoples waste of food and put it in a bag and send it to haiti. See that idea means all the food you wast is ant really being wasted Because it's going to the people who need it to stay alive. If you have a baby you could also give the clothing that does not fit your baby to haiti you now what grown ups could do that to so they would have some cloths.see those ideas don't Evan cost you money. You could give the stuff that schools don't need any more to Haiti so the schools there will have more school stuff.I really hope we can help Haiti and that Haiti gets better and I hope you use these tips so we can be mown as a hero to Haiti.

Haiti

Submitted by Shelby on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 15:48.

I think that we should help other people like Haiti had a bad earthquake and now they do not have ant thing else and if that happened to us I would won't others to help us out because we don't have any thing else just like otter people in the world, countries.

Haiti Disaster

Submitted by Tiana on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 15:48.

I think that Haiti should get the same respect that we get. It isn't fair that they get no money and are dying of sicknesses, while we are having parties. It isn't fair!!!! I think that we should help Haiti because they are having very hard times since there houses have been decked and they are losing family members or close friends. If you lived in Hati you would want, no wait, need ALOT of help. So next time you see an article or hear anything about Hati on the news you should stop and think "what if you were in Hati and what if you were one of those people who were helping Hati. I would be blessed to see that Hati would be all cleaned up and to know that the disease passed and that the kids,parents,and seniors are all ok. I know that some people re probably thinking that Haiti is just a country that had an Earthquake but it isn't. They had a huge Earthquake and they now have a huge disease going around that is killing the people in Haiti. I really do think that we should help them because of there losses of there homes, families, and close friends. Sorry about your losses Haiti.

Tiana

Should They?

Submitted by Jessica on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 15:47.

I think that the U.S should help Haiti because, I think that we are losing a lot of people around the world and mostly Haiti. And the reason that I think so it because, I know a lot of people have lost a family member or friend. And it is sad to me and think about moms and dads and how they would feel if they lost a kid I mean I have lost a mom. And because, if we give them money to help fix up the place that mite mean that it could help them not get sick.

U.s should help other countries

Submitted by Tyler on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 15:45.

Yes americans should help people in other countries.we can because the us could donate money,food,and clothes to haiti to help them survive because we care about other countries in the world.I also think we should help them because their is bad stuff going on around the world.

Haiti

Submitted by Shelby on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 15:44.

this is sad they need help

Submitted by cass on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 16:26.

this is sad they need help

sorry

Submitted by candace on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 23:20.

i wish that i could help you all with that but i cant but i will try to help i hope that you will get a home and i know that you will just keep trying god will bless you all

haiti

Submitted by tristan on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 17:43.

i wish i could do something

haiti

Submitted by jj on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 00:00.

i fell so bad for them

that is terrible

Submitted by tt on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 17:42.

that is terrible

This is so sad...

Submitted by Jasmine on Sat, 01/29/2011 - 15:23.

This is very sad. I wish me and my friends could help. D:

i want to help

Submitted by Rachel on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 22:50.

how sad. i wish i can help. but im only a third grader.

DOESN'T MATTER!!!

Submitted by bri on Tue, 05/10/2011 - 22:20.

it doesn't matter how small or young you are you can make a difference!!!! you can do it!!!! :)

sorry for them

Submitted by savanna on Fri, 01/21/2011 - 14:39.

i am so sorry for you

haiti

Submitted by tania on Thu, 01/20/2011 - 23:34.

i think all americans should help by just donateing an amount of money.

I think we all should be greatful that we have clean food and water the do not have any

please help by sending 5 dollars to Haiti

Haiti

Submitted by Samantha on Wed, 02/16/2011 - 15:16.

We feel sorry for you because the people have no home. They need food and water. They need to survive. We will pray to God that we can help you.

one year later

Submitted by adelaide on Wed, 01/19/2011 - 18:37.

thats really sad we need to help

thats so sad man U.S needs to

Submitted by year lata on Wed, 01/19/2011 - 16:37.

thats so sad man U.S needs to step it up and help them we may not have alot of money but we can do something

Haiti

Submitted by Kursten Ayatette Vassestoin on Fri, 01/14/2011 - 23:56.

My class at school had read about haiti and the earthquake and i said in front of the room that we need too set up a donation and the princable told me a clue and i raised 900 dollers for my school

we need to help

Submitted by ashley on Thu, 01/13/2011 - 13:50.

this is not fair we will help

My students were very

Submitted by Mrs. Fojt and students on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 14:45.

My students were very concerned with the health of the people in Haiti especially the children that should be able to enjoy school and being a kid.

one year later

Submitted by jpk on Mon, 01/10/2011 - 00:25.

that is devistating. we should help

scary

Submitted by Robbie on Sun, 01/09/2011 - 19:23.

we should start a fundraiser.

death

Submitted by ian on Sun, 01/09/2011 - 18:28.

Man, so much damage, people in Haiti are dying right now, we gotta help:(

I thought that my family had

Submitted by Rolesha on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 16:34.

I thought that my family had it hard

the sickness in Haiti

Submitted by kayley on Fri, 01/07/2011 - 23:32.

my class thinks it realy sad.

death

Submitted by Jannah on Fri, 01/14/2011 - 23:50.

tis sad that today and later life in hati will be ye gone and diaed

haiti

Submitted by ashlee on Fri, 01/07/2011 - 21:48.

that's a bad sickness!!!

That is sad with all them

Submitted by natosha on Fri, 01/07/2011 - 20:54.

That is sad with all them people. So we should do something about it.

i feel so srry for haiti

Submitted by tj on Fri, 01/07/2011 - 20:42.

i feel so srry for haiti

haiti

Submitted by tj on Fri, 01/07/2011 - 20:41.

I really wish we could help just because were kids doesnt mean we cant help. I think everyone should help. everyone should help and feel sorry for the haitians. the poor people. the whole nation is poor. the french captured them as slaves. a man was born into slavery (I forgot his name) and he rallied up over 400000 slaves and attacked the french and won.then the french sent 20000 troops and lost.the man retired to his farm 3 weeks later he was captured by the french and imprisoned and there he died in 1803.i feel realy realy sorry for these poor people. they should be treated with the best technology and medicine.

Haiti

Submitted by Jayson on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 17:44.

we need to help people every wher in the world. Yes Haiti and Japan are impotant right now but there are still people starving and dieing out there and we dont care so how come its all about this but you dont help people in America or africa or somewhere else?!! How would you feel if someone in your family was in that position? Think about everyone!!!! But still these people are still important and are suffuring as well as the rest of the world.

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