On January 12, 2010, Haiti faced one of the worst catastrophes to exist, altering the nation forever—a devastating earthquake that stole the lives of over 316,000 people. 1.3 million others were left homeless with the aftermath of destruction along with the shattering of 97,294 homes.

At 4:53 PM local time, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti, with its epicenter just 16 miles west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The tremors lasted a mere 35 seconds, but in that brief span, they unleashed unimaginable chaos. Entire neighborhoods crumbled, buildings turned to rubble, and countless lives were lost in an instant.

The aftermath revealed the true scale of the tragedy. Hospitals, schools, and government buildings lay in ruins, further crippling an already fragile infrastructure. A study estimated that 158,679 died in the six-week period after the following the earthquake as well.

Its neighboring country, the Dominican Republic was the first country to provide very minimal aid to Haiti. The international community rallied to provide humanitarian aid, but the sheer magnitude of the disaster posed unprecedented challenges to relief efforts.

In the wake of the strongest earthquake in the region in over 200 years, Haiti faced a monumental task—rebuilding not only its physical structures but also the lives of its people. The earthquake exposed deep-seated issues of poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and political instability that had plagued the nation for decades.

International organizations, NGOs, and governments worldwide pledged support, and a multitude of relief efforts were launched to provide immediate assistance. However, the road to recovery proved arduous, hindered by logistical challenges, bureaucratic obstacles, and the sheer complexity of rehabilitating a nation in crisis.

Ongoing Rebuilding

As today in 2010 is labeled as the solemn anniversary, we are reminded of the resilience of Haiti’s people along with the importance of global solidarity in times of crisis. Efforts to rebuild Haiti continue, addressing not only the physical reconstruction of homes and infrastructure but also the need for sustainable development, improved governance, and social resilience.

“I lived, but it was like a part of me died,” says survivor, Oranel Mettelus, who reflected on the tragedy ten years later. “Everyone who helped and supported me was gone.”

We Can Help!

Struggles to rebuild the nation continues to this day, and the people of Haiti have not recovered yet, despite billions of dollars being spent.

The nation is very vulnerable, and every penny and donation is of help.

Here’s how to donate today and if you have any questions, let me know in the comments.