Haiti earthquake 3 years on ? About Plan ? Plan International

Girls improving their reading skills through a portable library project led by Plan

9 January 2012: Three years after the Haiti earthquake, Plan is shifting its focus in the impoverished Caribbean nation from emergency response to recovery and rebuilding mode.

The earthquake on 12 January 2010 caused widespread devastation ? killing 300,000 people and leaving more than 1 million homeless.

Plan provided immediate emergency relief to affected communities and was one of the first agencies to respond in Jacmel, where 60% of the buildings were destroyed.

Reaching thousands

During the past 3 years Plan has helped more than 33,000 children return to school and built 314 classrooms, which are earthquake and hurricane resistant.

Plan Haiti has also trained more than 1,200 women in microfinance in the South-East and North-East and conducted a series of programmes to sensitise children on their rights. Key members of the public were also taught how to spot telltale signs of child trafficking.

Long term support

Children marching through Croix-des-Bouquets in support of Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign for girls' education

?The road to recovery will be a long one but Plan International is here for the long haul. We must ensure the country is not forgotten and we will do all possible to continue to help the people of Haiti recover and rebuild,? said Plan Chief Executive Officer Nigel Chapman.

Plan?s country director in Haiti, John Chaloner, said that ?the emergency response has taken longer than anticipated because we were up against the odds but we are satisfied that we have turned the corner and can now turn our attention to long term development.?

Future focus

Plan will now focus on working for equal education for all, full participation of girls in society, birth registration for every baby, and health education to combat cholera and other common diseases.

Pressing issues remain for the country - such as the reconstruction of government buildings and access to land for Haitians to rebuild their homes. The 2010 earthquake was followed by political unrest, storms, floods and a major cholera epidemic.

Find out more about Plan?s work in Haiti

Source: http://plan-international.org/about-plan/resources/news/haiti-earthquake-3-years-on

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