Haiti Earthquake - 5 years on

In a grim start to the New Year in 2010, a 7.0 Mw earthquake struck Haiti, affecting almost three million people. This month, Compassion Australia remembers the thousands of people who lost their lives, including the 62 Compassion assisted children, a Haitian staff member and Compassion International contractor.

Haiti is still a nation of extreme poverty

With the exact death toll still relatively unknown, the Haiti earthquake caused incredible destruction. Houses, schools and government buildings were completely destroyed. Water- and sanitation-related diseases ran rampant in the earthquake’s aftermath, with over 700,000 cases of cholera reported since 2010 and 8500 lives lost. Five years later, some affected families are still trying to rebuild their lives.

Compassion Australia Staff Member Andrew Merry wasn’t there when the earthquake hit, nor was he part of Compassion’s initial response...he is however a regular visitor to Haiti, taking Compassion Advocates and Pastors there on an annual basis. (originally aired on Vision Radio Network)