Haiti marks earthquake’s second anniversary
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Haiti marks earthquake’s second anniversary
Steve Chiotakis: Now to Haiti, where two years ago today, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake killed an estimated 200,000 people or more, and left more than $7 billion dollars in damage. Aid from around the world has been pouring in ever since — billions of dollars worth.
And reporter Alex Goldmark tells us from the capitol Port-au-Prince about how some of that money is being spent.
Alex Goldmark: The quake left 1.5 million people desperate for shelter, water and health care. Charities and foreign governments promised some $6 billion for Haiti’s recovery. Just a bit over half that’s been spent.
Jean Roca is with a U.N. project that scoops up the rubble of destroyed houses and recycles it into reusable brick. He says the job is about half-done.
Jean-Sebastien Roca: It’s not yet finished, but it’s not only arriving, demolishing, and going — it’s understanding, making sure people accept us.
And getting 46 different agencies, the local government and even local gangs to work together. And that’s just for rubble. Mary Kate MacIsaac is with the charity World Vision. It’s trying to rebuild the 60 percent of Haiti’s schools that were lost.
Mary Kate MacIsaac: It’s been difficult and it it’s been a struggle and it continues to be a struggle for 500,000 people living in camps.
She says in Haiti, you can start to talk about progress now — but not success.
In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, I’m Alex Goldmark for Marketplace.
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