Humanitarian and Development Intervention Case Study 2022

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Running head: HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 1
Humanitarian and Development Intervention: Haiti
Name
Institution

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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 2
Executive Summary
The impact of humanitarian groups in improving the conditions of disaster-struck Haiti cannot be
understated. Shortly after the devastating news about the 2010 Haiti earthquake disasters,
humanitarian groups were at the frontline of well-wishers who tried to console and support the
affected victims. Humanitarian groups targeted to improve the worsened living conditions of
Haitians. Considering that millions of Haiti citizens were affected by the earthquake, the need to
help these people was urgent. Later, development groups joined to help in improving the
conditions in Haiti by suggesting methods that would improve the living standards of Haitians
living below the poverty line. This case study reveals some of the humanitarian and development
interventions played by these groups. The case study stresses actions played by humanitarian and
development groups in improving the living standards of the affected at the aftermath of the
2010 earthquake in Haiti. The major international humanitarian and development groups
investigated are World Vision, World Food Programme, Oxfam and Red Cross. Moreover, the
case study admits that in spite of these humanitarian and development groups' efforts, there are a
few things that they should improve. It is apparent that despite the groups' goodwill, the living
conditions of the people in the low-income country are still infuriating.
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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 3
Table of Contents
Contents
Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................2
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4
Key Issues...................................................................................................................................................5
Goals of the Humanitarian and Development Groups.................................................................................6
Problems faced towards Achieving the Goals.............................................................................................6
Decision Criteria..........................................................................................................................................7
Major Assumptions.....................................................................................................................................8
Data Analysis and Interpretation.................................................................................................................9
Preferred Alternatives with Rationale........................................................................................................10
Recommendations.....................................................................................................................................11
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................11
References.................................................................................................................................................13
Appendix A: . Exposed Population............................................................................................................16
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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 4
Introduction
Nine years after the popular Haiti earthquake, the country is yet to recover from the
disastrous tragedy. The catastrophe is still considered to be one of the largest in history, claiming
more than two hundred thousand lives and injuring more than three hundred thousand Haitians.
The earthquake was estimated to have a catastrophic high magnitude of 7.0 and mainly affected
Haitians near the country's capital city, Port-au-Prince. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of
Haitians were displaced. Considering that Haiti is among the poorest countries in the world, the
international community needed to intervene. Many humanitarian and development groups stood
for the occasion and offered material and immaterial support to the affected Haitians.
Humanitarian groups including World Vision, World Food Programme, Oxfam and Red Cross
were very instrumental in restoring the living standards of affected Haitians. The international
groups provided material support such in form of money, water, food and shelter to Haiti
victims. Immaterial relief in form of consolation, counseling, and security was also provided by
these groups. Citizens of other countries, additionally, offered their help in the form of money,
food, and clothes to the affected. However, this case study report that the targeted objectives of
these well-wishers are a long way to be achieved. The study exposes the sluggish movement of
Haiti towards better standards, mainly due to the disorganization of the Haiti government. The
study further suggests various recommendations that could be effective to ensure the
humanitarian and development groups' objectives are achieved. The case study ends with a
conclusion which serves as a summary for the study.

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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 5
Key Issues
According to Behrman & Weitzman (2016) the 2010 Haiti earthquake claimed am an
estimate of 230, 000 Haitians. The scholars argue that this earthquake will be among the largest
disasters in the twenty-first century. Apart from deaths, the 7.0 Mw earthquake negatively
affected the lives of remnant Haitians. Moreover, the psychological and emotional conditions of
the 2010 Haiti earthquake survivors were also adversely affected. In a study done by Cenat &
Derivois (2014), 36.75% and 25.98% of the 2010 Haiti earthquake survivors postulate symptoms
of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and depressions respectively ("2010 Haiti earthquake |
Effects, Damage, Map, & Facts", 2019). One year later, the same scholars conducted reported
that 36.93% and 46.21% of the victims had clinically significant symptoms of PTSD and
depressions respectively (Cenat & Derivois, 2015). This meant that the psychological and
emotional condition of the victims was worsening.
The 2010 Haiti earthquake affected more than three million people lining near the Port-
au-Prince (van Berlear, et al., 2017). The scholars assert that the disaster had also killed and
injured an uncountable number of Haitians. The impact of the disaster was also felt by the 1.5
million people that were displaced and one million that emigrated the Carribean country
(Versluis, 2014). The internally displaced were left without homes, relying on the government
and international humanitarian organizations to provide them with the basic needs of food,
shelter, and clothing. The 1.5 million internally displaced people became inhabitants of refugee
camps provided by humanitarian groups. These tents were mainly overcrowded and poorly
conditioned. According to Koenig, et al. (2015), a tuberculosis outbreak claimed a significant
number of Haitians living in the Haitian tents. Ten months after January 12, 2010, Haiti
earthquake, the country experienced the biggest cholera epidemic to have happened in a single
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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 6
country (Domercant, 2015). These health issues were due to the generally poor sanitation,
hygiene, and conditions in the internally displaced peoples’ camps.
Besides the deaths and property damage suffered by the Haitian government, the degraded
conditions of the Haitian citizens attracted attention to the external world. Humanitarian
organizations stepped up and pledged to restore the living conditions of the affected people.
There was a worldwide public awareness about the tragedy in Haiti. Citizen's regardless of their
nationalities were asked to help by providing financial and material help to the victims.
Development groups joined humanitarian groups to reinstate the living conditions of the
victimized Haitians.
Goals of the Humanitarian and Development Groups
The major goal of humanitarian and development groups in Haiti was to restore the living
conditions of the people in the country. While humanitarian groups were more focused on
improving the living conditions of the affected Haitians, development organizations mainly
stressed on suggesting new methods that could improve Haitians’ economic conditions (Rahill,
et al., 2014). Development organizations aimed at eliminating Haiti in its position as the poorest
country in the world.
Problems faced towards Achieving the Goals
The largest obstacle towards realizing a restored Haiti lies behind the country's
ineffective government. According to O'Connor, Brisson-Boivin & Ilcan (2014), Haiti's
government ineptitude is the largest challenge facing the wellbeing of Haitians. The government
has failed to co-operate with humanitarian and development groups. Moreover, it is feared that
corruption among government officials in Haiti is another big hurdle in restoring the victims'
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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 7
welfare. The financial aid contributed by humanitarian donors rarely reach the targeted victims
(Ramachandran & Walz, 2015). The Haiti government is the largest impediment for the welfare
of the Haiti victims. If the government would have played its part, the issue of internally
displaced people in Haiti would have already been solved. The government can be associated
with the dawdling movement of the Haiti nation towards prosperity.
Decision Criteria
For all the humanitarian and development organizations that intervened in the 2010 Haiti
earthquake, their main objectives envelop helping the needy and improving living conditions.
Their decisions to jump into action for the benefit of the Haiti people, therefore, was in line with
their goals. For instance, aims at promoting the welfare of children in all corners of the world,
regardless of their races, ethnicities, and religions. The organization, thus, was propelled by the
need to achieve its goal by ensuring that the conditions in the temporary camps considered
hygiene and sanitation. Hunt, et al., (2015) assert that the main issue that propelled humanitarian
bodies to post-2010 Haiti was the organizations' desire to help suffering communities. For the
Red Cross, its activities involve saving lives that are threatened by man-made and natural factors.
The organization thus decided to help Haiti since the suitable actions in Haiti involved securing
lives (ManillaArroyo, 2014). Oxfam and the World Food Organization also decided to jump into
Haiti's rescue due to their fundamental goals. Both organizations have been playing critical roles
in providing material support to disaster victims. In essence, all humanitarian groups had to offer
helping hands to Haiti necessarily because that was what they are expected to do. Their decision
criteria, therefore, was mainly influenced by the strong need to achieve their respective goals and
objectives.

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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 8
Major Assumptions
By intervening the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the humanitarian support groups assumed that
they would work hand-in-hand with the Haiti government to reduce the impact of the earthquake
as well as to restore economic and social health in the country. However, as aforementioned, the
Haiti government proved to impede humanitarian goals. Despite the many gallons of water that
humanitarian and development groups provided funds for, there were many instances where
internally displaced Haitians lacked clean water. Although millions of US dollars were donated
to Haiti victims, only a small portion reached the targeted victims. According to Hooper (2015),
in each financial year after the earthquake, the Haiti government has been receiving more than
seven million US dollars in money and kind. However, only a small portion reaches the
prospective victims. Some governments are known for reaching out to humanitarian groups
during disasters and ending up by embezzling the funds (Gurman & Ellenberger, 2015). We can
justifiably conjecture that the Haiti authorities are guilty of embezzling funds meant to help the
victims.
When the cholera outbreak in Haiti's temporary internally displaced camps, many
stakeholders pointed fingers at the United Nations for failing to provide proper sanitation and
hygiene to the victims (Alstron, 2018). This allegation was based on the assumption that even
after all the other stakeholder had contributed to funding for the basic requirements of the
Haitians in the temporary tents, UN was at the ground but failed to provide these basic
requirements to the victims. However, it can be argued that the UN was in no way responsible
for cholera. As Ross Kemp reports in part four of his exposing documentary, Extreme World, the
cholera outbreak was inevitable (("Issues in Haiti Compilation | Ross Kemp Extreme World",
2019). The journalist asserts that stagnant water and poor living conditions in the Haitian camps
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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 9
made it impossible for any organization to deal with the situation. More accurately, the UN was
mitigating cholera by providing medical doctors to deal with cholera patients.
Data Analysis and Interpretation
According to Elliott & Sullivan (2015), Red Cross had fundraised an approximate of $13 million
in its attempt to establish a settlement program for the 2010 Haiti earthquake victims. UNESCO,
World Vision, and the Rockefeller Foundation have also contributed a significant amount of
dollars aiming to improve the health and education of the Haitian children (Verna, 2015). British
charity group, Oxfam, has contributed greatly to the Haiti government in its reconstruction phase
since 2010 (Kaussen, 2015). When the disaster happened in January 2010, foreign countries
pledged 2 billion US dollars while private individual and companies pledged approximately 2.3
US dollars. In a nutshell, international agencies have, insofar, contributed more than $13 million
with an attempt to reconstruct and put Haiti back to its feet (Library, 2019). This shows the
unceasing support that international agencies have shown a big gesture to help the poverty-
stricken country.
The above data proves that humanitarian and development groups have stood firmly to
reinstate the condition in Haiti. However, despite their efforts, many Haitians still live below the
poverty line (Echevin, 2014). The help intervention meant by these humanitarian and
development groups has not yet reached the Haiti victims. Although most of the 1.5 million
internally displaced people are now-resettled, the country still lives in adamant health conditions
(Chen, 2016). Nine years later, the country has not yet liberated itself from requiring foreign aids
and reliefs. Haiti still records high poverty levels, poor education systems, poor health systems
and poor living standard in general. The attempts of humanitarian, development and the
international community, in general, to liberate ad restore this country, insofar, can be termed as
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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 10
futile. The country would only realize full restoration if it will allow itself to change its
leadership. Government failure is the main reason why humanitarian and development groups,
despite their huge financing, have not yet been able to fulfill their goals by liberating the
conditions.
Preferred Alternatives with Rationale
Humanitarian and development agencies can choose to stay away from Haiti affairs until
the Haiti government learns by itself of the suffering inflicted to its populace. The Haiti
government can be accused of embezzling funds meant to help the victims and rather re-
channeling the money to the politicians' individualistic pursuits. Not unless the government
official learn how their actions impact their people, the will continue misusing funds from
foreign bodies and continue crying for more money. Therefore, this study advises humanitarian
and development agencies to leave Haiti affairs in case their official persist with their corrupt
behaviors. It should be obvious to humanitarian and development agencies that their intervention
in Haiti may never have a significant impact on the current government systems and
infrastructure. It would thus be prudent to limit their resources in Haiti until the government
officials restrain from embezzling and misusing public funds. Although the move would worsen
the situation in the country, the move cannot be ignored as a viable alternative for humanitarian
and development agencies. The agencies may save the funds and services in Haiti and use them
to help another country. It is almost impractical to help a government that does not see the need
to help its people.

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Recommendations
The study recommends a hand-to-hand working relationship between affected countries
or parties with humanitarian and development agencies. When affected by a disaster, a country
should be show appreciation to humanitarian and development bodies by efficiently spending the
donations they receive from the international community. This serves as motivation to the
concerned humanitarian groups. However, when government officials and rather not the targeted
victims appear to be the major beneficiary of humanitarian and development programs, the
agencies are demoralized, holding options of cutting off their funds from such countries.
Therefore, the study recommends that governments should be co-operative to the incoming
humanitarian and development agencies.
Secondly, the study recognizes the impact of disasters on the economic, social and
psychological status of the affected victims. The case study recommends the public to treat the
issue of disasters as a very important issue. We should offer financial support to the victims in
these hard epochs of their lives. Moreover, the public is recommended to effectively use social
media and other platforms to console the affected. This is because the affected victims usually
portray emotional inadequacies during such times. Emotional support would then be of many
benefits to the victims.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is evident that humanitarian and development groups were at the forefront
in attending to the 2010 Haiti earthquake. With the earthquake having acquired the lives of
hundreds of thousands of Haitians and injuring about three hundred thousand Haitians,
international donors joined hands to help in restoring the situation of the country. However, the
study confirms that the goals of these humanitarian and development groups were not achieved
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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 12
due to the uncooperative Haitian governments. The study reports that the Haiti government may
be feared of embezzling the funds it received from donors. The study offers a very aggressive
alternative to these humanitarian and development groups suggesting that despite their central
goals, they might consider leaving the affected parties in case the government is not co-
operative. Affected countries' leaders are asked to develop integrity with the funds they receive
from foreign donors. Lastly, each member of the public should contribute in case he/she realizes
that a certain country has been hit by a disaster. Every one should be acquainted with the
knowledge that no one controls disasters and, thus, can happen to anyone.
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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 13
References
Alston, P. (2018). Extracting Accountability: Special Rapporteurs and the United Nations’
Responsibility for Cholera in Haiti. UN Report-unpublished Alston, P.(nd). Extracting
Accountability: Special Rapporteurs and the United Nations’ Responsibility for Cholera
in Haiti, 18-10.
Behrman, J. A., & Weitzman, A. (2016). Effects of the 2010 Haiti earthquake on women's
reproductive health. Studies in family planning, 47(1), 3-17.
Cénat, J. M., & Derivois, D. (2014). Assessment of prevalence and determinants of posttraumatic
stress disorder and depression symptoms in adults survivors of earthquake in Haiti after
30 months. Journal of Affective Disorders, 159, 111-117.
Cénat, J. M., & Derivois, D. (2015). Longterm outcomes among child and adolescent survivors
of the 2010 Haitian earthquake. Depression and anxiety, 32(1), 57-63.
Chen, B., Halliday, T. J., & Fan, V. Y. (2016). The impact of internal displacement on child
mortality in post-earthquake Haiti: a difference-in-differences analysis. International
journal for equity in health, 15(1), 114.
Domercant, J. W., Guillaume, F. D., Marston, B. J., Lowrance, D. W., Team, H. H. S. R., & of
Haiti, R. (2015). Update on progress in selected public health programs after the 2010
earthquake and cholera epidemic—Haiti, 2014. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly
report, 64(6), 137.
Échevin, D. (2014). Characterising vulnerability to poverty in rural Haiti: A multilevel
decomposition approach. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 65(1), 131-150.

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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 14
Elliott, J., & Sullivan, L. (2015). How the Red Cross raised half a billion dollars for Haiti and
built six homes. Propublica. org.
Gurman, T. A., & Ellenberger, N. (2015). Reaching the global community during disasters:
findings from a content analysis of the organizational use of Twitter after the 2010 Haiti
earthquake. Journal of Health Communication, 20(6), 687-696.
Hooper, M. (2014). Priority setting amid the rubble: Organisational approaches to post-disaster
reconstruction in Haiti. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 10, 270-280.
Hunt, M. R., Chung, R., Durocher, E., & Henrys, J. H. (2015). Haitian and international
responders' and decision-makers' perspectives regarding disability and the response to the
2010 Haiti earthquake. Global health action, 8(1), 27969.
Issues in Haiti Compilation | Ross Kemp Extreme World. (2019). Retrieved 22 September 2019,
from https://youtu.be/rIpfuNW_B4Y
Kaussen, V. (2015). The labour of giving: Global networks, humanitarianism, and the visual
culture of Haitian earthquake relief. Francosphères, 4(1), 85-104.
Koenig, S. P., Rouzier, V., Vilbrun, S. C., Morose, W., Collins, S. E., Joseph, P., ... & Pierrot, J.
(2015). Tuberculosis in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Bulletin of the
World Health Organization, 93, 498-502.
Library, C. (2019). Haiti Earthquake Fast Facts. Retrieved 22 September 2019, from
https://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/12/world/haiti-earthquake-fast-facts/index.html
Manilla Arroyo, D. (2014). Blurred lines: accountability and responsibility in post-earthquake
Haiti. Medicine, Conflict and Survival, 30(2), 110-132.
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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 15
O'Connor, D., Brisson-Boivin, K., & Ilcan, S. (2014). Governing failure: development, aid and
audit in Haiti. Conflict, Security & Development, 14(3), 309-330.
Rahill, G. J., Ganapati, N. E., Clérismé, J. C., & Mukherji, A. (2014). Shelter recovery in urban
Haiti after the earthquake: the dual role of social capital. Disasters, 38(s1), S73-S93.
Ramachandran, V., & Walz, J. (2015). Haiti: where has all the money gone?. Journal of Haitian
Studies, 21(1), 26-65.
van Berlaer, G., Staes, T., Danschutter, D., Ackermans, R., Zannini, S., Rossi, G., ... & Hubloue,
I. (2017). Disaster preparedness and response improvement: comparison of the 2010
Haiti earthquake-related diagnoses with baseline medical data. European journal of
emergency medicine, 24(5), 382.
Verna, C. F. (2015). Haiti, the Rockefeller Foundation, and UNESCO’s Pilot Project in
Fundamental Education, 1948-1953. Diplomatic History, 40(2), 269-295.
Versluis, A. (2014). Formal and informal material aid following the 2010 Haiti earthquake as
reported by camp dwellers. Disasters, 38(s1), S94-S109.
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HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION: HAITI 16
Appendix A: . Exposed Population
Figure A-1. An Estimate of the Population in Haiti and Surrounding Areas Exposed to Ground
Shaking Caused by the January 12, 2010, Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake
("2010 Haiti earthquake | Effects, Damage, Map, & Facts", 2019)
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