A decade after the devastating earthquake that killed more than 200,000 Haitians and left millions more homeless life has not improved for many survivors.
Ma Drapo, Sent Mari and Taba Isa, three refugee camps located in the capital, Port-au-Prince, is where survivors are living post-quake. Residents of Sent Mari told VOA Creole they lack clean water, sanitation and food.
This resident of Taba Isa decries the lack of security. (Renan Toussaint/VOA Creole)In Ma Drapo, a refugee camp for handicapped quake survivors, residents decry the violence.
“There’s non-stop shooting, so we can’t leave in peace,” a woman told VOA Creole. “We are running around all day for fear of being shot. We (have to) grab our kids and run and sometimes we don’t even know where we’re going.”
This Taba Isa resident says the government has abandoned them. (Renan Toussaint/VOA Creole)At the Taba Isa camp, a woman told VOA Creole she had been relocated after the earthquake and has lived there ever since. “They initially told us it was for three years, but three years has become 10 years,” she said. “And we have no security, we are charged with protecting ourselves and I’d like to know if they have plans to construct houses for us at some point.”
The mother of two said the residents are isolated, having no access to hospitals or adequate schools for their children.
This mother of three says the government has not fulfilled its promises to build adequate homes for survivors. (Renan Toussaint/VOA Creole)Another female resident spoke about the lack of attention. “In the beginning they were coming often to take care of us but it’s been a long time since we were visited (by government officials). We aren’t living well. If heavy rain falls, we’re at risk. Our children can’t go to school because of overcrowding,” she said.
“If you’re asking about government assistance, it’s zero,” a male resident said. “When we call the police station, no one comes. Even if there’s an arrest warrant out against the person we are calling them about, they just ignore our calls.”
Homes are seen in the Taba Isa earthquake survivor camp in Port au Prince, Haiti. (Renan Toussaint/VOA Creole)
…