Mobilize for Haiti, is a Not-For-Profit, Non-Political,  Non-Partisan civil society organization.   It was formed by a group of former volunteers who worked tirelessly in  the command center of the Haitian Embassy in Washington at the height of the  crisis caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake. We are Haitian-American professionals,  students, civic leaders and friends of Haiti who lead U.S. and International  Corporations.  We are working in conjunction  with stakeholders to build a better Haiti in order to deliver more efficient  and effective assistance. Our goal is to create more opportunities for  development and revitalization for the country and its citizens.

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake with a 7.0 magnitude destroyed Haiti’s capital city of Port-au-Prince. The devastation extended to several surrounding communities, including the city of Leogane and the peninsula town of Jacmel. The capital region was the hub for more than 80% of Haiti’s economic activity. This disaster was a devastating setback to the country’s democratic and economic development. In addition to adversely affecting Haiti’s already tenuous long-term outlook, the earthquake has led to the largest humanitarian crisis in the country’s history. The disaster claimed nearly 300,000 lives. 105,000 homes have been completely destroyed, and more than 208,000 damaged. Over 50 hospitals and health centers have collapsed. The presidential palace, parliament, the courts, and most of the ministries were leveled.

The seismic event is over, but the effects remain painfully apparentnearly 18 months after the disaster. Nine months after the earthquake, a cholera outbreak was directly attributed to an ineffective response to conditions on the ground, and a lack of coordination between International NGOs with respect to the areas of housing, water, sanitation and basic health.This epidemic claimed 5,000 additional lives, and caused nearly 200,000 cases of reported cholera infection. The lack of coordination between non-governmental organizations and a weakened central government continue to present great challenges for Haiti. While the pace of cholera infections has decelerated, the U.N. projects more than 400,000 new cases of cholera infections in Haiti.

According to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) published in March 2010 by the IHRC (The Interim Haiti Recovery Commission), it is estimated that 1.5 million people were directly impacted by the earthquake.1.3 million Haitians are living in spontaneous settlements commonly referred to as “IDP Camps” or “Tent Cities”. However, it is widely agreed that living conditions in these camps violate the most basic tenets of humanity and social justice. Fifteen months after the earthquake, less than five percent of survivors have been placed into permanent housing.

The conditions outlined in this document threaten to compound Haiti’s known susceptibility to natural and man-made disasters. From May through November Haiti is prone to hurricanes. The high winds and deforestation often produce flooding, landslides, mudflows and other considerable damage. The country’s close proximity to four fault lines places it at higher risks for future earthquakes and “high magnitude shocks”.