sierra healy peter mahony kathryn hendricks water crisis in haiti

SIERRA HEALYPETER MAHONY

KATHRYN HENDRICKS

Water Crisis in Haiti

Introduction

Avg. temp of 80 degreesAvg. humidity of 60%Avg. rainfall of 144cm/yr

255 people/sq km54% of children ages 5-

17 do not attend schoolLife expectancy of 62 yrs

Water Supply

Access to clean drinking water: 53%Households with water supply: 52%No city has a functioning sewage systemInfant mortality due to waterborne

illness: 16%

Obstacles and Challenges

Lack of funding: $238 million is needed to implement reforms and water sanitation

Coordination: no collaboration amongst the different government bodies

Environmental Sustainability: land productivity is decreasing due to deforestation and lack of nutrients, damaging the economy and human health

2010 Earthquake

Magnitude 7.0Emicenter 25km from

Port-au-Prince, the capital

52 aftershocksDeath count of 220,000Estimated that 250,000

residences and 30,000 commercial buildings were severely damaged

Cholera Outbreaks

Worst epidemic of cholera in recent history

Since 2010 earthquake, cholera has claimed 7,900 lives

Spread to the Dominican Republic and Cuba

More severe during rainy seasons

What is Cholera?

An infection in the small intestine

Symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting

Spread through the consumption of water contaminated by human feces from other infected individuals

Symptoms may lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance

Support Organizations

American Red CrossHaiti Relief OrganizationWorld VisionCompassion

InternationalWorld ReliefChildren’s Hunger Fund

Haiti Today

Poorest nation in the America’s: 54% of population lives on less than $1 per day

80% of people live in povertyUnemployment rate of 40%Adult literacy rate is 53%83% of Haitians do not have access to sanitation

facilities