Haiti Earthquake - By The Numbers

Haiti Grassroots Watch decided to take a look at the earthquake "by the numbers."
But before examining 12 January and its aftermath, it's important to remember Haiti’s catastrophic state of affairs before the catastrophe.

1 - Statistics - Pre-January 12, 2010

2 - Following the money

Haiti Grassroots watch tried to follow the money… public and private.

Here are some figures, but the truth is that it is nearly impossible to know the details of how money is spent. For example, the Haitian Reconstruction Fund says it needed $1.6 million in “administrative costs.” Are these salaries? An office? Airplane tickets?

How much of NGO money goes for salaries to expatriates living and working in Haiti? How much for foreign goods shipped into the country? Who gets the interest earned by money that is sitting in bank accounts, waiting to be disbursed?

Unfortunately, the laws in Haiti and in other countries do not oblige public and private donors and humanitarian agencies to report in detail on there work. Here are some figures to begin with…

3 – January 12, 2010 & the aftermath

Some general statistics

Statistics related to the camps and the approximately 1.3 million homeless Haitians

4 -A few other statistics

To conclude the “By The Numbers” report, here are a few other costly endeavors in Haiti.

Return to introduction page for January 12 Dossier, with texts and video