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Why is Haiti vulnerable to natural hazards and disasters?

Source(s): Guardian, the (UK)
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By Sam Jones

Haiti, which is feeling the force of Hurricane Matthew, with winds of 145mph and 3ft of rain, is all too accustomed to natural hazards and disasters.

[...]

Despite the huge amount of aid money promised in the aftermath of the disaster, very little of it was channelled through Haitian organisations, leading to accusations that it was badly targeted and did little to help the country recover and prepare for future catastrophes.

It also remains dangerously exposed to environmental threats such as floods and mudslides, because of staggering levels of deforestation. Many people, especially in Port-au-Prince, live in shanty towns whose flimsy huts cling to steep and exposed hillsides.

Its vulnerability to disasters, however, and its ability to cope with them are down to far more than simple geography.

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Attachments

World risk report 2016: The importance of infrastructure , English

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Hazards Cyclone Earthquake
Themes Capacity development Risk identification and assessment Governance Critical infrastructure Inclusion Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Country and region Haiti
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