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Haiti Earthquake

A massive earthquake struck 12 January near the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, causing damage across the impoverished region. It is the largest quake to hit the area in 200 years.

Officials estimate the earthquake has killed about 200,000 people and affected an estimated 3 million - about a third of Haiti's population.

Teams came from all over the world to provide assistance to the nation, but initial efforts to distribute aid were hampered by numerous problems - including blocked roads, bureaucratic confusion and the collapse of local authority. U.N. officials say despite the problems, progress is being made.

In the series of reports below VOA takes a look at the earthquake, the aftermath and the relief efforts to help the victims.

See photo galleries showing the devastation, world reaction and recovery efforts.

Watch a 30-minute video report: "Haiti: A Nation in Peril."


Haiti Contact Information & Ways to Help
If you are trying to contact someone in Haiti, record a message (English, Creole, or French) to be broadcast by VOA radio to Haiti at: 202-205-9442, code 42
State Department Info line (for information on US citizens)
1-888-407-4747
White House Haiti page
U.S. State Department
International Committee of the Red Cross
American Red Cross
United Nations
USAID
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

Lionel Jean-Baptiste of the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti, a Haitian aid agency based in Evanston, Illinois

Haitian Group in Chicago Unites in Relief Efforts

Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti originally formed in response to 2004 Hurricane Jeanne, now dealing with earthquake relief

Concrete is used to build pens for the pigs and goats on a Haiti farm.

Clicking for a Cause

New website makes it easier for US donors to target specific Haiti reconstruction projects

Sylva Louis has lived in the sprawling refugee camp of Champs de Mars in downtown Port au Prince, Haiti's capital, since the January 12 earthquake (file photo)

Haitian Government Working to Move Camps Before Rainy Season

The rainy season in Haiti begins shortly and the government is rushing to complete a new camp for those left homeless by the earthquake

Haiti's Children Still Face Problems

Even before January earthquake that devastated Haiti, country's children were living in difficult circumstances

Earthquake-Shattered Haiti Still Needs Emergency Assistance

Appeal made on eve of UN conference seeking $11.5 billion to reconstruct Haiti's infrastructure over next 10 years

US Navy Hospital Ship 'Comfort' returns to a welcome celebration at its homeport in Baltimore

US Hospital Ship Comfort Back From Haiti Mission

Crew members, medical personnel say efforts made a difference

Haitian-born actor Jimmy Jean Louis of the popular NBC series 'Heroes' at the 'Sustainable Haiti' conference in Miami, 18 Mar 2010

Helping Haiti is Personal Mission for 'Heroes' Actor Jimmy Jean-Louis

Haitian-born actor works to keep issue of rebuilding Haiti alive months after devastating earthquake

More Quake Victims in Haiti Getting Shelter

Red Cross says it expects most victims will have some form of shelter by May 1 to protect them during upcoming rainy season

UN: Environmental Degradation in Haiti Made Worse by Earthquake

UNEP says cleaning up Haiti's environmental mess will be long, difficult, and expensive

Preval Urges Reconstruction Emphasis in Haitian Provinces

President Rene Preval says rebuilding capital Port-au-Prince as it was before January's quake would be 'major historical mistake'

Spirit Airlines relief effort in Haiti

Spirit Airlines Resumes Flights to Haiti

Low cost carrier 'excited' to be going back to Port-au-Prince, hoping to attract customers with $65.71 one-way advance purchase fare

ILO: Haiti's Children Vulnerable to Labor Abuse

International Labor Organization says Haiti's extreme loss of jobs increases risk children will be lured into abusive, exploitative work

Father Reginald Jean-Marie travels to Haiti frequently to help earthquake survivors

As World Attention Wanes, Miami Church Increases Effort to Help Haiti

Two Haitian cities will receive ambulances thanks to effort launched by Notre Dame d'Haiti Catholic church in Miami's Little Haiti

Katy Manges and her adopted son Malachi

Haitian Adoptions Slowed by Bureaucracy

Thousands of children languishing in earthquake shattered Haiti, as government clamps down on families, organizations trying to adopt

UN Calls for Action to Prevent Spread of HIV/AIDS in Haiti

UNAIDS study warns of substantial risk of spread of the deadly virus in overcrowded camps for Haitian survivors of disaster

To encourage school attendance and ensure healthy minds and bodies, WFP supplies a nutritious daily lunch to more than 400,000 pupils in 850 primary schools

WFP Begins School Feeding Program In Haiti

WFP to provide cooked meals in 19 Port-au-Prince schools; program to expand in coming weeks to include 70 schools

A farmer in Vaudreuil, Haiti, works in a cornfield (File)

Hunger Looms as Support for Haiti's Farmers Falls Short

With the planting season approaching, farmers lack funds for seeds, labor

This Haitian pastor is thrilled to be going to Haiti 19 Feb. 2010, where he'll spend six days translating for a group of missionaries

Cheerful Haitians Return Home on First Commercial Flight Since Earthquake

Most passengers headed to Port-au-Prince happy to return to the country they love, despite the enormous January 12 tragedy

Thailand Slum Community Gives to Haiti's Children on Valentine's Day

Klong Toey residents have long struggled to survive themselves

Cell Phones Become Lifeline for Haitian Survivors

US Coast Guard has been mining data from text messages and Internet to direct aid to those in need

Displaced patients in Gonaives, Haiti

Haitian City of Gonaives Struggles to Help Port-au-Prince Residents

At least 35,000 head north to town of Gonaives and influx taking a toll on city

Haitian Company Struggles to Rebuild its Business After Earthquake

Many workers have lost their jobs, and employers are trying to get their businesses up and running

Shelved Machine Translator Gets New Life in Haiti Relief Effort

Search engines power largely forgotten English/Creole language database

US Football Star Garçon Shines Light Back on Haiti

Haitian NFL player Pierre Garçon, who is in Superbowl XLIV, using newfound stardom to raise attention to Haiti's needs

Scene at a tent city in Port-au-Prince

Haiti Tent City Residents Cope With Shortages

9,000 people are crowded into one camp, which is on grounds of a damaged school

Mirebalais' School Director and new student from Port Au Prince

Some Haitian Schools Reopen, Students Slow to Return

People say Haiti will need help to rebuild its educational system

A black-and-white pencil drawing by Haitian earthquake victim Hugues Larose aboard the US Navy hospital ship Comfort

Haitian Earthquake Victim's Sketches Show Disaster, Relief

Patient's view of devastation in Haiti, appreciation for US Navy hospital ship Comfort show in his artwork

A class in earthquake science at Saints Joachim and Anne School in New York

School in Queens, New York Hit Hard by Earthquake in Haiti

Many students at Saints Joachim and Anne School have Haitian roots, lost family members

Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 15 Jan 2010, after a magnitude 7 earthquake hit the country on 12 Jan 2010

Haitians in US Could be Key in Rebuilding Their Homeland

Some analysts say disaster may have provided opportunity for them to take even bigger role in long-term rebuilding of their homeland

Desperate for News, Haitian-Americans Turn to Grassroots Media

Community newspapers and radio provide connection to the homeland

Path of Haiti Quake Destruction Extends to Other Cities

Road from Port-au-Prince to Jacmel offers glimpse of earthquake's power

Haiti's 'Forgotten City' Lost in the Rubble

Crime-ridden Cite Soleil is one of the poorest sections of Port-au-Prince

Speaking Creole on the 'Comfort'

Medical staff of US Navy hospital ship 'Comfort' prepares for mercy mission to Haiti with help of Creole speaking crew members

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