A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on Saturday, August 14. USGS reports that more than 10,000 people have died and by our estimates, over 50,000 homes, schools, and hospitals have been destroyed. Teams from Miyamoto International are currently in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and the affected areas in the south, actively assisting with damage assessments, urban search and rescue, and recovery strategies.

Currently, many of the damaged areas are located in mountainous regions and are difficult to reach. A large number of towns and villages are too remote to be reached by outside rescuers, while many more are only accessible by foot. A severe hurricane season is also underway, causing frequent landslides. Nevertheless, we are determined to assist the Haitian people in their efforts to respond, recover and build back better.

In the last decade, we have seen a massive capacity increase in masons and engineers across Haiti. As a whole, the country is better prepared today than it was after the 2010 earthquake. There is significantly more training for engineers and government programs to aid in the response. While less building damage means more lives saved and a smaller environmental impact, there is also less media attention and less funding available than ever before.

Miyamoto and Miyamoto Relief have been active in Haiti since 2010 and fully understand the social, cultural and political landscapes. We understand the appropriate use of funds to ensure the greatest impact, and 100% of donations received will go toward recovery efforts underway in Haiti.