Medair: Haiti: These Past Six Months

These Past Six Months

In this photo gallery, witness Medair at work in Haiti alongside some of the courageous people rebuilding their lives after the devastating earthquake of six months ago.

These Past Six Months

Most of the buildings in Jacmel sustained damage in the quake (80 percent).

These Past Six Months

Many damaged homes were too unsafe to live in: they could collapse in case of another earthquake or severe storms.

These Past Six Months

Thousands of people moved to Pinchinat sports field and set up makeshift shelters.

These Past Six Months

Medair staff regularly visited the overcrowed Pinchinat camp to talk with families there to understand their needs.

These Past Six Months

Before new shelters could be built for families, all the rubble needed to be cleared away from their destroyed homes.

These Past Six Months

Medair staff worked alongside community members to clear the sites of rubble.

These Past Six Months

Once cleared, the sites were ready for new shelters.

These Past Six Months

Medair’s Colin Walker showed Greta photos of what their new transitional shelter would look like.

These Past Six Months

“It is beautiful... is it really for me?” asked Greta, beaming. “I am very, very happy. I am so glad to have a new home.”

These Past Six Months

Friends from the community assisted Greta with assembling her new family home that day.

These Past Six Months

The spirit of hope was strong, as they all looked forward to receiving their own transitional shelters in the days ahead.

These Past Six Months

Greta received a “WWS” shelter: a steel-framed structure which gets covered with heavy canvas at first, and later, the frames are integrated into a reinforced concrete foundation to create a more permanent home.