Haiti Earthquake - UNDP Earthquake Debris Processing 2010-2011

18 March 2011 - On January 12 2010 a massive earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale rocked Port-au-Prince the capital of the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti. It is estimated that up to 3 million people have been affected by the disaster many of whom require ongoing humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs. With support from CIDA the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Haiti is developing a centralized site to receive and process the massive amounts of debris resulting from the earthquake. Project activities include: establishing a centralized debris processing site; stockpiling debris for processing; and procuring debris processing machinery. The processed debris is being recycled into material that can be used for local reconstruction projects such as rebuilding roads damaged by the earthquake. Debris removal and clearance is a key element in Haiti’s recovery process as it makes land available for people in camps to return to their original place of residence and rebuild their homes.