Haiti Earthquake: Five Years After

3 minute read

On Jan. 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck Haiti, killing more than 160,000 and displacing close to 1.5 million people. Five year later, scars of the tragedy remain in Port-au-Prince, says photographer Gael Turine, who has spent the last 10 years photographing the country.

“When you walk around the country’s capital Port-au-Prince, you still see half-destroyed buildings around town,” he tells TIME. “The wounds are still here, and everyone says that they’re living in worse conditions than before.”

Given the costs of recovery from such a shattering catastrophe, it might seem logical that an impoverished country such as Haiti would still feel the effects a half-decade later, if it weren’t for the unprecedented help the Republic received in its aftermath. “When you look at the history of humanitarian relief, there’s never been a situation when such a small country has been the target of such a massive influx of money and assistance in such a short span of time,” says Turine. “On paper, with that much money in a territory the size of Haiti, we should have witnessed miracles; there should have been results.”

And yet the situation on the ground is dire, says the Belgian photographer: “Two years ago, there were still refugee camps in Port-au-Prince’s center. Now, they are gone, but the people have been merely displaced. They now live in the city’s suburbs – in these prefabricated shacks – [with] a parallel economy.”

For Turine, the international community has crushed the country’s hopes. “NGOs are pulling out, creditors have stopped investing,” he says. “Haitians find themselves in a social and economic situation that is worse than before the earthquake.” And yet, its people subsist. “I feel there’s this collective energy that comes from how close all Haitians live with each other. There’s this idea of collectivity, which leads to certain neighborhoods taking control of their own fate – cleaning up their streets, opening up their schools, etc. They have been forced to take over from the government, which is unable to offer these services.”

Still, he has no doubt that Haitians will weather the crisis, even as it stretches on. “It’s already a victory to see that the country hasn’t exploded, especially when you see what has happened in the last decades — from Jean-Claude Duvalier to Jean-Bertrand Aristide, from the cholera to hurricanes, the country has faced a succession of social, political and environmental crises,” Turine says. “The fact that Haitians haven’t succumbed to madness shows that they’re resilient.”

Gael Turine is a Belgium photographer represented by Agence VU’.

Alice Gabriner and Phil Bicker, who edited this photo essay, are respectively the International Photo Editor and a Senior Photo Editor at TIME.

Olivier Laurent is the editor of TIME LightBox. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @olivierclaurent

Port au Prince, Haïti, 28 November 2014The city keep on extending on the seaside and the new districts are poor and densely populated. Neither water nor sewer, no electricity...life is very basic here.La ville ne cesse de s'étendre sur le bord de mer et les quartiers aménagés sont densément peuplés et pauvres. Pas d'eau ni canalisation d'égouts, pas d'électricté,... La vie y est rudimentaire.
Port au Prince, Haïti, Nov. 28, 2014. The city keep on extending on the seaside and the new districts are poor and densely populated.Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, 12 January 2013A memorial mass has been organized in front of the cathedral destroyed by the 2010 earthquake.Une grande Messe de recueillement a été organisée au bas de la cathédrale détruite par le tremblement de terre de 2010.
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, Jan. 12, 2013. A memorial mass has been organized in front of the cathedral destroyed by the 2010 earthquake.Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, 14 January 2014The ''La Salinne'' destrict has been set up by former President J-B Aristide. This estate, unique in the city, is still a bastion of the Aristide's partisans. Many former leaders and members of the ''Chimères'' – gang in Aristide's service- live and hide here since the police are looking for them. Unemployment and the lack of business are all the more noticeable since the State has no plan for this area supporting the opposition.Le quartier "La Salinne" a été aménagé par l'ancien président J-B Aristide. Cette cité, unique dans la capitale, reste un bastion pro-Aristid et de nombreux anciens chefs et membres des Chimères (gangs aux services pu Parti de Arisitde pendant son pouvoir) y habitent et s'y cachent puisqu'ils sont recherchés par la police. Le chômage et le manque d'activités économiques sont criants puisque l'état ne développe aucun projet dans cette zone de la ville qui soutien l'opposition.
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, Jan. 14, 2014. The ''La Salinne'' district has been set up by former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. This estate, unique in the city, is still a safe place for former leaders and members of the ''Chimères'' – gang in Aristide's service – who live there and hide from the police. Gael Turine—VU
Port au Prince, Haïti, 21 April 2013A playground and a sportsground in open-air were broken by the 2010 earthquake in the ''Fort National'' district. District's children play nevertheless with this damaged basketball backboard.Une aire de jeu et de sport en plein air avaient été détruites par le séisme de 2010 dans le quartier "Fort National". Les enfants du quartier en profitent néanmoins en jouant sur ce panneau de basket écroulé.
Port au Prince, Haïti, April 21, 2013. A playground destroyed by the 2010 earthquake in the ''Fort National'' district. District's children play nevertheless with this damaged basketball backboard. Gael Turine—VU
Port au Prince, Haïti, 15 April 2013In the Salomon market, in the city center, a sentence written on the wall says the Salomon Squad, a group of young people, remembers Elène, a deceased young girl of the neighborhood.Dans le marché Salomon, au centre ville, une phrase indique que le Salomon Squad, un groupe de jeunes, se souvient de Elène, une jeune fille du quartier décédée.
Port au Prince, Haïti, April 15, 2013. In the Salomon market, in the city center, a sentence written on the wall says that the Salomon Squad, a group of young people, remembers Elène, a deceased young girl who used to live in the neighborhood. Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, 19 January 2014The Croix des Bossales market, former biggest slaves market of the island, remains the most important market of the country. At the end of the day, the area is controlled by gangs, the shops close and the sellers clean the site themselves since the authorities abandoned the area after loosing its control.Le marché de la Croix des Bossales, ancien plus grand marché d'esclaves de l'île demeure le plus important marché du pays. en fin de journé,e le quartier est sous le contrôle des gangs, les vendeuses et vendeurs plient bagagent et nettoient le site par leurs propres moyens puisque la zone est délaissée par les autorités qui en ont perdu le contrôle.
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, Jan. 19, 2014. The Croix des Bossales market, where slaves used to be sold, remains the most important market of the country. At the end of the day, shop owners clean the site themselves since the authorities have abandoned the area after loosing its control to the gangs.Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, 15 January 2013''La Salinne'' district, bastion of the former President Aristide, very popular for having built housing estates. It's also in this kind of ghettos that the power enlisted young men in gangs sadly known as ''Chimères'', the Aristide's militia. Unemployment and the lack of business are all the more noticeable since the State has no plan for this area supporting the opposition.Quartier "La Salinne", bastion de l'ex président Aristide, très populaire pour y avoir construit des cités-logements. C'est également aussi dans ce genre de quartiers que le pouvoir trouvait les jeunes qui s'enrôlaient dans les tristements célèbres "Chimères", les milices armées de Aristide. Le chômage et le manque d'activités économiques sont criants puisque l'état ne développe aucun projets dans cette zone de la ville qui soutien l'opposition.
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, Jan. 15, 2013. In ''La Salinne'' district, unemployment and the lack of businesses are all the more noticeable since the state doesn't plan to help an area that openly supports the opposition.Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, 12 January 2013The camp for people who were displaced following to the earthquake, located on Saint-Anne square, has been destroyed the day before by rioters paid by the city hall. The authorities, with the agreement of some neighbors and the complicity of a gang, had decided to destroy the camp and clean the square. As a symbol and to make the message clear, the date of January 12, day of the anniversary of the 2010 earthquake, has been chosen.The only hut that still stands is the one of a family with a 4 days old baby. The strong determination of the father, a former Haitian prisoner deported to Haïti (a "deported" here), was certainly a key element. They don't know for how long the reprieve will last.Le camps de déplacés du tremblent situé sur la Place Sainte-Anne, a été détruit le veille par un groupe de casseurs payés par la Mairie. Les autorités, avec l'accord de certains voisins et la connivence de l'un ou l'autre gang, avait décidé d'abattre le camps et de nettoyer leur place. A titre symbolique et pour faire passer le message, la date du 12 janvier, jour de commémoration du séisme de 2010, avait été choisie.La seule case restée debout est celle d'une famille avec un bébé de quatre jours. La forte détermination du père, un ancien détenu haïtien déporté vers Haïti (un "Déporté" ici), a forcément jouer en leur faveur. Ils ne savent pas combien de temps le sursis durera.
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, Jan. 12, 2013. The camp for people who were displaced following to the earthquake, located on Saint-Anne square, has been destroyed by rioters paid by city hall. The authorities, with the agreement of some neighbors and the complicity of a gangs, had decided to destroy the camp and clean the square. As a symbol and to make the message clear, the date of Jan. 12, day of the anniversary of the 2010 earthquake, was been chosen.Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, 15 January 2014These women prefer walking rather than taking the bus that is stuck in the always busier traffic of the city center.Ces femmes préfèrent la marche que le bus bloqué dans uen circulation toujours plus dense au centre ville.
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, Jan. 15, 2014. These women prefer walking rather than taking the bus, which often gets stuck in traffic.Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 6 November 2013This handicaped man, like some other very poor and isolated people, spend the whole day inside of the cemetery. They can have water for free and beg for money and food. The massive concrete tombs have surprisingly withstood the shocks of the January 12, 2010 earthquake. Some of them have been a bit affected. The day after the earthquake, hundreds of bodies have been put into a mass grave located in the cemetery.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Nov. 6, 2013. This handicapped man, like some other very poor and isolated people, spend the whole day inside the cemetery, begging for money and food.Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, 15 January 2013The market of Croix des Bossales is the former slaves market of the city. It has become the biggest market of the country. This young woman sells wigs.Le marché de la Croix des Bossales est l'ancien marché aux esclaves de la ville. Il est devenu le plus grand marché du pays. Cette jeune femme y vend des perruques.
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, Jan. 15, 2013. The market of Croix des Bossales is the former slaves market of the city.Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 11 November 2013The "Cité de Dieu" neighborhood in Martissant area used to be one of the most dangerous places in the Haitian capital. Still today, some parts are highly dangerous but some others have no more armed gangs in their streets. There is no more fear of arms and drug traffics, rapes or lost bullets,... Kids are allowed to go to school again.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Nov. 11, 2013. The "Cité de Dieu" neighborhood in Martissant area used to be one of the most dangerous places in the Haitian capital.Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, 16 January 2014A young man waits for an opponent for his rooster. The money involved and the value of some roosters at stake are important for these players who only rely on these fights to make a living.Un homme attend de trouver un adversaire pour son coq. Les sommes mises en jeu et la valeur de certaisn coqs représentent des enjeux importants pour ces joueurs qui misent tout dans ces combats pour gagner leur vie.
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, Jan. 16, 2014. A young man waits for an opponent for his rooster. Some Haitians only rely on these fights to make a living.Gael Turine—VU
Port au Prince, Haïti, 28 November 2014In the Martissant district located near of the seaside, families that have left their huts in one of the city camps have set up on plots belonging to them.Dans le quartier de Martissant proche du bord de mer, des familles qui ont quitté leurs cases dans l'un des camps de la ville sont venues emménager sur une parcelle appartenant à la famille.
Port au Prince, Haïti, Nov. 28, 2014. In the Martissant district, families have set up camp where their houses used to be built.Gael Turine—VU
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, 17 May 2014A young painter - graffiti artist, in one of the streets in which he expresses himself.Un jeune artiste peintre-graffeur dans l'une des ruelles où s'exprime.
Port-au-Prince, Haïti, May 17, 2014. A young graffiti artist.Gael Turine—VU

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