The Haiti Earthquake: 10 Years Later

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed hundreds of thousands. Countless others continue to grieve and struggle.

ACCESS visited Haiti shortly after, and witnessed the destruction — but also the hope and vibrancy of the Haitian people.

Entire hillside communities were piles of falling rubble, and tent cities sprung up on any piece of open land with people living under tarps and in tents for years. Some of them still do, a decade later.

We had the opportunity to not only bring supplies but provide scholarships to some high school students who would otherwise be unable to continue the year. During the same year, we also saw the student we had been supporting through university, move to the US with the support of a generous donor, where we continued to support him until he earned his degree.

Below are memories of the day of the earthquake, recounted by Renee Deitrich, a member of the St. Joseph Family in Haiti:

"Ten years ago this morning was just another morning in Haiti. The sun was shining. Children in their clean, neat uniforms made their way to school. Market ladies sat by the side of the road selling colorful produce and the Haitian staples. No one knew that less than 12 hours later the world would be completely different. Nothing would look the same, nothing would feel the same, ever again. At 4:53 pm on January 12, 2010, the earth opened up and tried to swallow us whole. In some ways it succeeded, for it is said that more than 300,000 people died as the earth shook, or after as they were trapped in their concrete rubble graves. For millions more life would never be the same. Some would spend years living in tents and under tarps because their homes were gone; some still are. Some would spend a lifetime mourning. One of the sayings after the earthquake was that everyone lost someone, and some people lost everyone. Just like that. In the span of 40 seconds, everything changed."

Haitians are 'living with permanent stress'

Parts of Haiti that were destroyed in 2010 still have not been rebuilt, including the seat of government, the National Palace. And there is little sign that buildings which have been reconstructed are structurally sound enough to keep inhabitants safe through the next earthquake.

One particularly bitter frustration on the earthquake's 10-year anniversary is how weakened the country's economy and infrastructure seem to be.