On 12 January, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude (USGS) on the Richter scale struck Haiti. The
earthquake happened 17 km south-west of Port-au-Prince (PAP), the capital of Haiti.
Aftershocks measured 5.9 and 5.5 respectively in the first hours after the quake. The
earthquake impacts were catastrophic for this poor nation, resulting in 230,000 deaths; 1.3
million displaced nationwide; 700,000 displaced within PAP; 600,000 people departing PAP;
and significant structural damage to infrastructure and buildings. The needs of Haiti’s
earthquake victims are enormous. The Haiti Post Disaster Needs Assessment estimates the
combined value of damage and losses at US $7.863 billion, which represents approximately
120% of Haiti’s 2009 gross domestic product (GDP).