Schakowsky Statement on the 5th Anniversary the Haiti Earthquake

WASHINGTON, DC – “Five years ago today, Haiti was devastated by an earthquake that killed more than 100,000 people and destroyed most of its critical infrastructure. It was a calamity of Biblical proportions. I traveled to Haiti shortly after the earthquake and got a glimpse of the devastation.

In response, the United States and a broad international coalition joined together to help the country rebuild and recover. Five years later, challenges remain. The Haitian government still struggles with instability, housing remains inadequate for many families and the economy continues to lag behind – leaving many Haitians struggling to make a living.

However, there has been significant progress in Haiti. The contributions of those like Dr. Paul Farmer and his organization, Partners in Health, have dramatically improved the Haitian healthcare infrastructure over the last five years. Child mortality and HIV/AIDS are on the decline. Family planning, pre-natal and neo-natal care are available to more women and children. There is an ongoing educational campaign in Haiti to decrease the occurrence of Gender-Based Violence.

I stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti in the effort to build a better country. Our nation’s continued support remains a critical foundation of Haiti’s recovery. If we all work together there will be many more improvements to report in the next five years.”