An engineer examines water quality of a river near Gressier camp. Photo: Oxfam

Haiti three years after the earthquake – in pictures

On 12 January 2010, Haiti was hit by the most powerful earthquake to strike the country in 200 years. More than 220,000 people were killed; 300,000 injured and more than one million made homeless.

Three years on, over one million Haitians are still in need of humanitarian aid according to the United Nations.

During the first year of the humanitarian response we helped 500,000 people by providing access to sanitation and water in camps.

Gradually, we shifted to working in communities rather than camps, identifying and engaging with Haitian organizations as partners in initiatives to strengthen citizen participation. We also work in Disaster Risk Reduction by training local protection committees.

This gallery offers an insight into how the situation has evolved during this time.

Published 14 January 2013

The impact of the earthquake in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince. Surrounded by debris, a man contemplates the disaster. One million Haitians lost their homes in the earthquake according to estimates. March 2010. Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam
Within hours, Oxfam dispatched humanitarian equipment to be flown to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. From there, it was transported to Port-au-Prince by trucks. During the first year, we provided basic necessities to half a million people. Photo: Ivan Muñoz/Oxfam
Delmas 42b camp, Haiti, in January 2010. At the worst time after the earthquake, close to 1.5 million people were living in one of Port-au-Prince's 1,500 camps. 358,000 people still live there today. Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam
The Université de Quisqueya camp in Port-au-Prince, in March 2010. In 2011, we made a transition from emergency response to longer-term rehabilitation and development-focused programming, gradually leaving the more than 120 camps where we had been working. Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam
Both clean water and sanitation facilities are crucial in any emergency situation – without them, diseases spread quickly. During the first year, we provided clean water and sanitation to about half a million people. Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam
Waiting in line at an Oxfam water point. While Haiti was slowly recovering from the earthquake and from a cholera outbreak in October 2010, it was hit by two tropical storms in 2012. "Isaac" and "Sandy" compounded the chronic vulnerability of people who were already living in a precarious situation.
Row of latrines installed at Impasse Tranquile, Port-au-Prince. 632,000 cases of cholera were registered in October 2010, killing more than 7,600 people. Campaigns promoting the use of clean water, basic hygiene measures and the construction of sanitation facilities continue to play an important role in preventing the spread of cholera. Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam
Cash for work program in the Tapis Rouge camp in Port-au-Prince. In order to help the most vulnerable households with healthy individuals meet their basic needs, Oxfam recruited people to clear the streets of rubble, which provided them with a basic income. Photo: Ivan Muñoz/Oxfam
Construction of latrines and showers in the Gressier camp. Given the continuing need in Haiti of more consistent water and sanitation services, especially with the constant tropical storms and the cholera outbreak, a large part of Oxfam's work in 2012 focused on building permanent structures such as water points, latrines, showers, and sanitation systems. Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam
A group of women clearing the streets of debris, in Los Poetes near Belladere. Thanks to the determination of Haitians and their government, and the generosity and solidarity of citizens and governments worldwide, tangible progress has been made. However, there are still significant challenges to rebuild Haiti after the earthquake and after decades of collective neglect and poor governance.
An engineer examining the water quality of a river near Gressier camp. In 2011 we started to leave the camps, handing over most of our water and sanitation programs to trained water committees and established alternative mechanisms to ensure the continued provision of quality services.
Oxfam's work in Disaster Risk Reduction, primarily in Artibonite and Les Palmes, supported local committees to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. The project aimed to reduce the exposure of Haitians to risk and the impact of disasters on livelihoods. Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam
Marie Carole Boursiquot was one of 56 women who ran Oxfam's first community canteens in Port-au-Prince. Food shortages and unemployment are two major obstacles that people face when they begin to rebuild their lives. Our focus has been on local production and strengthening links between producers and consumers.
Jacques Andreis Desir (76) received a cash transfer via his mobile phone as part of Oxfam's cash transfer program. 4,000 vulnerable beneficiaries were provided with phones and received three installments of US $50 from the World Food Programme. With this money they were able to buy food and other basic necessities.
Esline Belcombe, 25, is the president of a water committee in the Corail camp. The resilience and determination of Haitians has moved us from the beginning.