Introduction

This book is going to take you through a journey of Haiti! Throughout this book you will be learning the culture, how these people live, popular foods, fun things to do and about the traumatic event of the earthquake that happened in Haiti.

Facts

These facts are very helpful when learning some information about Haiti. These facts are about Haiti's geographic location, how many people live in Haiti, and the unemployment rate. When learning about a new country or a new group of people it is important to get some background information about it.

Haiti makes up the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. The eastern two-thirds of the island is the Dominican Republic.

About Haiti:

(from the CIA World Factbook)

Area: 27,750 sq km (slightly smaller than Maryland)

Population: 10,485,800 (July 2016)

Median age: 22.6 years old

Capital: Port-au-Prince

Ethnic Groups: Black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

Unemployment: 40.6% (2010 est.)

Article

This Article speaks on the horrible day that happened in Haiti. Haiti was struck by a disaster when a Earthquake hit. The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicenter near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 kilometers west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. 

Disaster in Haiti

An island neighbor of the U.S. struggles after a devastating earthquake

By: Jill Lederman

People in the nation of Haiti are struggling to recover after a powerful earthquake caused massive destruction there.

Tens of thousands of people in the Caribbean nation were killed, and many more were injured. The Presidential Palace, which is like the White House here in the U.S., was among the many government buildings that collapsed. Hospitals were destroyed, as were countless homes. The disaster added more suffering to people already struggling to cope with everyday life. Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world.

International aid groups are rushing to provide food, water, and medical aid to Haiti. People worldwide are donating money to help. Many nations, including the U.S., are sending aid as well as money. The U.S. is sending troops to help with rescue and relief efforts, and to police the streets. “This is a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share,” U.S. President Barack Obama said.

Worst Earthquake in Caribbean in Centuries

The earthquake’s epicenter—the point on the Earth’s surface directly above where it happened—was about 10 miles from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Experts say it was the worst earthquake in the region in more than 200 years.

The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale, which is very high. More than 30 aftershocks, or smaller earthquakes, came after the big quake.

What Caused the Quake?

The earthquake in Haiti occurred on a long fault, or crack in the Earth’s surface, that goes across the island. This underground crack separates two giant tectonic plates, or slabs of rock that make up Earth’s outer layer. Along the fault, the plates slowly grind past one another in opposite directions. But this movement isn’t smooth. The plates’ edges get stuck for long periods of time. Eventually, they may suddenly jerk free. That sudden movement is what triggers an earthquake.

Worries About Loved Ones

Some Americans have a special concern about the situation in Haiti—family and friends. Hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. are from Haiti. They are anxiously seeking news of loved ones. And like other Americans, they are working to help Haiti recover from this disaster.

Poem

This poems focuses on the hurt Haiti was in and also the children of Haiti as well. Haiti is known for having a lot of poverty after the earthquake hit and these poems both express on it.

A Haitian Child's Plea

By: Ayesha Karim

Today I walked around all day.

My feet hurt.

I have no clean water to drink.

I have nothing to eat.

I want to take a bath like any other boy does.

There is no clean water.

I just want to be a kid.

Over head is a helicopter

hovering over me and I doubt they’ll help us.

I miss my family and that’s all I can think about.

Culture of Haiti