Haiti: The Quake Year

A year after the earthquake, we look at what billions in aid have and have not accomplished and the tough challenges Haiti still faces.

One year ago tomorrow, the news came out of Haiti. A massive 7.0 earthquake had flattened huge swaths of the country. Houses, schools, clinics, the National Palace — all were pancaked and turned to rubble. The poorest country in the Western hemisphere had been steamrolled by natural disaster.

The response from Americans, and from around the world, was fast and enormous. People texting pledges. Cash and aid in the billions were offered.

A year later, there is rebuilding, but also cholera, tarp shacks, suffering, and, still, rubble.

We look at what's happened with relief and Haiti.
-Tom Ashbrook
Guests:

Jason Beaubien, Mexico City Bureau Chief for NPR. He has been closely covering Haiti and the aftermath of last year’s earthquake.

Thomas Adams, U.S. State Depratment special coordinator for Haiti, in which capacity he oversees Washington's reconstruction plans. He is a 35-year veteran of the State Department and previously oversaw aid to 18 former states of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Sam Worthington, chief executive of Interaction, the largest alliance of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), whose members include Oxfam, Mercy Corps, CARE, Save the Children and World Vision. He just returned from Haiti.

Marleine Bastien, founder and executive director of Haitian Women of Miami and co-founder of the Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition.