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Earthquake-resilient construction in Haiti
Reinforced Lasalle school withstands Haiti
The earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 left widespread devastation: about 250,000 people died and countless buildings were reduced to rubble. Alone in Gressier municipality, located 10 km from the epicentre, up to half of the buildings was destroyed. But the Lassale school remained standing. Less than one year earlier, the school building’s resilience to natural disasters had been improved with Swiss funding. Two hundred children visit Lassale school but on the day the earthquake shook Haiti, classes had finished and the children had gone home. According to estimates of the United Nations between 40 and 50% of the buildings in Gressier municipality, where the school is located, were destroyed on 12 January 2010. Despite its location only 10 km from the epicentre, the school only suffered minimal damage, thanks to an eartquakeresilient construction programme funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Bricks and wooden roof About 5000 schools needed to be rebuilt after the earthquake. The SDC developed an even more effective design for schools in urban and suburban zones exposed to
The investments made in earthquake resilient construction have demonstrated their worth. The SDC’s disasterproof design was approved by the Government of Haiti. As a result, the SDC was the first organisation to receive authorisation after the earthquake to build permanent school buildings in October 2010. In March that year the Federal Council set aside CHF 36 million for the reconstruction of Haiti. Swiss Humanitarian Aid focuses its attention mainly on rebuilding social |
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The project in brief Domain Global Cooperation Theme Disaster Risk Reduction Country / Region Haiti Partners The local school committee Background After the earthquake of 12 January 2010, about 5000 schools had to be rebuilt in Haiti. SDC adapted a design for earthquake and stormproof construction using locally available resources Project aims Provide access to safe schools Target group Children of the Lasalle Costs USD 85,000 USD 280 per m2 USD 25,000 per classroom USD 350 per child Duration 4 months Contact Humanitarian Aid |
