Last week’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake might be the result of natural causes but there is nothing natural about current crisis in Haiti.

After Haiti’s independence in 1804, France, with support from the U.S. government, imposed a massive debt of 150 million francs on Haiti ($21 billion in today’s dollars). Haiti struggled to pay off this debt while suffering under several military interventions, dictatorships and economic policies imposed by the IMF and the World Bank. These have destroyed Haiti’s ability to take care of itself and its people.

Last week’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake might be the result of natural causes but there is nothing natural about the current crisis in Haiti. To put this in perspective, in 1989 a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the San Francisco area killing 63 people as a result. Haiti’s earthquake, on the other hand, could cause up to 200,000 deaths by some estimates. Poverty and debilitated institutions are the root causes of Haiti’s disaster. This is a human made tragedy that could have been prevented.

Due to economic intrusion by the United States, the World Bank and the IMF, Haiti’s economy is in shambles. For example, Haiti was once self-sufficient in rice production, which meant that Haitian rice farmers could make a sustainable and dignified living through farming. But the IMF with backing from the United States forced Haiti to cut subsidies for its farmers while opening up the market to subsidized U.S. rice. Haiti’s import tariff was cut from 35 to three percent. Rice farmers lost their livelihoods and many migrated to Port-au-Prince looking for work. These made up the population that was crowded into dense slums, factories and homes when the earth shook and the buildings collapsed. Additionally, many other examples of outside intervention and meddling have persisted for decades.

The Obama administration along with other international donors has pledged remarkable support. Our hearts have gone out to the Haitian people and many of us have reached into our pockets and donated toward the relief efforts. These steps are tremendous and they must continue. We must also look to medium and long term policies and projects for the rebuilding of Haiti. This should be done through a sustained commitment to address the root causes of the disaster.

The earthquake was another added injury to Haiti’s struggle. This crisis, however, does present an opportunity for reform and renewal. The following are some resources on how the response can take on a holistic approach.

1. Rebuilding Haiti 
2. Human Rights-Based Approach to Humanitarian Assistance
3. “Don’t point guns at Haitians”