University of Twente Student Theses
Disaster Management of the Earthquake 2010 in Haiti: A Critical Analysis of the United States ́ and the European Unions ́ Development Politics
Höfer, Anna (2023) Disaster Management of the Earthquake 2010 in Haiti: A Critical Analysis of the United States ́ and the European Unions ́ Development Politics.
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| Abstract: | Disaster management is becoming more important due to the increasing number of disasters and especially natural disasters caused by climate change. This thesis deals with the role of the United States and the European Union in the disaster management of the earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010. The research question to be answered in this paper is the following: What role did the European Union and the United States play in the different phases of disaster management of the earthquake 2010 in Haiti? The involvement of the stakeholders in the phases “prediction”, “warning”, “emergency relief”, “rehabilitation”, and “reconstruction” is being investigated in this research. In the warning phase a special focus is put on Earthquake Early Warning Systems (EEW) and it is assessed how they work and if they have been in use before the earthquake 2010. The analysis of primary sources including documents of various US and EU agencies and institutions suggest that both actors show a high influence in the phase of emergency relief. Immediately after the earthquake, emergency relief including the provision of shelters, medication, food and sanitation was provided. However, the support was lacking in the proactive phase of disaster management when risks need to be mitigated and preparation for a disaster takes place. Additionally, the non- application of Early Warning Systems contributed to the high number of victims as timely evacuation was not possible. The analysis shows where development efforts of the EU and the US are lacking. Especially long-term, sustainable development efforts and approaches to building government capacities in Haiti are missing which are necessary to stabilize Haiti ́s political and economic situation and make the country prepared for upcoming natural disasters. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 88 social and public administration, 89 political science |
| Programme: | Management Society and Technology BSc (56654) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/96129 |
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