As mentioned previously, both nations were heavily damaged by their respective earthquakes and for Japan, the tsunami that followed. Besides the death tolls aside, being of an estimated 200-316 thousand for Haiti, and 20,896 for Japan (USGS, 2012), these nations were impacted in other ways too. Haiti for example, had 70% of its population left without access to electricity, some 600,000 people were food insecure, and of the children supposed to be attending primary school, almost a quarter of them (23%) were taken out (Katz, 2014). Two very important factors, being education and nutrition are both heavily affected as a result. Haiti itself, unfortunately did not act very quickly or effectively, in order to minimise the impact of the quake as soon as possible.
Japan on the other hand, was much faster to act. Only hours after the earthquake, Japan Prime Minster Kan Naoto set up an emergency command centre based in Tokyo, as well as mobilising some 100,000 defence force workers, along with a large number of rescue workers to assist those affected. NGOs within Japan and internationally directed funds, and countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Chine, India and the US sent help. The key factor here was just how rapid the response was, and hence the far smaller death toll. It was also said that “In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, several hundred thousand people were in shelters, often with limited or negligible supplies of food and water, and tens of thousands more remained stranded and isolated in the worst-hit areas as rescuers worked to reach them”. It was also mentioned that some 250,000 people were displaced due to the Fukushima power plant disaster that followed. Japan’s technology and automobile industries were initially affected, yet had recovered back to the same level of output as before the earthquake by early 2012, yet another sign of a rapid recovery. Also, in November 2011, $155 billion was put towards repairs to infrastructure by the government, and a Reconstruction Agency was put in place (P.Rafferty, 2013).
Japan on the other hand, was much faster to act. Only hours after the earthquake, Japan Prime Minster Kan Naoto set up an emergency command centre based in Tokyo, as well as mobilising some 100,000 defence force workers, along with a large number of rescue workers to assist those affected. NGOs within Japan and internationally directed funds, and countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Chine, India and the US sent help. The key factor here was just how rapid the response was, and hence the far smaller death toll. It was also said that “In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, several hundred thousand people were in shelters, often with limited or negligible supplies of food and water, and tens of thousands more remained stranded and isolated in the worst-hit areas as rescuers worked to reach them”. It was also mentioned that some 250,000 people were displaced due to the Fukushima power plant disaster that followed. Japan’s technology and automobile industries were initially affected, yet had recovered back to the same level of output as before the earthquake by early 2012, yet another sign of a rapid recovery. Also, in November 2011, $155 billion was put towards repairs to infrastructure by the government, and a Reconstruction Agency was put in place (P.Rafferty, 2013).
Left: Workers in protective suits enter the crippled Fukushima power plant (Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8953574/Japan-earthquake-tsunami-and-Fukushima-nuclear-disaster-2011-review.html)
Right: Mexico's Red Cross prepares aid for Haiti (Available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2010/01/13/GA2010011302075.html)
From both Japan’s situation as well as Haiti’s, lessons can be learned for the rest of the world, as well as these two countries. Japan’s situation teaches us how we should react in the event of an earthquake, which seems to be fast and well planned out. Also, the Japanese Government implemented various budgets in order to assist with the recovery, which in the case of the automotive industry’s output, was rather fast.
Haiti can also teach the world, mostly in terms of the provision of aid. However, it is perhaps an example of how not to give it, as according to a Time Magazine article, “Billions of dollars in promised aid haven’t yet been dispersed and may never trickle down far enough for victims to feel it” (Katz, 2014). Essentially, the money isn’t entirely effective, or at least not effective enough. For more information concerning the distribution of donations by governments and NGOs, go to the ‘Responses’ page.
Right: Mexico's Red Cross prepares aid for Haiti (Available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2010/01/13/GA2010011302075.html)
From both Japan’s situation as well as Haiti’s, lessons can be learned for the rest of the world, as well as these two countries. Japan’s situation teaches us how we should react in the event of an earthquake, which seems to be fast and well planned out. Also, the Japanese Government implemented various budgets in order to assist with the recovery, which in the case of the automotive industry’s output, was rather fast.
Haiti can also teach the world, mostly in terms of the provision of aid. However, it is perhaps an example of how not to give it, as according to a Time Magazine article, “Billions of dollars in promised aid haven’t yet been dispersed and may never trickle down far enough for victims to feel it” (Katz, 2014). Essentially, the money isn’t entirely effective, or at least not effective enough. For more information concerning the distribution of donations by governments and NGOs, go to the ‘Responses’ page.