Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere with over 80% of the population living in poverty. Many of the country's citizens are unemployed and the outlook for job opportunities is bleak. Historically, the country has been rife with political turmoil. In 2004 the overthrow of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide led to widespread riots and gang violence in the capital of Port-Au-Prince. This prompted the United Nations to begin a stabilization mission in Haiti known as MINUSTAH in order to help the transitional government restore order in the country. In addition to political violence, Haiti has been the victim of natural disasters in the past due to its location in the hurricane belt. In 2008, the country was wracked by three hurricanes and one tropical storm within the span of a month. A total of $900 million in damages were caused by these storms and 800 people were killed.

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, with an epicenter close to the capital, has been described as the worst earthquake to strike the country in 200 years. Much of Port-Au-Prince lies in ruins. The current death toll, which does not include those still trapped underneath the rubble and those who were buried privately, ranges between 200,000 and 250,000 people. The Inter-American Development Bank estimates that the cost of the damages could range between $7.2 billion to $13.2 billion. Nations around the world have been quick to pledge financial aid and humanitarian assistance, but the already poor infrastructure of Haiti has created a logistical nightmare for emergency relief efforts. In the days after the quake it proved difficult to distribute food and medical supplies to those who needed it the most. Fortunately, distribution efforts have become more organized and effective in recent weeks.

However, there is no short term fix for the situation in Haiti. Need for food, water, and medical supplies are ongoing. Many schools and hospitals in Port-Au-Prince have collapsed in the quake. It is crucial that these be rebuilt. Furthermore, the country's government has proven ineffective in leading its own emergency relief operations and its control over the country seems to have crumbled with the government buildings. The intergovernmental agencies will need plenty of help to regain control of the country. In addition, an economic crisis has been caused by the earthquake. Damage to Haiti's harbor prevents it from shipping out exports. Previous environmental degradation has placed a heavy burden on the subsistence farmers of the region and driven up the cost of food around the country. This places a significant financial load on the impoverished citizens of Haiti, who could barely nourish themselves before the quake.

In short, the recent earthquake has magnified existing problems in the country and created new ones as well. Haiti will need continual support from outside sources for years to come if it is to overcome this dire situation.