Post date: Sep 28, 2017 12:40:3 AM
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/05/31/136832070/report-death-toll-in-haiti-earthquake-much-lower-than-government-estimates
Report: Death Toll Of Haiti Earthquake Much Lower Than Government Said
Eyder Peralta reported on NPR that statistical analysis shows only 85,000 people died in 2010 Haiti earthquake, many fewer than the 300,000 the government of Haiti said had died, which had justified enormous international aid, including $5.5 billion pledged during a UN conference.
The analysis was done by Timothy Schwartz who also described in a blog post how the estimated death toll changed wildly from day to day. Schwartz holds that no one had any idea how many people had died, but that almost everyone, whether in government or in NGOs skewed the numbers as high as possible and ignore the evidence.
Jeff Schmidt (JeffFromOhio) commented: "Oh man, I think I'm gonna write to the Red Cross and ask for my money back.... Not really. As the study author says, even if it's "only" 60,000 dead, that's a pretty huge number, and the devastation in Haiti is quite real. That country really does need a lot of aid, it seems to me. I'm happy with my donations to the Red Cross, and other aid organizations."
JS Greenfield (jsg68) replied: "Jeff, you may be happy with your donations...but I'd suggest that's because you're happy with your donations independent of the facts on the ground. Those who spend time studying the impact and effectiveness of aid suggest that efforts in Haiti have largely not been effective, and charities asked for and successfully raised enormously more funds than they were prepared to actually put to work in Haiti. See for example: http://blog.givewell.org/2011/01/10/how-much-money-has-been-given-for-haiti-earthquake-relief-putting-the-numbers-in-perspective/, http://blog.givewell.org/2011/01/11/what-is-the-situation-in-haiti-a-year-after-the-earthquake-what-have-and-havent-charities-accomplished-so-far/, http://www.givewell.org/international/disaster-relief/haiti-earthquake/one-year-later. So while 85,000 vs. 300,000 dead might not change your fundamental outlook, the actual impact and reality of aid efforts potentially ought to."
daniel d (danielj23) commented: "How many people did the US claim were dead from the 9/11 attacks on the day it happened? I think the number reached somewhere around 8-10,000. Now the US wants to complain about Haiti overstating the deaths from an earthquake that is probably very difficult to judge in a country where it shouldn't be unexpected that the numbers are going to be difficult to determine?"