The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) mobilized scientists and technical experts around the world to help assess the impacts of the earthquake in Haiti. The initiative, called Operation GEO-CAN – which stands for Global Earth Observation – Catastrophe Assessment Network, estimated and classified building damage based on high resolution aerial imagery in areas severely affected by the earthquake, including Port-au-Prince.
GFDRR, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank and UNESCO, also supported a rapid multi-hazard risk assessment in Haiti. This assessment serves as a tool in the reconstruction planning for the national authorities and the international community. It supports decision making on safe resettlement, land use planning, sustainable sectoral development strategies, and urban drainage programs. In the next phase of this program, the hazard mapping and data management capacities within the Government of Haiti will be further strengthened to refine the established risk assessment platform. See preliminary report (French)
Moreover, GFDRR also supported the creation of a Building Assessment and Construction Normstechnical unit within the Haitian Ministry of Public Works, to strengthen their capacity to coordinate the public infrastructure assessment campaign and mitigate the impact of collapsing building caused by repeated aftershocks. In partnership with UNOPS, more that 300 engineers have been trained and 22,000 buildings evaluated. Preliminary results suggest that 55% of those buildings are structural sound, of which 60% have already been reoccupied thus taking significant pressure of the IDP camps. This program is also guiding the development of building norms and training modules for the construction sector, in support of the Government of Haiti's recovery and reconstruction program.