Earthquake in Haiti: Three Years Later

Triumphs, milestones and missteps in post-earthquake Haiti.

Earthquake in Haiti: Three Years Later - Three years after Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake that took the lives of nearly 300,000 people, the country is still working to heal the lasting wounds left by the quake. Take a look at some of the triumphs and missteps from the past year in post-earthquake Haiti. — Naeesa Aziz (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Earthquake in Haiti: Three Years Later - Three years after Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake that took the lives of nearly 300,000 people, the country is still working to heal the lasting wounds left by the quake. Take a look at some of the triumphs and missteps from the past year in post-earthquake Haiti. — Naeesa Aziz (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Housing Crisis - The 2010 earthquake reduced many of Haiti’s homes to rubble. Statistics from October 2012 showed that an estimated 300,000-plus people are still living in tent camps and other temporary housing as a result of the earthquake. Advocates say that figure does not account for the hundreds of thousands more who may be living in unofficial camps. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Housing Crisis - The 2010 earthquake reduced many of Haiti’s homes to rubble. Statistics from October 2012 showed that an estimated 300,000-plus people are still living in tent camps and other temporary housing as a result of the earthquake. Advocates say that figure does not account for the hundreds of thousands more who may be living in unofficial camps. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Political Strife - In March 2012, hundreds of Haitians took to the streets of Port-au-Prince to protest the high cost of living and called for the resignation of President Michel Martelly. (Photo: REUTERS/Swoan Parker)

Lamothe Rises to Power - In May 2012, politician Laurent Lamothe was appointed prime minister after Garry Conille resigned from the post in protest when the presidential administration would not cooperate with a parliamentary inquiry into dual citizenship among senior officials.  (Photo: Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for 2nd Annual Concordia Summit)

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Lamothe Rises to Power - In May 2012, politician Laurent Lamothe was appointed prime minister after Garry Conille resigned from the post in protest when the presidential administration would not cooperate with a parliamentary inquiry into dual citizenship among senior officials.  (Photo: Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for 2nd Annual Concordia Summit)

Aristide Back to Bolster Party - A hotelier in Haiti told the Associated Press that former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide is busy working behind the scenes, trying to rebuild his political party as the Caribbean nation prepares for legislative and local elections. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Aristide Back on the Scene - In January 2013, former Haitian leader Jean Bertrand Aristide was questioned over allegations of corruption. Critics say the government has bigger fish to fry than spending money on Aristide.  (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Duvalier Returns - Haitian officials renewed the diplomatic passport of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier. Duvalier has incited ire since a judge refused to prosecute him for human rights crimes.  (Photo: REUTERS/Swoan Parker)

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Duvalier Returns - Haitian officials renewed the diplomatic passport of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier. Duvalier has incited ire since a judge refused to prosecute him for human rights crimes.  (Photo: REUTERS/Swoan Parker)

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Wyclef’s Charity Shuts Its Doors - Wyclef’s Haiti charity Yelé shut down its operations this year amid a trail of debt and scandal. The charity raised over $1 million for Haiti’s relief in the immediate wake of the 2012 earthquake from mobile donations alone. (Photo: Courtesy of Yele)

Sean Penn Says Port-au-Prince Is Like Detroit - Three years following a devastating earthquake, actor and activist Sean Penn commented on conditions in Haiti, stating that its capital, Port-au-Prince, is just like Detroit. "It's not more dangerous, it's not less dangerous,” he said. (Photo: Lee Celano/Getty Images)

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Sean Penn’s Detroit Connection - Actor and activist Sean Penn compared Haiti’s capital to the struggling U.S. city of Detroit saying, "It's not more dangerous, it's not less dangerous."  (Photo: Lee Celano/Getty Images)

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Cholera Under Control? - Although cholera is still an issue for Haiti, today’s rates of infection are nowhere near the epidemic levels seen in late 2011 and early 2012. Since then, cholera numbers have dropped and the U.N. launched a $2.2-billion appeal for a campaign to halt cholera in the country.   (Photo: REUTERS/Sophia Paris/MINUSTAH /Landov)

Children on the Mend - A recent study showed that the percentage of children ages 6-11 attending school was increased to 77 percent from below 50 percent in 2005-2006. Rates of malnutrition also improved over the past 10 years. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Children on the Mend - A recent study showed that the percentage of children ages 6-11 attending school was increased to 77 percent from below 50 percent in 2005-2006. Rates of malnutrition also improved over the past 10 years. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Haiti Seeks New Law to Protect Mineral Wealth - Amid Haiti’s recent gold and mineral mining rush, the country’s government is trying to pass a law that will ensure the country benefits from the estimated $20 billion worth of mineral wealth. (Photo: REUTERS /SWOAN PARKER /LANDOV)

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Gold Rush - In May, gold and other precious metals were discovered in Haiti's Northeastern mountain range, giving residents hope that once mining starts, the revenues will be used to improve their lives.  (Photo: REUTERS/Swoan Parker)

Rape Reform - Although sexual violence against women continued to be an issue in many of Haiti’s displacement camps, changes in the way rape is prosecuted has encouraged more women to report rape and resulted in the prosecution of more rapists.  (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Rape Reform - Although sexual violence against women continued to be an issue in many of Haiti’s displacement camps, changes in the way rape is prosecuted has encouraged more women to report rape and resulted in the prosecution of more rapists.  (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Helping Haiti - Haiti garnered an outpouring of humanitarian service when a catastrophic earthquake in 2010 killed tens of thousands of Haitians. Hundreds of thousands of residents continue to live in temporary settlement camps. Forced evictions have reportedly caused those numbers to decrease.  (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Residential Rehab - The government-sponsored Haiti Reconstruction Fund's 16/6 program closed six internally displaced persons camps and organized the return of 5,000 displaced families to their 16 neighborhoods of origin. International funding is now helping the fund reconstruct or repair homes destroyed in the neighborhoods. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Hurricane Sandy Causes Deaths, Crop Damage in Haiti - Haiti is still reeling from Hurricane Sandy’s visit to the Caribbean nearly one week ago, when three days of constant rain led to 54 storm-related deaths in the region and severe damage to food crops. (Photo: AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Carl Juste)

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Weather Woes - Weather continued to be a hindrance to Haiti’s progress as Tropical Storm Isaac and Hurricane Sandy both swept through the island over the course of one year. The storms left over 70 people dead, destroyed homes and caused extensive damage to vital crops. (Photo: AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Carl Juste)

Haiti Criminals Caught - Seven wanted criminal suspects were caught in Haiti during a joint operation called “Operation Hope” that utilized local police and United Nations peacekeepers.  “Security has remained a concern in Haiti since last year’s earthquake, which enabled the escape of about 6,000 prisoners. Since then, criminals have used the ensuing chaos to rebuild and increase their activities,” the U.N. said.(Photo: Lee Celano/Getty Images)

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Warnings From the West - Travel warnings issued by the U.S. and Canadian governments ruffled feathers in Haiti, causing backlash from the Haitian government who say they hurt relief efforts. The U.S. warning told travelers that "U.S. citizens have been victims of violent crime, including murder and kidnapping." (Photo: Lee Celano/Getty Images)

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Reality Show - Whether called “slum tours,” “reality tours” or “poverty tours,” more and more travelers are interested in seeing the “real” parts of their foreign destination, beyond the manicured tourist traps they are expected to visit. While some call the practice exploitative and voyeuristic, others find the idea empowering for local residents who may profit from tourism.  (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Redemption Study - Just days after scathing travel warnings were issued by the U.S. and Canadian governments, a study showed that Haiti is one of the safest destinations throughout all the Americas. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Disaster Oasis? - Haiti’s first five-star hotel, Royal Oasis Hotel, opened over the past year. Planning for the Royal Oasis began in 2006 and construction began one year before the earthquake hit. (Photo: Courtesy of Royal Oasis Hotel)

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Disaster Oasis? - Haiti’s first five-star hotel, Royal Oasis Hotel, opened over the past year. Planning for the Royal Oasis began in 2006 and construction began one year before the earthquake hit. (Photo: Courtesy of Royal Oasis Hotel)