Haitian Jimmy Jean Noel works for UNOPS on a project providing support to the local United Nations Stabilization Mission. He recalls the day in 2010 when the earthquake struck:

“It was the afternoon of 12 January, 2010. I had just returned to my office at the headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) after training a group of MINUSTAH police officers on how to use our communications equipment.

“4:53 PM: I was working in one of the classrooms at the headquarters, at the time located inside Hotel Christopher, when I suddenly felt the floor swaying and rocking violently in all directions – it was an earthquake.

“My colleagues and I instinctively attempted to get out of the room where we were standing, but as we reached for the exit, we realized it was blocked. An entire section of the wall collapsed. After spending 30 minutes trapped and in total disarray, UN police officers rescued us through the window. Stunned and horrified at the sight of Hotel Christopher’s main building, which had completely collapsed, I started to realize that something terrible had just happened. Then all my thoughts went to my family. I absolutely had to find them and make sure they were fine.

“Finding my way home was quite difficult, as lifeless bodies lay strewn on the streets and people walked silently, dazed. At a bend not far from my home, I realized I could no longer see the family house and suddenly started to have a splitting headache. I reached home only to find that what I was dreading had actually happened: my house had completely collapsed. A neighbour came up to me right at that moment and said, “Your brother is safe and sound, I saw him!” That gave me new hope – my little brother was alive, and I was not alone in the world. I found my brother and we started counting the dead: our mother, father and little sister had passed away.

“People ask me how I can go on with my life after this experience. I tell them that it’s my faith, my new responsibilities towards my brother and my work at UNOPS providing 24/7 security assistance every day to helping thousands of humanitarian workers and Haitian citizens that keeps me going.”

Since 2005, Jimmy has been working for a project that established communication centres across Haiti to track the movement of personnel working in the UN system and several NGOs as well as vehicles. The project is funded by MINUSTAH and implemented by UNOPS. This system has allowed for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and increased the security of humanitarian workers in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. The project is thus helping to support overall recovery, reconstruction and stability efforts in the country, and has done so during previous natural disasters. Jimmy provides training on the use of radio communications to UN personnel, UN police, UN military and Haitian National Police.

In addition to keeping UN and NGO staff safe, the communication centres serve as a central point of contact for all Haitians in distress. Every day, scores of Haitians receive emergency assistance through these centres.

The project provides incomes for over 200 Haitians, more than 60 of whom are women. Their skills have been developed and the regular income enables them to send their children to school and put a healthy meal on the table.

Every month the communication centres track the movement of 8,000 vehicles and 25,000 passengers. In addition, 30,000 radio checks are carried out monthly across all regions in Haiti to track safety of these individuals. The centres broadcast up to 400 security advisories, more than 350 weather reports and more than 200 ‘restrictions of movement’ messages every month.

Just like all other Haitians, UN personnel in Haiti were greatly affected by the 2010 earthquake. All have in one way or another lost a relative, a friend, a neighbour, or a colleague. Some of them still live in tents or at friends’ houses. Yet, they go to work every day to contribute to their country’s recovery.