Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Poor Neighbourhood and Natural Disaster

The Environmental Situation of the Cité l’Eternel in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Learning from the Slums for the Development of Emerging Cities

Part of the book series: GeoJournal Library ((GEJL,volume 119))

Abstract

In Port-au-Prince, the urban insecurity resulting from the multiplication of disadvantaged neighbourhoods is juxtaposed with a lack of urban planning, which gave rise to uncontrolled urban sprawling and social and economic segregation of urban population. The process of unplanned urbanization of Port-au-Prince has been argued through historical account on its shantytowns and typology of their habitats. Furthermore, the precarity and disaster risk circumstances of these settlements are presented through the analysis of the environmental issues in the “Cité de l’Éternel”, one of the biggest slums in Port-au-Prince. Its unbridled urbanisation process jeopardised the capital with two major challenges: insufficient infrastructure and its areas prone to floods or susceptible to landslides. The earthquake of 2010 and the risk of another major one further engrave the situation while the urgency of relocating vast number of homeless to temporary homes and shelters show tendency to remain permanent and produce new slums.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    WHO (1989) defines decent and healthy housing as one that promotes the physical and mental health of its occupants by providing a sense of psychological security. This ideal accommodation should be able to serve, for its occupants, as a physical connection to their community and culture, and should allow them to express their identity (OMS 1989).

  2. 2.

    Studies relating to the impact of leachates from household garbage dumps on aquatic ecosystems and soil are rare (Khattabi et al. 2001). They are usually limited to the assessment of the toxicity of these organic acids present in large amounts in the leachates that can lead to the formation of toxic complexes with metallic elements (Fraser et al. 2000).

References

  • Blary, R. (1997). Services urbains dans les pays en développement: modèles de gestion. Le tiers système gestionnaire (Blary, Boisvert, & Fisette, Eds., pp. 85–154, 339 p). Paris: Economica. ISBN: 271782958X.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bras, A. (2010). Éléments pour une définition de la problématique de la propreté urbaine en Haïti: cas de la ville de Port-au-Prince. Doctoral thesis, INSA de Lyon/Quisqueya University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmanuel, E. (2004). Évaluation des risques sanitaires et écotoxicologiques des habitats de la cité l’Éternel. Port-au-Prince: Quisqueya University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmanuel, E., Thermil, K., Philippe-Auguste, P. R., Metellus, E., Saint-Hilaire, P., & Metellus, F. (2000). Analyse de la situation de l’habitat en Haïti. Port-au-Prince: Quisqueya University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmanuel, E., Balthazard-Accou, K., & Joseph, O. (2009). Impact of urban waste water on the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems. In M. Goosen, E. Laboy, F. Schaffner, & A. Abdelhadi (Eds.), Environmental Management, Sustainable Development and Human Health (pp. 399–424). Boca Raton: Taylor and Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Etienne, S. P. (1999). Haïti, Misère de la Démocratie. CRESFED. Paris: l’Harmattan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, J. K., Butler, C. A., Timperley, M. H., & Evan, C. W. (2000). Formation of copper complexes in landfill leachate and their toxicity to zebra fish embryos. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 19, 1397–1402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurbon, L. (1987). Comprendre Haïti. Essai sur l’État, la nation, la culture. Paris: Les Éditions Karthala.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khattabi, H., Aleyai, L., Lovy, C., & Mania, J. (2001). Évaluation de l’impact des lixiviats d’une décharge d’ordures ménagères sur la qualité physico-chimique et bactériologique des eaux d’un ruisseau de Franche-Comté. DÉCHETS – Revue Francophone d’écologie industrielle, 24, 3–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavalin. (1988). Plan directeur de Port-au-Prince (Evaluation of the population). Ministère des Travaux Publics, Transports et Communications. Port-au-Prince: UNDP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Léger, R. J., & Désinor, J. (1998). Le problème posé dans la fourniture des services d’alimentation en eau potable et d’assanissement dans les bidonvilles: Étude du cas de la Cité l’Eternel. In A. Azael & N. Fièvre (Eds.), Décentralisation et développement local. Port-au-Prince: Quisqueya University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malebranche, S. (1998). Consolidation et revitalisation des centres historiques: le cas du centre historique de Port-au-Prince. Montréal: Villes et Développement. Groupe interuniversitaire de Montréal, (Cahier/Cuadermo 200–10).

    Google Scholar 

  • OMS. (1989). Santé et logement: principes directeurs (46 p.). Genève.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polèse, M. (1994). Économie Urbaine et Régionale, Logique spatiale des mutations économiques. Paris: Economica.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragle, N., Kissel, J., Ongerth, J. E., & Dewalle, F. B. (1995). Composition and variability of leachate from recent and aged areas within a municipal landfill. Water Environment Research, 67, 238–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivière, J.-L. (1998). Évaluation du risque écologique des sols pollués. Association RE.C.O.R.D. Paris: Lavoisier Tec & Doc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rousseau, M.-L. B., Joseph, A. L., & Bouchereau, K. J. (1998). Amélioration des conditions de vie dans les quartiers précaires à Port-au-Prince: Analyse de différentes approches concernant le logement. In A. Azael & N. Fièvre (Eds.), Décentralisation et développement local. Port-au-Prince: Quisqueya University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tractebel Development. (1998). Étude de l’alimentation en eau potable de Port-au-Prince. Bruxelles: Tractebel Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). (1986). Plan de développement PAP (Port-au-Prince et sa zone métropolitaine). Étude préliminaire. Port-au-Prince: UNDP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Véron, J. (2007). La moitié de la population mondiale vit en ville. Population & Sociétés, 435, 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (World Health Organization). (1989). Health principles of housing. Geneva: WHO.

    Google Scholar 

Further Reading

  • General Bibliography – Haiti, Port-au-Prince

    Google Scholar 

  • Audefroy, J. F. (2011). Haiti: post-earthquake lessons learned from traditional construction. Environment and Urbanization, 23(2), 447–462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bono, F., & Gutiérrez, E. (2011). A network-based analysis of the impact of structural damage on urban accessibility following a disaster: the case of the seismically damaged Port Au Prince and Carrefour urban road networks. Journal of Transport Geography, 19(6), 1443–1455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bramante, J. F., & Raju, D. K. (2013). Predicting the distribution of informal camps established by the displaced after a catastrophic disaster. Port-au-Prince. Haiti Applied Geography, 40, 30–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bras, A., Berdier, C., Emmanuel, E., & Zimmerman, M. (2009). Problems and current practices of solid waste management in Port-au-Prince (Haiti). Waste Management, 29(11), 2907–2909.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeong, S.-H. (2010). Public support for Haitian earthquake victims: Role of attributions and emotions. Public Relations Review, 36(4), 325–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, M., & Wang, F. (2010). Population density patterns in Port-au-Prince, Haiti: A model of Latin American city? Cities, 27(3), 127–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noel, C. (2010). Solid waste workers and livelihood strategies in Greater Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Waste Management, 30(6), 1138–1148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, K. (2012). International disaster relief: The Haiti experience. Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine, 13(1), 6–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Specific Bibliography – Cité de l’Eternel

    Google Scholar 

  • Barcelo, J.-Y. (2010). Post-séisme en Haïti: le processus d’accompagnement de la reconstruction urbaine post-séisme. France: Groupe URD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrau, E. (2007). Accès à l’eau potable dans des quartiers défavorisés de Port-au-Prince (Haïti): stratégies d’acteurs et enjeux institutionnels. Paper presented at the Eau société et développement durable.

    Google Scholar 

  • CICR. (2005). Dossier de presse, Le travail du CICR et de la Croix-Rouge Haïtienne à Cité Soleil. Haiti: International Committee of Red Cross.

    Google Scholar 

  • CICR. (2012). Réhabilitation du système d’eau potable à Cité Soleil. Haiti: International Committee of Red Cross.

    Google Scholar 

  • d’Haïti, G. d. l. R. (2010). Évaluation sectorielle des dommages, des pertes et des besoins, Le tremblement de terre du 12 janvier 2010 et ses impacts Haïti. PDNA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forsman, Å. (2010). A situational analysis of metropolitan Port-au-Prince, Haïti. Strategic citywide spatial planning: ONU-Habitat. Haiti: United Nations Human Settlements (UN-Habitat).

    Google Scholar 

  • Glüsing, J. (2010). Brazil helps to restore order in Haïti. Die Spiegel. Spiegel Online International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Roux, G. (2011). A Cité Soleil, la lutte contre le choléra est un combat sans fin. France 24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Losson, C. (2010). A Cité Soleil, la menace des gangs. Libération. Haiti.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oberlé, T. (2004). Les chimères entretiennent un climat de terreur à Port-au-Prince. Le Figaro. France

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosensweig, F. (1996). Activity report – A plan for CDS to establish a water and sanitation district. Cité Soleil, Haiti, and monitoring visit report (Vol. 21). USAID: U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Quisqueya University, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

    Anie Bras, Georges Eddy Lucien & Evens Emmanuel

  2. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland

    Abigaïl-Laure Kern

Authors
  1. Anie Bras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abigaïl-Laure Kern
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Georges Eddy Lucien
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Evens Emmanuel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anie Bras .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland

    Jean-Claude Bolay

  2. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland

    Jérôme Chenal

  3. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland

    Yves Pedrazzini

Case Study: Cité l’Eternel, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Case Study: Cité l’Eternel, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

figure a
figure b
figure c

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bras, A., Kern, AL., Lucien, G.E., Emmanuel, E. (2016). Poor Neighbourhood and Natural Disaster. In: Bolay, JC., Chenal, J., Pedrazzini, Y. (eds) Learning from the Slums for the Development of Emerging Cities. GeoJournal Library, vol 119. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31794-6_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31794-6_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31792-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31794-6

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation