disaster
Before the Storm: How Haiti is Protecting Lives and Livelihoods through Resilient Infrastructure
By World Bank at ReliefWeb
· June 9, 2026
· 4 min read
. On June 1st – the Atlantic hurricane season will officially open. Although the US National Hurricane center predicts fewer storms this hurricane season, this period presents a major concern for the Caribbean until it ends in November. For a country like Haiti, where 96 % of the population is expos
Key takeaway In 2016, Hurricane Matthew killed 546 people, more than 175,500 people sought refuge in shelters, and about 1.
Why this matters
The construction of multifunctional safe havens in Haiti highlights the critical need for resilient infrastructure in disaster-prone areas. With 96% of the population exposed to natural disasters, the country's vulnerability is exacerbated by its limited capacity to withstand and recover from crises. The World Bank's support for building 20 safe havens across five departments addresses this gap by providing communities with purpose-built structures that can serve as emergency shelters during hurricanes and other hazards. By integrating these facilities into existing school sites, they can also function as community hubs during calm periods, promoting social cohesion and everyday use. This approach recognizes that disaster risk reduction is closely tied to community development and livelihood protection, rather than solely focusing on emergency response. As the Atlantic hurricane season begins, the success of these safe havens will be closely watched, particularly in departments like Sud and Grand'Anse, which have been historically devastated by storms.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ReliefWeb . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: disaster ·
Published: June 9, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . On June 1st – the Atlantic hurricane season will officially open. Although the US National Hurricane center predicts fewer storms this hurricane season, this period presents a major concern for the Caribbean until it ends in November. For a country like Haiti, where 96 % of the population is expos
When was this published? This article was first published on June 9, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by World Bank at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .