Léogane
Encyclopedia
Léogâne is a seaside town in Ouest Department
, Haïti
. It is located in the eponymous arrondissement
, the Léogâne Arrondissement
. The port town is located about 29 km (18 mi) West of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince
. The town was at the epicenter
of the 12 January 2010 earthquake
, and was catastrophically affected, with 80-90% of buildings damaged. It also had been destroyed in an earthquake in 1770
.
queen Anacaona
(the town was originally called the Amerindian name Yaguana and the city's name is a corruption of that) as well as Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité
, the wife of the Haitian revolutionary Jean-Jacques Dessalines
(1758).
Charlemagne Péralte
, the leader of the Haitian resistance to the U.S. occupation that had started in 1915, had been a military officer stationed in Léogâne. He resigned from the military, refusing to surrender to the U.S. troops without a fight. Afterwards he returned to his native town of Hinche
and began leading the Cacos against the occupation forces.
Prior to the 12 January 2010 earthquake
the city had a nursing school. There was also an old hospital, Sainte-Croix (Holy Cross), but it had closed two years previously. The centerpiece of the city was the Sainte Rose de Lima School.
of the 7.0 magnitude 12 January 2010 earthquake
, and a United Nations
assessment team that investigated three main towns near Port-au-Prince
found that Léogâne was "the worst affected area" with 80 to 90% of buildings damaged and no remaining government infrastructure. Nearly every concrete structure was destroyed. The damage was also reported to be worse than the capital. The military estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 people had died from the earthquake in Léogâne. People have congregated in ad hoc squatter camps and relief has taken longer to reach Léogâne.
In the wake of the temblor destroying municipal buildings, city hall was moved to a telecommunications building. Among the facilities destroyed in the quake was the Sainte Rose de Lima School, considered the emotional heart of the city. The main commercial strip, the "Grand Rue" was also collapsed. Saint Croix Hospital was also partially demolished. The "court of the peace" building was destroyed in the temblor.
British urban search and rescue
teams with Rapid-UK along with the Icelandic search and rescue team were the first to reach the destroyed town on January 17, 2010. The Canadian destroyer first reached the area on Tuesday, January 19. The Athabaskans crew of 280 have been tasked to supply humanitarian aid to the city and assist in relief efforts. A Japanese field hospital, Sri Lankan peacekeeper unit, and an Argentine White Helmets field hospital are already in the field treating survivors, the Japanese and Argentinians had arrived on the 18th. The Canadian Medical Assistance Team
(CMAT) arrived on the 19th, and set to work performing surgeries.
The missionaries of World Wide Village, set up outpatient clinics beside the Japanese Red Cross
at the nursing school in Leogane within days after the earthquake. Volunteer medical personal together with teams of volunteer surgeons from World Wide Village and the University of Notre Dame, have seen and treated thousands of patients. World Wide Village brought in a Field Hospital which began full operation in Late February, 2010, the new, "Hospital St. Croix". World Wide Village and the University of Notre Dame
continue to send teams to the nursing school/field hospital to meet ongoing health care needs in Leogane.
The NGOs Heart to Heart International
and Médecins Sans Frontières
were providing medical aid at clinical sites in the area.
As Léogâne has no airport, the Canadians began using the small strip at Jacmel
to avoid the bottleneck in Port-au-Prince
, and had 250-300 personnel there the next day. The Canadian 1 Field Hospital
is being deployed to Léogâne. The Cuban military set up a field hospital
in the region.
Canadian soldiers are providing security for food distribution points. The Canadian medical facility is located near the Japanese field hospital, which is next to the nursing school, which has been turned into a hospital. Canada has deployed the Van Doos, a Canadian infantry regiment, to help with recovery efforts. Haitian Girl Guides and Boy Scouts
are providing crowd control at some food distribution points.
With no airport in Léogâne, any aid needing to be airlifted in needs to be carried by helicopter, or through use of small planes on makeshift landing strips. The highway, Route 9, at Léogâne, was cordoned off by UN Peacekeepers to use as such a landing strip.
The Korean government announced it would deploy 250 peacekeepers to the region in February, composed mostly of engineers, with some medical troops, and marines for security. The mission comprises 120 military engineers, 22 medics and a 1,200 tonne-freighter filled with supplies and equipment. As of 18 February 2010, the Korean Peacekeepers had started work on building a hospital. On 27 February 2010, 190 South Korean Peacekeepers left home for deployment in Leogane. By 28 February 2010, 240 members of South Korean Peacekeepers (Task Force Danbi
/ Operation Danbi) had arrived.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization
started a cash-for-work programme to clear irrigation canals in the Léogâne area.
As of 9 February 2010, the US 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
was rotating out of Haiti, having been replaced by the US 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
, in their position on ((USS|Bataan}} and Carrefour, Leogane and Petit-Goave, Grand-Goave.
On 2 March 2010, the IFRC decongested a refugee camp, creating a second one out of the overflow.
On 7 March 2010, it was announced that was to end its mission on 10 March.
(sponsor of Gadyen Dlo) and the Children's Nutrition Program of Haiti are based in Leogane.
Ouest Department
Ouest is one of the ten departments of Haiti. It is the jurisdictional seat of the national capital, the city of Port-au-Prince. It has an area of and a population of 3,093,698 . It borders the Dominican Republic to the east.It is the second largest department in Haiti after the Artibonite...
, Haïti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. It is located in the eponymous arrondissement
Arrondissements of Haiti
||The ten departments of Haiti are divided into 42 arrondissements. The arrondissements are listed below, by department:-Artibonite Department:*Dessalines*Gonaïves*Gros-Morne*Marmelade*Saint-Marc-Centre Department:*Cerca-la-Source*Hinche*Lascahobas...
, the Léogâne Arrondissement
Léogâne Arrondissement
Léogâne is an arrondissement in the Ouest Department of Haiti.It has 300,982 inhabitants.Postal codes in the Léogâne Arrondissement start with the number 62.The arondissement consists of the following municipalities:* Léogâne...
. The port town is located about 29 km (18 mi) West of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
. The town was at the epicenter
Epicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
of the 12 January 2010 earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, and was catastrophically affected, with 80-90% of buildings damaged. It also had been destroyed in an earthquake in 1770
1770 Port-au-Prince earthquake
The 1770 Port-au-Prince earthquake took place at 7:15 pm on June 3, 1770, on the Enriquillo fault near Port-au-Prince, Saint-Domingue, the French colony that is now the country of Haiti....
.
History
Léogâne is the birthplace of the TaínoTaíno people
The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. It is thought that the seafaring Taínos are relatives of the Arawak people of South America...
queen Anacaona
Anacaona
Anacaona , also called the Golden Flower, was a Taíno cacica , sister of Bohechío, chief of Jaragua, and wife of Caonabo, chief of the nearby territory of Maguana, two of the five highest caciques who ruled the island of Hispaniola when the Spaniards settled there in 1492...
(the town was originally called the Amerindian name Yaguana and the city's name is a corruption of that) as well as Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité
Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité
Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité was the Empress of Haiti as the spouse of Jean-Jacques Dessalines.- Background :She was born in Léogane to a poor but free family as the daughter of Bonheur Guillaume and Marie-Élisabeth Sainte-Lobelot. She was educated by her aunt Elise Lobelot, who was the...
, the wife of the Haitian revolutionary Jean-Jacques Dessalines
Jean-Jacques Dessalines
Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of an independent Haiti under the 1801 constitution. Initially regarded as Governor-General, Dessalines later named himself Emperor Jacques I of Haiti...
(1758).
Charlemagne Péralte
Charlemagne Péralte
Charlemagne Masséna Péralte was a Haitian nationalist leader who opposed the US Invasion of his country in 1915. Leading guerrilla fighters called the Cacos, he posed such a challenge to the US forces in Haiti that the occupying forces had to upgrade their presence in the country...
, the leader of the Haitian resistance to the U.S. occupation that had started in 1915, had been a military officer stationed in Léogâne. He resigned from the military, refusing to surrender to the U.S. troops without a fight. Afterwards he returned to his native town of Hinche
Hinche
Hinche is a city in central Haiti. It has a population of about 50,000. It is the capital of Centre department. Hinche is the hometown of Charlemagne Péralte, the Haitian nationalist leader who resisted the United States occupation of Haïti .-Culture:The majority of the population are of African...
and began leading the Cacos against the occupation forces.
Prior to the 12 January 2010 earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
the city had a nursing school. There was also an old hospital, Sainte-Croix (Holy Cross), but it had closed two years previously. The centerpiece of the city was the Sainte Rose de Lima School.
2010 earthquake
Léogâne was at the epicenterEpicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
of the 7.0 magnitude 12 January 2010 earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, and a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
assessment team that investigated three main towns near Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
found that Léogâne was "the worst affected area" with 80 to 90% of buildings damaged and no remaining government infrastructure. Nearly every concrete structure was destroyed. The damage was also reported to be worse than the capital. The military estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 people had died from the earthquake in Léogâne. People have congregated in ad hoc squatter camps and relief has taken longer to reach Léogâne.
In the wake of the temblor destroying municipal buildings, city hall was moved to a telecommunications building. Among the facilities destroyed in the quake was the Sainte Rose de Lima School, considered the emotional heart of the city. The main commercial strip, the "Grand Rue" was also collapsed. Saint Croix Hospital was also partially demolished. The "court of the peace" building was destroyed in the temblor.
British urban search and rescue
Urban search and rescue
Urban search and rescue involves the location, extrication, and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces due to natural disasters, structural collapse, transportation accidents, mines and collapsed trenches.USAR teams in different countries may be organised in a...
teams with Rapid-UK along with the Icelandic search and rescue team were the first to reach the destroyed town on January 17, 2010. The Canadian destroyer first reached the area on Tuesday, January 19. The Athabaskans crew of 280 have been tasked to supply humanitarian aid to the city and assist in relief efforts. A Japanese field hospital, Sri Lankan peacekeeper unit, and an Argentine White Helmets field hospital are already in the field treating survivors, the Japanese and Argentinians had arrived on the 18th. The Canadian Medical Assistance Team
Canadian Medical Assistance Team
Canadian Medical Assistance Teams is a Canadian grassroots, non profit disaster relief organization based in Brantford, Ontario, Canada...
(CMAT) arrived on the 19th, and set to work performing surgeries.
The missionaries of World Wide Village, set up outpatient clinics beside the Japanese Red Cross
Japanese Red Cross
The ' is the Japanese affiliate of the International Red Cross.The Imperial Family of Japan traditionally has supported the society, with Empress as Honorary President and other royal family members as vice-presidents. Its headquarters is located in Tokyo and local chapters are set up in all 47...
at the nursing school in Leogane within days after the earthquake. Volunteer medical personal together with teams of volunteer surgeons from World Wide Village and the University of Notre Dame, have seen and treated thousands of patients. World Wide Village brought in a Field Hospital which began full operation in Late February, 2010, the new, "Hospital St. Croix". World Wide Village and the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
continue to send teams to the nursing school/field hospital to meet ongoing health care needs in Leogane.
The NGOs Heart to Heart International
Heart to Heart International
Heart to Heart International is a global humanitarian organization that works to improve health and to respond to the needs of disaster victims worldwide.-History of Heart to Heart:...
and Médecins Sans Frontières
Médecins Sans Frontières
' , or Doctors Without Borders, is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland...
were providing medical aid at clinical sites in the area.
As Léogâne has no airport, the Canadians began using the small strip at Jacmel
Jacmel
Jacmel, also known by its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel, is a town in southern Haiti founded in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est and has an estimated population of 40,000, while the municipality of Jacmel had a population of 137,966 at the 2003 Census.The buildings are...
to avoid the bottleneck in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, and had 250-300 personnel there the next day. The Canadian 1 Field Hospital
1 Field Ambulance
1 Field Ambulance is a medical unit with the Canadian Forces situated in Edmonton, Alberta. 1 Field Ambulance sent a contingent to Kandahar Province in Afghanistan in the fall of 2009.- Notable members :* Master Corporal Paul Franklin...
is being deployed to Léogâne. The Cuban military set up a field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
in the region.
Canadian soldiers are providing security for food distribution points. The Canadian medical facility is located near the Japanese field hospital, which is next to the nursing school, which has been turned into a hospital. Canada has deployed the Van Doos, a Canadian infantry regiment, to help with recovery efforts. Haitian Girl Guides and Boy Scouts
Scouts d'Haïti
The Association Nationale des Scouts d'Haïti is the national Scouting organisation of Haiti. Scouting in Haiti started in 1916 and became a member of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement in 1932 and again in 1940...
are providing crowd control at some food distribution points.
With no airport in Léogâne, any aid needing to be airlifted in needs to be carried by helicopter, or through use of small planes on makeshift landing strips. The highway, Route 9, at Léogâne, was cordoned off by UN Peacekeepers to use as such a landing strip.
The Korean government announced it would deploy 250 peacekeepers to the region in February, composed mostly of engineers, with some medical troops, and marines for security. The mission comprises 120 military engineers, 22 medics and a 1,200 tonne-freighter filled with supplies and equipment. As of 18 February 2010, the Korean Peacekeepers had started work on building a hospital. On 27 February 2010, 190 South Korean Peacekeepers left home for deployment in Leogane. By 28 February 2010, 240 members of South Korean Peacekeepers (Task Force Danbi
Task Force Danbi
Task Force Danbi is the South Korean military mission to Haiti for earthquake relief in the aftermath of the 12 January 2010 earthquake.This became South Korea's sixth UN Peacekeeping Mission. The mission is expected to last until 31 December 2010....
/ Operation Danbi) had arrived.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
started a cash-for-work programme to clear irrigation canals in the Léogâne area.
As of 9 February 2010, the US 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
was rotating out of Haiti, having been replaced by the US 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
, in their position on ((USS|Bataan}} and Carrefour, Leogane and Petit-Goave, Grand-Goave.
On 2 March 2010, the IFRC decongested a refugee camp, creating a second one out of the overflow.
On 7 March 2010, it was announced that was to end its mission on 10 March.
Organizations
Deep Springs InternationalDeep Springs International
Deep Springs International is a US nonprofit corporation, headquartered in Léogâne, Haiti, which supports the establishment and expansion of Gadyen Dlo social enterprises...
(sponsor of Gadyen Dlo) and the Children's Nutrition Program of Haiti are based in Leogane.