Outline the social and economic impacts of one or more tectonic events (10 marks).

Analysing the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, there have been varying short-term and long-term social and economic impacts. This is due to the violent magnitude of the earthquake (7.0 magnitude initial shock, followed by two aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude).One short-term impact that has had both economic and social implications is the death toll (~300,000) as it impacted the family life of those who had lost someone, as well as decreasing Haiti's workforce. The physical damage in the Port-au-Prince region, due to its close proximity to the epicentre (25km), had short term impacts socially: leaving 1 million people homeless, and damaged water, transport, and communication infrastructure, which affected the efficiency of aid delivery and emergency services. Economically, the cost of rebuilding can be counted as a long-term impact as Haiti's low economic resources has meant rebuilding has lasted for years after the event. Haiti’s cultural heritage sites (Cathedral and National Palace) also received damage, which socially has impacted Haitian culture. Socially, the breakdown of social order and normal life due to the destruction had caused an initial increase in looting, and over time increasing the stress and trauma of the event on local people. As of 2016, some people were still living in temporary tarpaulin accommodation while the country was trying to rebuild. Another long-term social impact has been the outbreak of disease that has occurred in these temporary dwellings, with ~770,000 cases of cholera reported in Haiti as of 2016 since the earthquake.