Wednesday, March 24, 2010

HAITIAN GOVERNMENT BEGINS DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS

Amid six weeks of massive human relief efforts, the Haitian government has been finalizing its plan for a coordinated and comprehensive recovery plan for the earthquake-ravaged country. The government of Haiti (GOH) in partnership with the United Nations and Miyamoto International -- an earthquake and structural engineering firm dedicated to sustainable communities -- commences inspections of 100,000 buildings.

The program, directed by the GOH, funded by the World Bank and executed by the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS), involves building inspections by over 200 international and Haitian engineers. Supported by the US Joint Task Force, Miyamoto International will provide overall training, technical management, and quality assurance for this massive inspection program.

Miyamoto earthquake engineers have been in Haiti since the earthquake, providing damage assessments and earthquake and structural engineering expertise to public and private sectors. "Our team has been on the scene of numerous past earthquakes," said Kit Miyamoto, President of Miyamoto International. "Not only do we have expertise in damage assessment, but we also understand how to rebuild communities in a sustainable manner... a manner that will hopefully increase the quality of life here once it's done. The most immediate goal for this joint task force is to get people out of dangerous camp sites which are exposed to flood and landslides in the upcoming hurricane season. We have a responsibility to get Haiti citizens back into safe homes."

Miyamoto is also a partner with the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) which has helped pave the way for a quick and efficient response to the disaster. PADF has a network of governmental and business partnerships that ensure proper resources are implemented in the proper way.

The PADF has been involved with development efforts in Latin America -- and in Haiti -- for more than 40 years. An affiliate of the Organization of American States, they help coordinate between public and private entities to raise the human condition.

To contact Kit Miyamoto about the continuing relief efforts, his focus on sustainable development in earthquake zones, please contact Jessica Stanton (jstanton@miyamotointernational.com; office: (213) 362-7778 x18; cell: (213) 598.8974).

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