Can you believe that it has been two years since the earthquake disaster in Haiti? The January 12, 2010 earthquake was an epic disaster. But, I don’t know that many of us here in the U.S. fully understand the impact. Did you know that Haiti’s government revised the death toll number in 2011 to 316,000?

This is a staggering figure that is hard to fathom. Especially, when you are talking about figures and can’t bear yourself to think of the number as fathers, mothers and children. Did you know that over half a million people still live in displacement camps that are ravaged by disease and crime? Did you know that the U.N. promised Haiti $5.3 billion in funding and yet the nation has only received half of that aid? And some estimate that the very real people on the ground while they have benefited from removed debris which is estimated at 50% and some infrastructure improvements have actually received only 1% of that aid.

Many have said and urged donors that while progress is slow it is still underway. But to me it will not only take our money it will also take our voice. We must speak out and up about the catastrophic condition of this nation and its people to orchestrate more change.

All photos courtesy of Ricardo Andre. View Ricardo’s amazing photographic slide show of Haiti and it’s people here.