On 12 January a massive earthquake struck Haiti, killing more than 230,000 Haitians and destroying much of the capital city. It was the deadliest natural disaster ever to strike the country. It was also the biggest single loss of life in the history of United Nations peacekeeping. The UN lost 101 personnel – among them, much of the top leadership of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH.
Despite these tremendous losses, the UN quickly expanded its work to help the Haitian people. This online exhibit, Ayiti Kanpe - Creole for Haiti Standing – is an attempt to honor those peacekeepers who lost their lives serving the people of Haiti. It also pays tribute to those who carry on promoting the ideals of the United Nations by working together to get the country back on its feet.