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Rapes in the camps are dramatically under-reported. Most violated women and girls are too afraid to turn to the police as they are being threatened by the rapists and their families.
02 The quake of January 12 turned Port-au-Prince's buildings and streets into a succession of ruins. The disaster created a severe crisis of safety and security for women in the country.Following the earthquake, Haitian women and girls are dramatically more vulnerable to rape and sexual assault. 03 GOVANIE MILFORTS, 5 years old, father died in the earthquake. She has been living in the camps with her mother and grandmother since they lost their home. One day about 50 men came to the camp under the guise of clergy men, but when camp inhabitants let them in the men looted and raped. 04 An estimated 500,000-70,000 people are displaced by the earthquake in Port-au-Prince . After the earthquake thousands of homeless people fled to other parts of the country, but many settled in improvised camps around the capital. 05 Following the earthquake, 30 year-old MADLEN REDE's family moved to St. Anne camp. On January 19, 2010, three men invaded the camps with masks on their faces and guns in their hands. They raped Madlen in front of the 10-year-old girl she was taking care of. Since that night, Madlen has been suffering from digestion and sight problems. 06 The quake of January 12 turned Port-au-Prince's buildings and streets into a succession of ruins. The disaster created a severe crisis of safety and security for women in the country. 07 ELIA LAJENESSE's granddaughter had to flee her camp when men invaded and raped women. She herself was raped in 2004. 08 A young Haitian girl carrying a giant bowl on her head walks through ruins. 09 Before the earthquake, CASSANDRE ST. VIL, 19, was harassed s by two felon men, but her father protected her and kept them away. After her father was killed in the quake, the two felons, including two other men, went looking for Cassandra, found her in a camp and the four men raped her one-by-one in front of her mother and granddaughter. 10 Invasion of rapists into the camps occur almost every night, and women and girls seem to be helpless. The Haitian government seems to be both unwilling and unable to act against this phenomenon. 11 KOFAVIV organization tried to persuade the women to press charges against the rapists. 12 A mother and children sit outside on the streets. Due to lack of privacy and since so many women and girls were left with no male protection, they are now exposed to higher rates of rape and violence. 13 A Haitian woman at a shelter camp wearing a straw hat. 14 The camps are very crowded and leave no room for privacy. Sanitation is poor, water and food are scarce and life in the camps is a daily struggle. 15 A Haitian girl with a basket walks across a stream of debris. 16 Due to lack of privacy and since so many women and girls were left with no male protection, they are now exposed to higher rates of rape and violen. 17 Haitian girls carefully walk across stone rubble. 18 A sheltered girl on the streets walks around anxiously. 19 Rapes in the camps are dramatically under-reported. Most violated women and girls are too afraid to turn to the police as they are being threatened by the rapists and their families. They also seem to have little faith in the criminal justice system. 20 Survivors of the January 2010 earthquake have been living in unsecured makeshift camps. The camps are very crowded and leave no room for privacy. Sanitation is poor, water and food are scarce and life in the camps is a daily struggle. Survivors are sheltered mostly in tents, under blankets and towels.