February 22, 2025
According to a recent report by the New York Post, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has come under intense scrutiny after revelations that its $4.4 billion in aid to Haiti has yielded little tangible impact—most notably, the construction of just six homes despite billions spent.
Following the devastating 2010 earthquake that claimed up to 300,000 lives, the U.S. government allocated approximately $4.4 billion in assistance to Haiti. Of this, at least $1.5 billion was earmarked for immediate humanitarian relief, while the remaining $3 billion was designated for long-term recovery, reconstruction, and development. However, questions persist about where the funds actually went.
A major point of contention is how the money was distributed. Out of the $2.13 billion in contracts and grants awarded for Haiti-related projects, less than $50 million—just 2%—was allocated to Haitian organizations or businesses. In stark contrast, a staggering $1.3 billion, or 56%, was funneled to firms located in or near Washington, D.C.
Even Haitian leaders, including former Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, have questioned how much of this aid truly benefited the Haitian people. The Red Cross, which was among the largest non-profit organizations involved in Haiti’s recovery, claimed to have provided shelter to 130,000 people. However, investigations revealed that the organization only built six verifiable homes. The Red Cross has declined to provide a detailed breakdown of its activities, instead offering only broad summaries of its spending under vague categories.
A broader issue of accountability also surrounds the numerous NGOs that raised funds for Haiti. In 2010, the Nonprofit Disaster Accountability Project reviewed 196 organizations working in Haiti and found that only eight had transparent, readily available information about their operations. When surveyed, only 20% of organizations responded, collectively reporting they had received over $1.4 billion in donations. However, less than half—about $730 million—was documented as actually spent on Haiti relief efforts.
The lack of transparency and tangible results from such a massive influx of aid has fueled criticism of USAID and other organizations involved in Haiti’s post-earthquake recovery. Many are calling for increased oversight and accountability to ensure that foreign aid genuinely benefits the people it is meant to help.
