Haiti's President Martelly along with survivors pay tribute to the victims of the 2010 earthquake which left at least 300,000 people dead.
ADVERTISEMENTThe people of Haiti have been remembering the dead from five years ago when a devastating earthquake killed more 300,000 people.
President Michel Martelly and his wife laid a floral tribute at a memorial which is currently under construction for the victims of one of the worst natural disasters of modern times.
Survivor Willmarc Jean gave his account of what happened:
“January 12 changed my life, I never thought I would have to live with a disability. After I lost my leg I felt I had lost my courage, I thought my life had ended, but I was wrong. As you can see, a person with a disability is a person like anyone else.”
The 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck in the early evening, collapsing concrete buildings by the tens of thousands in the densely populated, impoverished capital of Port-Au-Prince.
Since then a political standoff has delayed elections with the consequence that much needed rebuilding has been impeded despite a massive international aid programme
As Martelly attended the commemoration, he confirmed that he had forged a last-minute accord with leaders of four opposition parties after days of negotiations, with the hope of creating a viable path to towards calling the long-delayed elections.