Some semblance of normality is returning to daily life in Port-au-Prince but progress is slow and conditions still very difficult. The quake of January 12 turned Port-au-Prince’s buildings into tombs and the streets into a succession of ruins. Some families have refused to leave their homes and are camping out, on or near their previous premises. Most, however, have fled their devastated districts. Every spare bit of terrain in the capital is now covered with makeshift tents – often just a suspended tarp – where survivors seek shelter. Inside these rudimentary camps, survivors help each other secure life’s necessities. A lively solidarity has bloomed even though at times, gangs impose their own brand of law, procuring humanitarian aid and reselling it at full price.

In this wasteland of devastation, the only source of information is often a small FM radio station. Radio, the most popular form of media even before the quake, is now playing a crucial role: it keeps the population informed where to find water supplies and food, and offers advice on maintaining hygene amid growing fears of that poor sanitation may lead to a second wave of death.   

FRANCE 24’s web documentary highlights some of these images of daily life in the Haitian capital.