The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster

Haiti's constitution, Katz claims, is often used as a weapon by political opponents. In the perception of average citizens, the real authority lies with U.N. peacekeepers and foreign diplomats. In 2010, with elections coming up and Préval eager to ensure both a smooth transition of power and political stability, he decides to form a new political party known as the "Unity" Party. By spring of 2010, most of Parliament's terms are set to expire, and the country's highest court is nonfunctional due to earthquake damage. Having postponed elections, Préval holds a disproportionate amount of power. With the IHRC about to assume control over reconstruction, Haitians watch as Préval gives away power to foreigners. Their distrust of him grows when he extends his term by three months, causing protests to rock the streets. He eventually reverses course, but he is already a liability for his own party.

The earthquake exposes systemic problems like health care that plagued Haiti long before the disaster. Enter Megan Coffee, an infectious disease expert who realizes the heart of the problem is "supply chains." Keeping blood fresh, for example, requires refrigerators with uninterrupted power supplies. In Haiti, power supplies are sporadic even on good days.