The problem is this: Haiti sits on a small plate between two large plates and next to two smaller plates. All three of the small plates, Nazca, Cocos, and the Caribbean move independently of each other. The colored lines of the diagram above illustrate a very stark and worrisome future.
The divergent plates between the Cocos and Nazca plates actually help those two plates remain relatively calm because they are moving in opposite directions of each other and DO NOT HAVE A BUILD-UP OF PRESSURE BETWEEN THEM. Haiti does not get a break from the pressure. The illustrations also show that divergent plates also provide a place for volcanos to erupt. That is true. It is also true of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (click here) that runs north and south in the center of the Atlantic Ocean. The volcanos are underwater and particularly under seawater. Those volcanos contribute to the land at the bottom of the ocean as the plates move apart.
The transformation faults move past each other. They build up pressure along their borders and when the pressure is great enough the plates move and cause earthquakes, underwater and on land. The north end of the Caribbean Plate where Haiti sits is a transformation fault between it and the North American Plate.
MASS matters with these plates. The bigger and heavier the plates are the less they will move and cause damage to any human settlements. However, the North American Plate is the dominant plate with the Caribbean Plate and it will push the Caribbean Plate around. But, the danger to the people doesn't stop there.
The other three sides of the Caribbean Plate are convergent plates. They all put pressure on the Caribbean Plate. They cause a lot of stress on the Caribbean Plate and when that stress meets up with pressure by the North American plate, the answer is a catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. Basically, Haiti is caught in between two bullies the North American Plate and the South American plate. None of these plates give the Caribbean plate relief. They are all converging on the Caribbean plate.
There will be no relief for the people of Haiti. This will continue for the remainder of the existence of that island nation.
The United Nations is getting used to the idea of Climate Refugees and what to do about them when their islands are swallowed up by rising oceans and seas. It is my opinion that is the best way to treat the people of Haiti. There is profound poverty which leads to poor construction of houses and buildings which leads to deaths of the people on a regular basis.
When entire nations of people are reassigned to a different place on Earth, the idea of preserving the ethnic composition of the people is very important. So, while sending aid to Haiti is always a plan, what isn't a plan is the idea this can go on forever. In one lifetime a Haitian can experience eight devastating earthquakes if they occur every ten years and the people live at least to the age of 70. One earthquake for every decade of life.
The problem with those statistics is the understanding if a person is exposed to eight severe earthquakes, they won't live through one of them. They will never achieve the age of 70 years old. That is a human rights issue and one the entire world has to grapple with to ensure the survival of the genetics of Haiti and the people's culture.
I hate to say this, but, this is the only reasonable solution for Haiti and there is no reason to do anything else, except, hand a sign on the island that says "No Trespassing, Danger Ahead."
They need stable land to begin to move out of poverty and into an economy that flourishes for them while preserving their beliefs and customs with their children.
When the North and South American Plates meet they will have turned the island of Haiti to dust at the bottom of the Caribbean. That is a long way off, but, it creates a picture of the future of this island that provides for a better outcome for the people of Haiti.
