PETION VILLE, HAITI--(Marketwire - January 10, 2011) - Miyamoto International, a global Earthquake Structural Engineering Firm, and Universite Quisqueya in Haiti announced today the Haiti Earthquake Reconstruction Symposium to be held on January 11, 2011 in Port-au-Prince. Representatives from Global NGOs, including the World Bank, will discuss the progress in housing reconstruction made since the earthquake last year.
The Event will be held at the Karibe Convention Center in Port-au-Prince beginning at 9am through 12:30pm. Representatives from the Haiti Reconstruction Fund, UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS), the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) and Sean Penn, the actor, and founder of the J/P Haitian Relief Organization (JPHRO), will also address the group of 300 attendees from government, NGOs, donor organizations, academia and the private sector. Jimmy Jean-Louis, the actor, and President of Hollywood Unites for Haiti, will also attend the symposium.
Subjects to be covered include the current status of reconstruction, the decompression of the refugee camps, and community development.
Commenting on the Symposium and his reasons for organizing the event, Dr. Kit Miyamoto, the firm's president, said, "Much has been written and said about the problem of sheltering the refugees without an understanding of the magnitude of the challenge. Miyamoto has spent the past year working under the Ministry of Public Works (MTPTC), and together with UNOPS and PADF, has assessed the damage of 400,000 buildings. We have identified 100,000 repairable buildings and repaired more then 1,000. The result is that thousands of people have been relocated back into their homes after repairs have been made to their homes.
"Most importantly," Miyamoto said, "it only costs an average of $2000 per house to repair. With proper funding and strategy, 700,000 Haitian people will be able to return to a normal life in safer homes in the next 18-24 months."
About Miyamoto International
Miyamoto International is a global earthquake and structural engineering firm providing critical services that sustain industries and communities around the world. The firm specializes in High Performance Earthquake Engineering solutions that reduce lifecycle costs and realize a positive net impact on a structure's operation. Miyamoto helps tackle some of the most challenging projects in the world from diverse offices in the Americas, Asia and Europe. The firm's clients include governments, private-sector organizations, developers, architects and contractors who desire highly-effective and sustainable technical solutions.
http://www.MiyamotoInternational.com
Press is invited to attend. Private tours of the newly repaired housing are available for members of the press by contacting
Dr. Kit Miyamoto
kit@miyamotointernational.com
1 916 769 4909
YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmo_zoMbY24
Registration for the event can be made online at
www.eqsymposium.com or by calling
Guilaine Victor
509 37 33 61 22
gvictor@miyamotointernational.com
"B Roll" Footage is available
Contact Information:
For More Information, contact:
Adam Friedman
917 650 6250