Haitians have begun two days of commemoration of the massive earthquake that devastated the country one year ago today. Up to a quarter of a million people were killed and more than 1.5 million were made homeless in one of the worst natural disasters in history. On the eve of the anniversary, Haitian President René Préval presided over a ceremony at the Titanyen mass grave for earthquake victims on the outskirts of the capital Port-au-Prince.

Haitian President René Préval: “We must respect the duty of commemorating the dead. It’s a duty we must not forget because it motivates and gives strength to the generations to come, so that they don’t suffer what we suffered.”

Ahead of the anniversary, the British charity Oxfam released a report slamming the reconstruction effort and the recovery commission headed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Oxfam says less than five percent of the rubble has been cleared, only 15 percent of the temporary housing that is needed has been built, and relatively few permanent water and sanitation facilities have been constructed.