Haiti is a country that is part of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean - a region of America. It shares a border with the Dominican Republic; It occupies an area of 27,750 km² in the western part of the island "Hispaniola". According to the latest statistics from the World Bank, Haiti has a population of approximately 12 million inhabitants, where more than 50% of the population lives in rural areas. It was a French colony but became independent in 1803 being the first independent nation in Latin America, the oldest black republic in the world, and the second oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere after the United States. It is considered the first nation to become independent from a colonial empire  and the first in the world to abolish slavery. However, Haiti is the poorest country in America and one of the poorest in the world, according to statistics and classifications from international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Alarming social indicators position Haiti among the poorest and most unequal nations on the planet (see key indicators on Haiti, here).

 

During the last two decades, the country has experienced waves of political and social instability. Consequently, development efforts in all areas of life (economic, social, health, technological, infrastructural ...) have stalled or abandoned. In addition to natural disasters, violent demonstrations against governments, kidnappings, violence (including gender-based violence) and all kinds of human rights violations are events that have prevailed in the daily life of Haitians. 

 

On January 12th, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti destroying 65% of buildings in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, including government offices, schools, health centers, homes, and businesses. Around 316,000 people lost their lives and 1.3 million were left homeless, living in precarious spaces, with limited access to water, food or clothing. In October 2010, a cholera outbreak struck and killed about 10,000 Haitians.  This pandemic was associated with members of the United Nations Mission for the Stability of Haiti (MINUSTHA). Moreover, in 2016, Haiti recorded around 674 deaths and 2.1 million people affected by Hurricane Matthew. Two years later, in 2018, mass protests broke out following the announcement of escalating fuel prices by the government of Jovenel Moise's. This led to a complete closure (known as “peyi lòk”) of institutions, including schools, businesses and government offices, etc., for days. On different occasions, similar protests repeated throughout the country for months. 

 

In 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In addition to the existing misery, the country has experienced dire situations in the form of kidnappings, violent deaths, demonstrations, robberies that, once again,  cast a shadow over and away the light of hope for the development of the country. Children, adolescents or young people have been killed or  victims of violence during these tragedies. Those who can afford college or universities cannot attend classes; they cannot access online classes due to the poor infrastructure available (technology, telecommunication, electric power etc.); they live with fear that gangs can enter home at any time. Between September 2020 and February 2021, the number of children and women victims of armed attacks allegedly attributed to criminal gangs has increased significantly in Haiti (62% compared to the previous report in September 2020), from 45 to 73 incidents, including murders, injuries, rapes and kidnappings, according to reports of the United Nations.

 

In February 2021, intense protests took place to force the resignation of both President Jovenel and the Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe. On February 7h, 2021, members of the opposition were accused of attempting a coup. Months later, on July 7th, 2021, President Jovenel was assassinated in his residence by Colombian mercenaries in alleged collaboration with Haitian politicians. Claude Joseph served as prime minister until handing over the position to Ariel Henry despite procedural barriers. Many violent demonstrations occurred during his administration until his resignation in March 2024.

 

On May 31, 2021, the UN classified the country's situation as a "neglected humanitarian crisis." “The COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in violence and the lack of access to nutrition services and clean water, as well as extreme weather conditions, increasingly affect the lives of Haitian children; however, it is a neglected humanitarian crisis ”, he said. According to the World Bank, by 2023, 63% of Haitians would live on $3.65 a day, and at least 5.2 million people need food and housing assistance, a figure that grew by 20% compared to the year 2022.

 

A Human Right Watch revealed that by 2023, only 33% of the Haitian population had access to electricity; Only 55% of homes in Haiti had access to drinking water, and two-thirds of the population lacked sanitation services, leading to the spread of cholera as the Pan American Health Organization had recorded 58,230 suspected cases of cholera, 3,696 confirmed cases and 823 deaths since the start of the new outbreak in October 2022. Several international organizations estimate that 75% of health facilities in the country do not have enough medical supplies or trained personnel because the majority of healthcare workers have fled the country. The same report confirmed that almost half of 15-year-olds are illiterate; In 2020, only 46% of boys and girls completed primary school. The quality and availability of public education is generally poor as 85% of schools belong to the private sector. High costs, attacks on schools and children on their way to school, as well as a lack of infrastructure and staff, have deprived 4.2 million children of their right to education, according to UNICEF.

 

In short, Haiti needs interventions in all areas of development such as education, health coverage and quality, housing, reforestation, environmental protection, electric energy, digital literacy, among others. However, all this must be done from a perspective oriented towards sustainability, community empowerment and participation, transparency and, above all, social inclusion.

​