More than one-third of Haitians are now facing “severe food insecurity,” according to a new report by the World Food Programme (WFP). That is 3.7 million people. Among them, one million are facing “food emergency,” just one step away from famine. Families face extreme hardship to meet their food needs. I feel so sorry for this suffering people. After decades…
Crisis pushes Haiti to the brink of collapse! Is there any solution? A struggle between President Moïse and an opposition movement demanding his ouster has led to violent demonstrations. Seven weeks of unrest around Haiti have led to soaring prices, non-existing public services, and a galloping sense of insecurity and lawlessness. Some 30 people have been killed in the demonstrations,…
Since 2018 the economic situation in Haiti has steadily deteriorated with an increase in the cost of living related among other things to the depreciation of 23% of the national currency in 6 months. This situation, combined with socio-political tensions and low agricultural productivity, has led to an increase in the “food basket” price of 26% on an annual basis….
New records in Haiti, but for all the wrong reasons. The prices increased by 1,5% in February compared to January, and on year-to-year the inflation is now at 17%. Food prices soared more than 20% over the last year. Selected price increases in one year that make daily life a bigger struggle than in a long time: Imported rice +…
It was a great Labor Day Weekend in NY. The Big Apple is always nice to return to. This time did not disappoint either. Five days felt at least one day to short! But I will be back soon. Some general pics from around the city:
The United Nations has finally acknowledged it played a role in an outbreak of cholera in Haiti in 2010 that has since killed about 10,000 people in the country. Studies have shown that Nepalese UN troops were the source of the disease – but the UN repeatedly denied responsibility until now. The cholera outbreak has been blamed on leaking sewage…
The school year 2015-2016 has just finished in Haiti. Millions of school kids are on their well deserved break. They will be back in their classrooms in September. The education system in Haiti is developing but to slow. Primary school enrollment is about 75%, up a bit from earlier years but still to low. An average Haitian over 25 years…
Today marks the “International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action”. The theme for 2016 is: “Mine Action is Humanitarian Action” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement: “On this International Day, let us work together to advance the goal of a world free of the threat of mines and explosive remnants of war.” One of the…
Political crisis Haitian President Michel Martelly stepped down from his office over the weekend. The country is left with no successor after elections were postponed twice due to allegations of fraud. – My greatest failure is the delayed elections, the President said when he addressed the National Assembly on Sunday. Protests and flashes of violence have added to the precariousness…
Today marks the International Day of the Girl Child. May all their dreams and visions come through. “The newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals rightly include key targets for gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They offer an opportunity for a global commitment to breaking inter generational transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination – and realizing…
I’m now heading back to Haiti. It’s three and half years since I was there last time. A lot has happened; both in general and especially for Star of Hope and in the villages they support and the people they work with. I look forward to meeting all the people I know from before, and also get to know new…
Today the school year 2014-2015 opens in Haiti. Millions of school children return to their educational centers, and yet, almost one in four of all children are not enrolled. Haiti’s President, Michel Martelly, has made free public education one of his top priorities, and possibly won the election 2011 on that promise. Three years later, he has problem to fulfill…
The political problems continues in Haiti. A few days ago there were massive demonstrations against the government. Protesters are angry over the cost of living, unemployment and alleged corruption. They want to President Martelly to live his post. The police fired tear gas to split the demonstrators. Details here. I have tried to find detailed info on the cholera case…
An aging infrastructure and lack of resources means clean water is scarce, and sanitation is a matter of life and death. Access to clean, fresh water is a main concern in Haiti, where waterborne illnesses, such as typhoid, cholera, and chronic diarrhea, are the cause of more than half of the deaths in the country every year. Contaminated water is…
The United Nations’ (UN) World Water Day is held on March 22 each year. Events are organized on or around this day to increase people’s awareness of water’s importance in environment, agriculture, health and trade. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on December 22, 1992, declaring March 22 to be the World Day for Water each year. Countries were…