| Poverty in Haiti | | | | undercut local farmers, further diminishing their |
| It may not be surprising to hear poverty in Haiti is | | | | ability to earn even the most meager of livings. |
| huge, but realizing that Haiti is the poorest country | | | | The UN Food and Agricultural Organization |
| in the Western hemisphere is a bit of a shock | | | | estimates that Haiti produces only about 40% of |
| when you find out it is also home to some of the | | | | the food it needs. |
| wealthiest people in the world as well. | | | | Nearly ¾ of the population of Haiti cooks with |
| Approximately 80% of Haiti’s population lives | | | | charcoal, cutting down so many trees that |
| in extreme poverty; there is a small middle class | | | | deforestation of the mountains is a major |
| population and a very small segment of | | | | problem. Only about 4% of the land is in forest, |
| extremely wealthy people, including millionaires. | | | | compared to 30% of US land. Extreme weather |
| Most Haitians live in rural areas or very small, | | | | conditions further threaten the land, with torrential |
| often remote, villages. They live without access | | | | rains during hurricane season racing down |
| to electricity or even clean water. Over half the | | | | deforested mountains and destroying fields, roads |
| adult population is illiterate due mostly to the lack | | | | and homes. In 2008, four storms killed some 800 |
| of access to education and books and the need | | | | people and caused over $1 billion in damages. |
| for children to work from very young ages. | | | | Evidence of the massive mudslides are still visible |
| Those who live in the cities fair no better. In fact, | | | | a year later as only about 30% of the mud that |
| 65% of Haitian children will never finish elementary | | | | poured down hillsides has been removed. Clean |
| school and 80% won’t ever attend high | | | | water is simply unavailable to many. |
| school. | | | | The poverty in Haiti is nearly unimaginable to |
| Access to healthcare in Haiti is nearly non-existent. | | | | many people and the most heartbreaking of its |
| Over 60% of the population lacks access to even | | | | victims are the children. Lack of food, hygienic |
| the most basic healthcare services. Disease is | | | | living conditions, clean water and basic healthcare |
| rampant, overcrowding is extreme and | | | | combine with epidemic diarrhea, respiratory |
| employment is next to nothing. More than | | | | infections, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS to |
| two-thirds of the workforce have no regular jobs. | | | | give Haiti the highest infant, under-five and |
| Those who do work often make only about $2 a | | | | maternal mortality rates in the western |
| day in US equivalent wages. | | | | hemisphere. Clearly, the Haitian people face |
| Children in Haiti are widely dependent on the | | | | some of the most difficult circumstances around |
| generosity and benevolence of others for the | | | | the globe. Without continued assistance from the |
| most basic of their needs. Soaring food prices | | | | generosity of other nations, the future of Haiti is |
| worldwide simply compound the already | | | | unlikely to improve anytime in the foreseeable |
| overwhelming problem. For years food imported | | | | future. |
| under US trade deals was so cheap that it | | | | |