Death in Haiti

 This blog sheds no crocodile tears for the demise of Haiti's recently assassinated puppet president, Jovenel Moïse.

Of more concern to us is the pervasive poverty in Haiti and the continual suffering of our fellow-workers. Its economy suffers from droughts and intense tropical storms, gang violence and chronic instability raising levels of hunger. Access to healthcare and water, hygiene and sanitation services have been affected, leading to a drop in immunizations of children. That has led to an increase in diarrheal diseases, the main cause of malnutrition among children under age 5.

The number of children suffering from “severe acute” childhood malnutrition has more than doubled, increasing from 41,000 last year to an estimated 86,000 children this year, said Bruno Maes, UNICEF’s representative in Haiti,

“There are now 217,000 Haitian children ages 6 to 59 months who now suffer from acute malnutrition,” he pointed out. Five out of eight children in Haiti, he said, suffered from chronic malnutrition last year.

 A U.N. food analysis estimated that more than 4.4 million Haitians, or 40 percent of the population, will need food assistance this year as a result of the reduced purchasing power Haitians suffered last year.

COVID-19 infections and deaths are spiking. Haiti still remains the only country in the Western Hemisphere that has yet to administer vaccines to its population. 

Gang clashes has forced thousands of Haitians, including children, to flee their homes in the Martissant neighborhood. Martissant is largely controlled by armed gangs, yet the district is located not far from the National Palace.

Haitian Bishop Oge Beauvoir described how “Many people cannot eat these days,” he said, noting that rising food prices and the devaluation of the local currency are creating added challenges..."

Some Haitian households saw their income drop by more than 60%. 

So what does this blog care if a bloated politician is betrayed by another.