Haiti

Preface

If you have read or watched any news recently, you have likely heard about what is happening in Haiti. In the past, we have seen Haiti in the news recovering from devastating earthquakes or outbreaks of disease. Presently, the underlying issues in Haiti, other than environmental concerns, are being revealed on an international scale. While I was in school for Global Development Studies, Haiti is a country that was often discussed. This is because it is somewhat of a – for lack of a better term – perfect storm of colonization, international intervention, natural disasters, disease, political turmoil, and instability. Thus, it has continued to be deadlocked in terms of development and is reliant on a broken system that is unable to mend itself in the wake of disaster.

So, today we will look at the current state of Haiti. Arguably more importantly, I will include a brief overview of Haiti’s past which has been the ultimate catalyst for the breaking point that Haiti has seemed to arrive at as of late. Let’s start with Haiti’s history – I promise to keep it as brief as possible.

Haiti’s Past

As a colonized country, Haiti has a rough history – to say the least. Previously occupied by France, Haiti gained “independence” from France in 1804. I say that in quotations considering France demanded hefty reparations from Haiti for the Haitian slaves they would lose in exchange for independent status. This is estimated to amount to approximately $21 billion in today’s currency. So, Haiti began the following centuries with independence and a side of crippling debt.

The absence of foreign interference only lasted until the end of the 1800s, when the United States grew increasingly wary of German influence in the Caribbean. So, before getting the chance to stabilize as an independent nation in a rapidly developing world, President Woodrow Wilson ordered marines to Haiti in 1915 on the brink of World War 1 as a strategic move and to ensure political stability. This was the beginning of a further downward spiral of political turmoil.

U.S. interference lasted nearly 20 years. During which, the United States was in primary control of Haiti’s security and finances. They also imposed “racial segregation, forced labor, and press censorship, and deposed presidents and legislatures that opposed the U.S. presence.” Despite rebellion against the United States and thousands of Haitian deaths, U.S. troops did not withdraw from Haiti until 1934. Leaving the country, yet again, unstable, traumatized, and riddled with conflict. The next few decades contained a series of unstable governments including dictatorships, corruption, coups, and further U.S. and United Nations military interventions in the form of peacekeeping missions.

Natural Disasters and Foreign Aid

The delicate political system in Haiti had already created an environment in which economic and social development would be extremely difficult. The country was in no shape to withstand the devastation of the earthquake in 2010. Further, it was in worse shape and lacking resources and existing stability to be able to withstand numerous epidemics following the 2010 earthquake or rebuild after the recent earthquakes in 2021.

As I’m sure we all recall, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti was broadcast across the world. The scale of destruction and loss of life was absolutely horrific and as a result, millions of dollars worth of foreign aid was donated. Campaigns were run across the globe to raise money for Haiti and provide necessary food, water, and medical attention. You likely saw many images like this:

Although this appears all well and good, it is not. The mismanagement of aid provided the Haitian population with temporary access to resources without a plan for long-term recovery, poor urban planning to rebuild housing in inaccessible areas, and temporary political stability directed by foreign powers which was not in the best interest of Haitians. Although emergency aid can be necessary, if it is prolonged past a point of need it blurs the lines between emergency relief and development work. Thus, a population reliant on aid develops based on a continuous need for aid hand-outs. This is a vicious cycle.

Epidemics consisting of malaria and dengue fever have taken the lives of tens of thousands of people in Haiti. Following the earthquake in 2010, UN peacekeepers from Nepal introduced cholera to Haiti, infecting almost a million people. Although an (extremely irresponsible) accident, foreign aid brought more sickness to the country than help. Today, the health system remains in shambles and nearly one billion dollars of aid pledged to take meaningful steps to rebuild the healthcare system is unaccounted for.

If I were to discuss the ins and outs of aid sent to Haiti and how it perpetuated the country’s precarious position, I could go on forever. The bottom line is that funds and resources were allocated to temporary fixes without consulting the long-term needs of the recipients. So, Haiti has grown dependent on foreign aid, in a state of reliance upon resources provided by other countries which do not grow the local economy or instigate self-directed social development. This sometimes referred to as aid dependency. (If you are curious to learn more about this topic, I highly recommend watching the documentary Poverty Inc. available to rent on Amazon Prime).

The Current State of Haiti

This history all leads to the current situation that Haiti is in. Following the ongoing state of emergency due to natural disasters and epidemics, Haiti has been in dire condition. The unstable political climate, along with poor living conditions and education creates an environment where gang activity can thrive and thirst for more power and destruction. The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 and the unofficial succession of Ariel Henry is what, I believe, led the country to a breaking point.

Accompanied by suspicion of Ariel Henry’s involvement in Jovenel Moïse’s assassination, the citizens of Haiti never democratically elected Ariel Henry as their President. So, when acting President Ariel Henry took a trip to Kenya in early March to rally support for a Kenyan-led security force in Haiti, this was an opportunity. Gang violence runs rampant as the streets are inhabited by once opposing gangs who have now joined together to seize control. Ariel Henry has since been unable to return. The local police are low in numbers and equipment, which puts citizens and police in direct danger.

The immediate concern is that violence will make its way closer to the presidential palace, and gangs will ultimately seize power and appoint a leader of their choosing. Ariel Henry is now under international pressure to step aside and make way for a new, democratically-elected President. As the international community and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) scramble for a solution, they race against time as the safety and future of all Haitians is in jeopardy.

The Unfortunate Reality

The bottom line is that Haiti has been in a fragile state for a long time. Unfortunately, it began in severe debt to France and has been experiencing turmoil by foreign intervention ever since. The ongoing natural disasters and boughs of sickness have caused an ongoing famine and recurring state of emergency. Currently, more than half the population in Haiti is chronically food insecure, and 22% of children are malnourished. The school system is inaccessible unless families can afford expensive private education, which leaves half of Haitians aged 15 and older illiterate. Sadly, the living conditions in Haiti are extremely poor. What’s worse, is they have remained poor for all of the country’s observed history without any sign of improvement.

Due to the aid dependency trap, I struggle to conjure up any solutions. Even wishful thinking and likely impossible ones. What I can say is democracy must be supported without forcible intervention, and any aid should be aimed at supporting self-sufficiency and long-term development. Perhaps resilient infrastructure, climate-adaptable crops, increased opportunity for education, a functioning healthcare system, and social service programs to address needs identified by the community could all be places to start. Enough with the thoughtless band-aid solutions, support development that comes from within. The unfortunate reality is that I don’t think these changes will be made. We will likely see an internationally appointed leader, increased short-term medical and nutritional aid, and foreign peacekeeping re-instated. And so, the cycle will continue.