The View from Haiti

by Jesse Jackson (reposted)

Sat, May 3, 2008 8:27PM

It's the middle of the day; the sun is up, the heat rising in Port au Prince, the capitol of Haiti. Thousands of young men and women fill the streets, lining up, moving from place to place. They are looking for work, any work; work that might pay them enough to eat for hunger is on the march here. Garbage is carefully sifted for whatever food might be left. Young babies wail in frustration, seeking milk from a mother to anemic to produce it.

Haiti is an epicenter of the global food crisis. Its people live on the margin of survival. According to the UN World Food Programme, the largest and most effective food aid organization here, 56% of the population exists on less than a $1.00 a day. 60% of household cash goes to food. Hunger is a constant companion. 61% of all children under 5 are anemic; 46% are women. Nearly half - 47% -- of all Haitians are malnourished.

But now the price of rice, wheat, flour and oil has doubled in the last year. In October of last year, $4.50 was sufficient to buy two full meals; now that money would buy one meal. Haiti only produces 43% of its food needs; it imports more than half. Food aid provides only 5%.

Now hunger is spreading; mass starvation is threatened. Earlier this month, Haitians rioted in anger over soaring food prices; and the legislature dismissed the former Prime Minister. On Monday of this week, a new prime minister, Ericq Pierre, was sworn in.

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For more information: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-jesse-ja...

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§food riot in haiti

by rose

Mon, May 5, 2008 10:37PM

Because Rev Jesse Jackson visit Haiti ,I would like to express my concern . I live in US for nearly 2 decay. Ist of all when I was living in haiti U.S came with the rice and forced the paysans on the Department of artibonite to whithold from producing the rice that run all year long . I remimber buying 100 lbs of rice for $10. When the production of artibonite diminued then the u s rice started going up as well as the american dollars forcing even the middle haitian class to live the country. I met on of my high school teacher that explained me how life become so difficult that he has to spend over half of his salary for food that he has to live the country.In the other hand a lot of factory that used to help haiti move to china for chip labor . One of my close family used to run a factory for u.s. and the owner of that factory took the works from him and send them to China leaving almost 900 employees out of work and even .
Thats what happen in haiti. Again the politic is another story. If haitian people do not give up kidnapping haiti will become worser than now. Haitian brothers and sisters if someone ask you to go kidnap another brother please refuse because most of the time tis person can flee the country and leave you with the misery. I will not go to haiti now because I'M affraid. If their is no kidnapping and I go to haiti it is going to be a boost up for the economy.

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