16237: Leiderman: Haiti in recent DevelopmentEx Briefing (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Stuart M Leiderman <leidermn@cisunix.unh.edu>

=========================================
Global Development Briefing
07.31.03
=========================================

Brought to you by The Development Executive Group:
http://www.DevelopmentEx.com

[excerpts]

HAITI: The FAO warned July 31 that a "silent" food crisis is looming in
Haiti, the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean. Living
conditions of the poor have deteriorated markedly, with over 3.8 million
people suffering from hunger. The majority of the hungry lives in rural
areas. "Haitians somehow manage to survive from day-to-day, leaving many
observers questioning whether there is really a humanitarian emergency,"
said Anne M. Bauer, Director, Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation
Division. "The indicators, however, show that there is a crisis, albeit a
'silent' one, and one that risks becoming deeper." Increased social and
political tensions have contributed to a vicious cycle of marginalization
and increased vulnerability, eroding social, economic, infrastructural
and environmental assets, FAO said. Out of a labor force of 4.1 million
only 110 000 are employed in the formal sector, of whom 35 000 are civil
servants. Agriculture, the main source of income, has been damaged by
drought in the northwest over the last four years and by floods in the
northeast over the last season. National food production is still
decreasing due to insufficient investment, infrastructure and access to
agricultural inputs. Poor living conditions are exacerbated by inadequate
or non-existent water and sanitation services.

Published by The Development Executive Group
(http://www.DevelopmentEx.com).