HAITI

Christopher Columbus Arrived in 1492 when his ship ran aground Named the island Hispaniola Found gold in what is now the Dominican Republic and other Spanish settlers flocked to the island They forced the aboriginals to mine and raise food The aboriginals were treated so poorly that by 1530 only a few were left alive and the Spanish brought in Africans as slaves.

The Spanish Leave Spanish settlers leave for more prosperous settlements in Mexico and Peru King of Spain ordered remaining settlers to move to Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic French, English and Dutch settlers took over the northern and western coasts and became buccaneers that stole Spanish silver and gold In 1667, Spain recognized French control over the western third of the country.

The French The French named its new colony Saint- Domingue and brought in Africans as slaves to develop coffee and spice plantations. By 1788, there were eight times as many slaves as colonists.

The Haitian Revolution 1771-slaves rebelled against French masters and destroyed plantations and towns. Toussaint Louverture, a former slave, took control of the government and restored some order He wrote constitution to separate Saint-Domingue from France

The Haitian Revolution con ’ t Napoleon came to power ; sent army to capture Toussaint and imprisoned him in France (where he later died) During this time many French soldiers caught yellow fever and died. After a long campaign African rebels defeated French and General Jean-Jacques Dessalines (leader of the rebels) proclaimed the colony an independent country named Haiti on January 1, 1804

The Fight for Control During the next 70 years 32 different men ruled Haiti. Unrest spread throughout the country.

The US Steps In President Woodrow Wilson sent marines to restore order. He feared other nations may try to take Haiti if unrest continued. U.S.A. made Haiti make payments on its large debts to other countries U.S.A. strengthened the government, built highways, schools and hospitals. U.S.A. withdrew in 1934 and Haiti regained control of its affairs. Some foreign investment followed but the upper class mulattoes benefited most. Between 1946 and 1957 the army stepped in to control the country twice.

A Recent History of Haiti  2004: As the country celebrates 200 years of independence, a violent uprising begins against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Rebels seize cities and dozens are killed. The president is forced into exile and an interim government takes over. Peacekeepers arrive in June while gang violence plagues Port-au-Prince.

2004 Violent rebellions February 29 th, Aristide fled to Africa; soon after a US peacekeeping force arrived in Haiti May, flash floods caused wide spread destruction; 1,400 people killed and 1,800 were missing (between Haiti and Dominican Republic) September - Tropical Storm Jeanne; mudslides killed 3000 in Haiti

 April 2008: High food prices cause riots.

 November 2008: A school collapses in Port- au-Prince with 500 inside. Officials blame poor construction.

 July 2009: The World Bank cancels $1.2 billion of Haiti’s debt, 80 per cent of the total.

 January 2010: A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits just 15 kilometers outside the capital. Tens of thousands are feared dead. The destruction causes widespread looting and violence.

HAITI’S QUALITY OF LIFE …

QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS HAITI HAS THE HIGHEST INFANT & MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE IN THE WESTERN WORLD

LIFE EXPECTANCY 52 YEARS OLD FOR WOMEN 49 YEARS OLD FOR MEN

50% OF ADULTS ARE LITERATE

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE = 70%

POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE  AMONG POOREST IN THE WORLD  HOPELESSLY CAUGHT IN “POVERTY TRAP” 1. POOR GOVERNANCE 2. POOR ECONOMY 3. GROWING POPULATION 4. LIMITED NATURAL RESOURCES 5. HIGH ILLITERACY, INFANT MORTALITY

Earthquake!!!!!!!!

COLLAPSED BUILDINGS TOPPLED HYDRO POLES, TREES BROKEN PIPES/CONDUITS BROKEN LIMBS FRACTURED FAMILIES UNEMPLOYABILITY SEVERE INJURIES DEATH

sanitation hazard

despair

accessibility

hope

anguish

death

survival

miracles

devestation

faith

assistance

aid

lack of stability

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE  Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for in response to humanitarian crises. humanitarian crises  The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives,  alleviate sufferingsuffering  maintain human dignityhuman dignity

HUMANITARIAN AID VS. DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE  The primary objective of humanitarian aid is:  save lives,  alleviate sufferingsuffering  maintain human dignityhuman dignity  Donations, NGO’s  The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates international humanitarian response to a crisis or emergency pursuant to Resolution 46/182 of the United Nations General Asembly.United NationsOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian AffairsUnited Nations General Asembly  Seeks to address the underlying socioeconomic factors which may have led to a crisis or emergency socioeconomic  political instability, poverty, social unrest, HIV/AIDS,civil war, dictatorship,  Paid, loaned by governments Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)  Empowers women  Education  Health care  Governance  Economy  Environmental protection 

PROMINENT ISSUES  UPHOLDING HUMAN RIGHTS/CHILD RIGHTS  LOOTING VS. SURVIVAL  HOMELESSNESS  FRACTURED FAMILIES  LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT  LOSS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES  LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND  ORPHANS (OLD AND NEW)  POLLUTION (SANITATION, DEAD BODIES, WATER)  JUSTICE  DEFORESTATION  HUMAN TRAFFICKING  CORRUPTION  ACCESS TO RELIEF AID (MEDICINES, FOOD, WATER)  AID DISTRIBUTION  ENERGY/FUEL SOURCES  ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES  LACKOF INFRASTRUCTURE  GOVERNMENT  STRUCTURE TO IMPLEMENT DONATIONS  IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (TOURISM)

RELIEF AID MUST BE SUSTAINABLE …

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