Haiti

Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, its eastern neighbor. The Haitian economy is largely characterized by subsistence farming, and Haitians are heavily dependent on the natural resources of their nation. Only two percent of the country’s total area, however, consists of forested areas, while logging, and soil erosion caused by overuse has placed increasing pressure on the nation’s resources. This situation has had drastic consequences for the food security of the population, while climate change has made the country more vulnerable to natural disasters such as drought and hurricanes. Meanwhile, the people of Haiti still live with the consequences of the devastating earthquake in 2010, and the following cholera epidemic, from which they have even now only partially recovered. Despite many advances in the rebuilding process, Haiti is still in need of international aid in order to get back on its feet in the long term.

Malteser International has been working in Haiti since the earthquake in 2010. Following initial emergency relief and support with rebuilding efforts, our programs have concentrated on building up the structural capacity of civil society in the areas of WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), disaster preparedness, and food security. We work closely with local partners in the urban slum areas of Cité Soleil and Tabarre, as well as the rural region of Belle Anse.

Malteser International Location: Port au Prince and Belle Anse