Ten Americans remain in custody in Haiti, accused of illegally trafficking children after they tried to cross into the Dominican Republic on a bus. Haitian authorities are debating what to do with the group of missionaries that allegedly intended to smuggle the children -- after reportedly being told they were all orphans.
Haiti is a tiny island country in the Caribbean and the poorest in the Western hemisphere where 54 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day (U.S.) and 78 percent manages on less than $2 a day.
Worldfocus correspondent Benno Schmidt and producer Ara Ayer visited Haiti in the winter of 2009 to report on the extreme poverty, distrust of the government and the environmental effects of four tropical storms that mowed across Haiti last year. Amid the desolate coastal wastelands and decaying infrastructure all around them, they also stumbled upon raucous street celebrations and rowdy cockfighting matches.
They report on the generations of Haitians who eat mud cookies, which hold little nutritional value, to supplement their meager diets. Months after the storms have passed, some Haitians are trying to dig their homes out of 10 to 15 feet of mud. Worldfocus explores how long-gone storms continue to interfere with day-to-day life.
"Haiti's Poor" is a collection of signature videos, extended interviews, blogger perspectives, reporter observations from the field and web original videos that capture the many sides of the island.
Haiti's Poor
How You See It
February 2, 2010
American missionaries still in custody of Haitian authorities
Q & A
January 29, 2010
Born in Africa, crisis-mapping site comes of age in Haiti
Ushahidi, which is Swahili for “testimony,” is an innovative computer platform that crowd-sources crisis information. Worldfocus spoke with Ushahidi about their efforts in Haiti to map out reports from the ground and help disaster relief organizations to provide aid to those in need.
Video
January 29, 2010
Haiti’s public health situation becomes even more dire
In Haiti, doctors and aid workers say they are running dangerously low on medical supplies, including antibiotics. One of the big fears is that disease will spread, and there are already reports of a growing number of cases of diarrhea. Jonah Hull of Al Jazeera English reports on a deepening medical emergency.
Web Original Multimedia
January 26, 2010
U.N. aid worker recounts rescue after 5 days under rubble
Jens Kristensen, a senior humanitarian officer with the UN's peacekeeping force in Haiti, survived for five days under the rubble of the UN headquarters. Since he was largely unharmed, Mr. Kristensen chose to stay in Haiti to help with the rescue mission. Listen to our interview with him from Port-au-Prince.
Video
January 22, 2010
Haitian refugees search for better life outside capital city
It's been 10 days since the quake in Haiti. Increasingly, the focus is on recovering the dead -- and improving conditions for many hundreds of thousands just trying to get by. Officials say that 200,000 people have left the ruined capital, reversing decades of migration into Port-au-Prince. Rob Reynolds and Tony Birtley of Al Jazeera English have more.
Video
January 21, 2010
Chinese aid team contributes to Haiti disaster relief effort
Dozens of countries are contributing to the relief effort in Haiti. China's mission is using life detectors and snake-eye cameras to find survivors. According to China Central TV, the Chinese team has found 15 bodies in 23 collapsed buildings.
Worldfocus Radio
January 20, 2010
Worldfocus Radio: Haiti and DR — Unequal Neighbors
Martin Savidge hosts Marselha Gonçalves Margerin of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights and Michele Wucker of the World Policy Institute to discuss these unequal neighbors. From racism and hate crimes to migration and increased trading, they examine the relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic and the role of the U.S.
Blogwatch/Video
January 20, 2010
Aftershock hits Haiti a week after massive earthquake
An aftershock hit Haiti as the country tries to recover from last week's 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Wednesday's aftershock registered a 5.9 magnitude, with an epicenter about 35 miles (60 kilometers) west-southwest of Port-au-Prince. Reports and blogs are coming from around the world on the crisis in Haiti and the global impact.
Interview + Video
January 20, 2010
Haitian government struggles to restore political control
For more on the relief effort in Haiti, Martin Savidge interviews Tom Arnold, chief executive of Concern Worldwide and Concern Worldwide in the U.S. Arnold was in Haiti earlier this week. And Zeina Khodr of Al Jazeera English has more on the devastated Haitian government's recovery.
Interview + Video
January 19, 2010
A moment of relative calm in Haiti as aid slowly arrives
Pablo Ruiz of UNDP speaks about the relief effort, security situation and short-term job creation. And, Al Jazeera English's Mike Kirsch reports from Port-au-Prince on the frustration as aid is only slowly getting through.
