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.
A young orphan in Haiti steals a volunteer’s heart
Worldfocus associate producer Mohammad Al-Kassim spent five days in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince one month after the devastating earthquake there. He met a Canadian volunteer who has fallen in love with a young boy in her care.
Humanitarian disaster continues unabated in Haiti
Worldfocus editorial consultant Peter Eisner writes how survivors of the Haitian earthquake need quick solutions that may not come in time for the punishing rainy season that starts in May. Eisner says that Haitians now face the looming threat of disease, misery in makeshift tent camps and a lack of adequate food and water.
Haiti struggles to provide housing for quake survivors
Haiti's government says it will take over some privately held land to build camps for quake survivors. The aim is to relieve overcrowding in makeshift camps where many of the one million-plus homeless have been living. But five weeks after the quake, a few stories of hope are emerging as well. Steve Chao of Al Jazeera English reports from Haiti.
As journalists continue to leave Haiti, hopelessness persists
Peter Eisner blogs about conditions in Haiti one month after the Haiti earthquake. The international television units are mostly gone, a smattering of foreign reporters are still in Port-au-Prince, and what's the situation on the ground? Hopelessness and helplessness, according to Eisner.
Reports of coupon scam tarnish Haiti aid efforts
Four weeks have passed since the earthquake in Haiti, and the death toll has climbed over 200,000. It's an unfortunate reality that in any disaster, there are those who will seek to profit from the situation -- a fact re-confirmed by allegations that some Haitian officials are rigging the system by which food aid and medicine are distributed. Rob Reynolds of AJE has more.
American missionaries still in custody of Haitian authorities
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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