haiti

Country: Haiti

Capital City: Port-au-Prince

Area: 10,714 sq. mi

Population: 11,263,077 (1)

Life Expectancy: 66.2 years (women), 61.8 years (men) (2)

Currency: Gourdes (Gde)

Major Language: Creole and French

PORT AU PRINCE, SEPTEMBER 2, 2022 (MIC) -

The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with a series of natural, social and political shocks in Haiti. These include a protracted political crisis, political lockdowns (peyi lòk), the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, political transitions, and gang activities. 

These were exacerbated by natural disasters such as recurring earthquakes and hurricanes, and then, the pandemic itself.

Gangs’ control of large swaths of the country has wreaked havoc, impeding local and regional economic activities, halting production, tourism and transportation, disrupting the supply chain, and thereby impeding economic growth, driving up inflationary pressures, stressing household budgets, pushing up poverty rates and worsening social and political challenges. 

Background.

Low skills, illiteracy, poverty, corruption, weak governance and vulnerability to natural disasters have long stood in the way of Haiti's economic growth. The country’s economy has been contracting and facing significant challenges, including fiscal imbalances, high unemployment, low value-added activities, prolonged recessions and structural challenges – all of this prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Nevertheless, the pandemic led to a 3.3% and 1.8% contraction in GDP in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Relative to other external shocks, the COVID-19 pandemic might have limited impacts on the economy, impacted by long-lasting and persistent, potentially irreversible effects of protracted political crises, maladministration, and violence, making it more challenging to rebound or overcome recurring natural disaster-induced shocks. 

In 2015, Hurricane Mathew destroyed about 22% of Haiti's GDP, with about 50% of damage and losses to the productive sectors concentrated in the agriculture sector. 

While Haiti's troubles have economic and natural ramifications, lack of entrepreneurship and productive investments, and the devastation caused by hurricanes and earthquakes, among other things, as well as social and political problems, rampant corruption, and weak governance affect Haiti's poor economic performance, which, in turn, worsens political and social challenges. 

Poverty has in fact increased the volatility of Haitian politics - the root cause of Haiti's social and economic underdevelopment. The resulting fiscal effect ultimately weakens the institutional apparatus. Economic weakness also contributes to corruption, enlarges the pool of potential recruits for gang violence, and enhances the attractiveness of the drug trade.

The economy through the pandemic

Disentangling the effect of the pandemic from other shocks, including natural disasters and the protracted state of conflicts prevailing in Haiti, is not a straightforward issue. 

Confirmed COVID-19 cases were relatively low, though this figure might be due to lack of testing, explained by fear or low capacity. 

Disease outbreaks have historically affected the world, and many scholars predicted the current COVID-19 outbreak to have far more significant economic consequences, particularly in developing countries.

While the expected proximal effects include disruption of input supply, fall in tax receipts, increase in sovereign debts, shortage in the labour force, and productivity losses, the pandemic appears to have limited impacts on Haiti's economic activities relative to shocks imparted by climate-related events and political breakdowns. 

At the height of the pandemic, for example - from 2019 to 2021 - the country's GDP decreased by 2.28% per annum, with a more significant decline in per capita GDP (3.47%), while inflation surged to 19.45% per annum over the same period. Inflation is projected to top 27.5% by the end of 2022. 

In a recent episode of “Investir Profin” hosted by economist Kesner Farel, economist/political scientist Joseph Harold Pierre emphasised that imported inflation accounts for about 50% of the inflationary pressure observed in food products and commodities; while petroleum products account for 20%. 

While subsidising petroleum affects the state budget negatively, food imports widen the trade deficit with a more significant impact on inflation.

Professor Isaac Marcelin, Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Maryland suggests that the pandemic has had limited impacts on economic activities considering the pre-pandemic state of economic lethargy that prevailed. 

He points to the fact that during the pandemic there was the presidential assassination as well as an earthquake that ravaged the southern peninsula simultaneously with tropical storm Grace. Moreover, risks to the possibility of growth remain significant, owing to political uncertainty with looming elections and security challenges.

Growth

Prof. Marcelin also contends that, in 2021, Haiti had a GDP per capita of US$1,815, the lowest in the LAC region and less than a fifth of the LAC average of US$15,092. 

On the UN’s Human Development Index, Haiti ranked 170 out of 189 countries in 2020. As the poorest country in the hemisphere and the only one that has experienced a decline in per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in recent decades, Haiti has been a concern for humanitarian and development assistance donors. 

After each disaster, international partners, including multilateral agencies and NGOs, step in to help the recovery efforts. Donor-provided resources often remain inadequate and diluted by corruption. Thus, Haiti’s economic, social, and political situation has not improved. 

The IMF provided financial assistance without ex-post conditionality to Haiti, equivalent to about US$360 million since 2020. Nevertheless, the increased participation of domestic and international NGOs seems to have crowded out the public sector making it more challenging to coordinate international support toward channels that alleviate poverty and diminish the effect of the other vulnerabilities, pushing the country into a vicious cycle.

Haiti faces acute, layered, and chronic challenges to economic growth. The need for the infusion of funding from external sources remains substantial. Without improvements in governance and better policies, Haiti cannot recover from the effects of the sustained shocks to achieve social well-being and economic growth. 

The February 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan, revised in May 2020, is based on the additional humanitarian needs generated by COVID-19 and a budget that increased from about US$250 million to US$472 million (Diaz-Bonilla et al., 2021).

Public finances and economic policies

Haiti's primary economic challenge is generating economic growth in an environment hostile to domestic and foreign investments, private contracts, property rights, and the rule of law. When the pandemic struck, macroeconomic fundamentals were fragile. Per capita income is less than one-quarter of the Latin American and the Caribbean average. 

Haitians face tremendous challenges in engaging in growth-generating activities. Fragile and lacking financial resources, the country faces urgent needs for shelter, sanitation, food, and medicine, among other things, after each disaster. 

Following the emergency phase, the resource-constrained nation failed to provide necessary assistance to affected populations. Prevailing conditions suppress domestic and foreign investments, and financial resources to fund productive investments remain scarce, exacerbating the country's dependence on foreign aid and budget assistance to cope with external shocks. Meanwhile, official external financing remained low due to enduring political uncertainty, according to the IMF.

The institutional breakdown was acute. Over the last five years, the Haitian government failed to organise parliamentary elections leading the executive branch to govern by decree. Protests intensified against the government in early 2020, which coincided with the COVID-19 breakout, resulting in lockdown measures, crippling an already sluggish economy. 

Over the past year, a caretaker government has not contained gang activities, but has established political stability through politicking and power sharing, which, some contend, could promote growth. 

The pandemic however slowed the needed steps for the Haitian government to normalise political conditions and contain criminal activities by gangs. The slow pace of reforms, low supply of credit, and lack of improvement in the security situation have effectively shut down the road to recovery. 

Currently, the government is considering the adoption of a tax code and a single window to enhance revenues. There is a view that government needs to implement steps and procedures to strengthen basic governance which will safeguard public procurement in order for these measures to be impactful.

To support the financial sector and reduce the effect of the pandemic, the Central Bank (BRH) intervened, at the beginning of the pandemic, by providing liquidity, allowing banks to tap into a critical funding source. It reduced the refinance and reference rates, lowered reserve requirements on domestic currency deposits, eased loan repayment obligations for three months, and suspended fees in the interbank payment system (IMF COVID-19 policy tracker, in Díaz-Bonilla, 2021) while increasing the fiscal deficit financing. 

Despite steady inflows in remittances, imbalances in production, exports, and imports weigh heavily on the domestic currency. The IMF estimated that the pandemic caused a drop in remittances estimated at US$557 million in 2020; a decline in textile exports to the U.S. of about US$178 million, or 2% of GDP and 17% of total goods exports; and a drop in foreign direct investment (FDI) of about 0.4% of GDP.

Tourism had declined sharply by roughly 30% in 2020 from 2019 levels owing to the political instability, and social unrest was further affected by the pandemic. 

The decline in tourism led to lower revenues in related industries, including hotels and restaurants. For instance, Electricity and Water by (-29.5%), Restaurants and Hotels (-15.9%), Manufacturing (-10.3%), and Commerce (-7.3%) (Diaz-Bonilla et al., 2021). 

The exchange rate has worsened steadily, dependence on imports and demand for foreign currency has grown, and disruptions in fuel procurements and energy costs have driven up inflationary pressures. Containment measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic might have suppressed demand import compression that artificially strengthened the current account balance while fundamentals deteriorated.

Haiti has implemented several measures to support vulnerable populations and maintain employment during the pandemic, including increasing public expenditures by nearly 1.6% of GDP (see Díaz-Bonilla, 2021). 

However, the resource-trapped country’s pandemic expenditures placed it below fiscal measures implemented in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) also approved a reprogramming of other operations from the banks and bilateral aid to focus resources on the pandemic. 

This reassignment totalled US$27million from the non-disbursed balance of Haiti’s current investment portfolio and US$50 million in addition to US$112million from the IMF to address budget shortfalls. In 2020, the World Bank approved a US$20 million grant and US$35 million in 2022 for the Haiti COVID-19 response.

Governance and Public Administration

Haiti scores low on nearly all other fundamental development indicators. The state is the most significant political and economic industry, driving wealth accumulation. As a result, opposing groups always target the state seeking control to extract rents. 

Together with limited financial resources, the lack of skilled, trained, and adequately organised government personnel and the lack of management systems within ministries and other government bodies are the principal constraints on the state's effectiveness. 

The implications of the institutional deficiencies in planning, budgeting, executing policy decisions, and managing people and resources cut across all government activities, including the government's ability to interact with donors, set priorities, and craft and implement policies.

Conclusion

According to Prof. Marcellin, in order to assess COVID-19’s impact on Haiti's economy, one needs to consider the broader context of natural disasters, civil unrest, political violence, gang activities, weak governance and the government's inability to craft and implement public policies. 

COVID-19 only exacerbates a state of perennial weaknesses, he says. Hope for a more prosperous and peaceful future for the Haitian people lies in building a more effective, resilient state through gains in the rule of law, property rights, and political and human rights conditions. 

The experts agree that while many multilateral institutions provided support to recover from the pandemic, the country's inability to tap into international financial markets to finance its development priorities hamstrings its progress. 

Donors’ plans and objectives may be incoherent with the government’s priorities. According to Prof. Marcellin, for the country to progress, the burden rests on the shoulders of Haiti’s political leaders, who will need to rise to the challenge of overcoming a history of fractiousness, patronage, and indecision. 

Donors and international organisations can help ease that burden by providing financial resources, promoting political consensus, and encouraging adherence to strategic plans.

Haiti’s vulnerabilities through the pandemic period meanwhile remain significantly elevated. Although the direct effect of the pandemic may be limited relative to other exogenous factors, the effect of COVID19-related disruptions may potentially amplify those of other disturbances, including protracted gang violence, the spectre of natural disasters, corruption, weak governance, and ineffective public policy. Thus, the pandemic's total effect (direct and indirect) on the economy will linger. Therefore, the challenges to growth remain daunting.

It is noteworthy to highlight that the Governor of the Central Bank, Jean Baden Dubois raised the possibility that, by August 2023, Haiti may be cut off from the international system of payments owing to its poor performance in fighting corruption, money laundering, arms trafficking, and its inability to track terrorism financing. 

Haiti receives a poor mark and figures on a grey list of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). Ostracising Haiti from the international payment system will raise transaction costs and worsen the quality of life.

Even as this report is being published, deadly political demonstrations have resumed. There are growing calls for Haitian authorities to keep the situation at bay and organise fair and free elections so that productive investments can resume which will diminish poverty levels and, eventually, gang violence.

PORT AU PRINCE, June 1, 2022 (MIC) -

Haiti’s continuing political turmoil, weakened official institutions, and exponential growth in criminal violence are among the main factors cited as being responsible for the country’s turbulent embrace of the COVID-19 challenge.

At the heart of all of this, some claim, is the country’s disturbing record on human rights. A May 2020 report of the National Network for the Defence of Human Rights (RNDDH), for instance, mentions poor prison conditions, including the plight of prison officers and other staff.“

Incarcerated people live in inhuman and degrading conditions, in spaces cramped, unventilated, dirty and repulsive. The promiscuity in which these people live makes them more vulnerable in front of COVID-19,” the RNDDH concludes.

There have also been questions surrounding the allocation of both domestic and external funding to address needs that have arisen out of the country’s pandemic measures including restrictions on movement and business closures .

By the start of May, a succession of spikes (the highest being recorded in January 2022) had claimed 835 lives and accounted for close to 31,781 confirmed cases.

These are statistics widely suspected to be influenced by a mix of official sloth leading to poor data gathering and a pervasive view, including among the country’s leadership, that Haiti may have escaped the worst early effects of the virus when compared globally.

Official statistics point to a 96.4% survival rate despite the fact that, with 125,323 people being fully vaccinated (two doses), the country ranks as the country with the lowest vaccinate rate in the Americas at 0.6% of the vaccinable population.

On April 14, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) advised the general population, and the airline industry, that mask-wearing is optional outdoors but remained mandatory indoors in closed and air-conditioned environments.

Hand washing remained in effect to access public and private institutions and private companies. Social distancing guidelines were clearly defined and vaccination requirements have been imposed for incoming airline passengers.

It has been difficult to determine actual state expenditure on pandemic measures and attempts to interview officials and secure documentation have been unsuccessful.However, state actions since 2020 have included: declaration of a health emergency; the closure of schools, industrial parks and places of worship; and a shutdown, at one stage, of international transportation. 

There have also been curfews, establishment of a Scientific Council to advise the government on pandemic measures and the strengthening of cooperation with the adjoining Dominican Republic including controls on the land border. 

Masks have also been supplied from a number of sources and include an order of 18.5 million masks from Haitian companies with accompanying tax reliefs and authorisation to resume their activities. 

Some medical supplies were produced locally, and food support was extended to some neighbourhoods. An additional 60,000 helpers for the medical system were hired. Financial support was also extended to 100,000 teachers and university professors. 

International aid included a contribution of 100,000 masks and seven thermal cameras from Taiwan and US$16.1 Millions in financial support from the United States.

China chipped in with a donation of 21 oxygen generators and 136 artificial respirators. India also made several contributions.

By June 23, 2020, 26 COVID-19 care sites had been set up. The Association of Haitian Pharmacists also produced more than 94,754 litres of alcohol-based liquids (hand sanitiser) and assisted with the distribution of close to 23 million masks. State interventions have, however come in for strident criticisms from some quarters. The Centre for Analysis and Research on Human Rights” (CARDH), for example, summarised the operations of the government as being in “violation of the principles of human rights and (an example of) bad governance.”

The organisation criticised the arbitrary release of prisoners under the pretext of the “decongestion” of the prison system. There were also the arrests of numerous journalists and other media workers for breach of curfew regulations. CARDH has also pointed to what it has described as “a lack of results for the funds disbursed.” As an example, the organisation analysed a contract signed with the company Bowang Co. Ltd/ChinaXuXia for the acquisition of sanitary materials in China.

It concluded that the transaction was executed “in violation of the laws on public procurement.” CARDH has argued that the contract was in contravention of public procurement laws. 

It has claimed that the National Public Procurement Commission had been unaware of the transaction. Also, despite the existence of the Commercial Representative of China in Haiti, the administration of Jovenel Moïse hired an intermediary company for the disbursement of 18 million dollars without guarantee. 

As evidence, CARDH provided a bank account which received the money transferred to the Chinese firm.The last public accounting for COVID-19 financing also dates back to January 2021. Mention was made then of several contracts executed by the government.

It also detailed expenditure to offset subsidies extended by the Ministries of Education, Environment, Public Health and Public Works, subsidies to the National Police, the Waste Management Service (SNCRS), Economic and Social Assistance (FAES) for food support, worker subsidies, and cash transfer by mobile phone to families in difficulty. 

There have also been grants for non-public schools; the purchase of sanitary products, cleaning tools, water, awareness materials, fuel, medical and sanitary materials and equipment, transport; purchase of masks, and salaries.

The 2021 report also said that 319,959 households had, up to then, benefited from transfers from the government. Questions about the distribution of contracts however lingered. In September 2021, the government decided to revise the national budget. As justification, the Ministry of Finance cited “a tense socio-political climate and an economic situation marked by the effects of repetitive crises exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, structural deficiency highlighted by the Covid-19 health crisis and situations of internal unrest.”

The government says it has prepared a Post Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan (PREPOC 2020-2023) for the next 3 years, with the objective of stabilisation and economic recovery. 

The revised budget pointed to a difficult macroeconomic outlook, declining trade, lower tax revenues compared to fiscal year 2018-2019, significant slowdown in economic activity, and fluctuations in the exchange rate.’ Included in the measures announced was a “cash transfer programme (CASH)” to vulnerable households and a “project to combat food insecurity.”The budget document also pointed to a US$5,404,287.60 donation from the IDB, and a US$1,097,738.78, transfer from the World Bank. 

The World Bank also contributed US$ 3,728,958.45 toward the creation of a “primary health care network in areas of difficult access.” (Note, there will be minor variations in exchange rate calculations). No expenditure report for these funds has, however, been made publicly available by the Ministry of Finance. In a May 10 speech at a meeting with businessmen, the Minister of Finance Patrick Boivert also announced a new budget to “address social, security and reconstruction of the southern peninsula devastated by the earthquake of August 14, 2021.” There was no mention of COVID-19.

Haitian officials all appear to be operating in post-COVID-19 mode. With the low rates of infections, hospitalisations and deaths recorded by state institutions, and in an atmosphere of scepticism on the part of the population, little attention is being paid to the performance of health care institutions. 

The suspension of parliament has meant there has been little, informed public debate on the subject. There is however a view that the pandemic has brought additional funds into the state coffers that have not been subject to a high level of scrutiny. In the meantime, the situation for most citizens has worsened considerably over the past two years. There is double-digit inflation -- 27.3%) and rising –- and the incessant fall of the national currency against the dollar, in a country that imports almost everything. The consequence has been exorbitant price increases on most necessities.

Some agencies have reported food crises in selected communities with one in three people reliant on food aid, and a lack of access to drinking water and adequate sanitation. 

The virtual shutdown of tourist activities due to rising violence linked to the political crisis has added to the woes. 

Back in 2020, Dominique Dupuy, an entrepreneur in the Haitian tourism sector, explained, during a webinar that many hotel owners were threatened with bankruptcy because of the bank loans to be paid in the context of a complete cessation of activities. There has also been precious little from the current Ariel Henry administration regarding public policy interventions to combat the prohibitive cost of living. 

The government has accordingly been the focus of sharp public reaction against a series of austerity measures including the suspension of gas subsidies. The worsening situation is said to contribute to an environment conducive to delinquency, banditry and therefore the multiplication and success of gangs. 

As a consequence, the informal sector of the economy which represents the survival space of the poorest is being paralysed by insecurity. 

Residents and businesses in several neighbourhoods are forced to take refuge elsewhere. This is the case in the area of Martissant and Croix des Bouquets (South and North entrances of the capital). This area has been occupied by armed gangs who have been kidnapping, extorting, looting, raping and killing for several months. This prevents the movement of goods and foodstuffs between provincial towns and the Haitian capital. In 2021, some 102,448 people were recorded as being internally displaced. Among them, 44,450 refugees were deported to Haiti and 58,000 displaced inside the country due to heightened insecurity (19,000) and following the earthquake in the South (39,000). With the consequences of the war in Ukraine on the world economy, the rising price of cereals, basic products for the poor the situation does not appear set to improve. In March, the economic growth was registered at -1.8% with population growth of 1.34% according to the report of the IHSI (Haitian Institute of Statistics). 

Also, the IHSI registered a 36.2% year-on-year increase in imports compared against 20.2% for local products. None of the country’s geographical regions has escaped the pangs of skyrocketing inflation. The “post-pandemic” period, if it does exist, does not offer much optimism.

Port au Prince, FEBRUARY 18, 2022 (MIC) -

In this instalment from correspondent, Cyrus Sibert in Haiti, he interviews Dr Ernst Robert Jasmin, North Departmental Director of the Ministry of Public Health. The interview was conducted in Haitian Creole.

The current situation

 In early January, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adopted a Level 4 Travel Warning against Haiti advising that travellers avoid the country “due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and COVID-19”. 

 This was a very high-level advisory widely expected to impact the economy of the country. 

 Since December 2021, Haiti has been facing what has been described as a “fever epidemic” that affects the majority of the population. According to testimonies, the whole country is affected by this disease which seems seasonal but whose symptoms curiously resemble the Coronavirus. 

 Due to the small number of people tested, the statistics on this latter disease remain low. It should be noted that this wave of fever corresponds in timeline to the spread of the Omicron variant. 

 Accustomed to fever epidemics, the majority of the Haitians people see nothing new and continue to go about their business without being worried.

 It is in this context that the Ministry of Public Health reported recently: 153 new cases for 577 new tests, 0 deaths; 12 new hospitalisations; 89% of people are already cured. 

 Overall, a total of 176,038 tests have been administered, there have been 30,162 confirmed cases, 814 deaths, 5,408 people hospitalised and 25,152 people cured. In percentage terms: positivity rate 17.13%, fatality rate 2.70%.

 By mid-February, 149,814 people have received a first vaccine dose; 81,790 received their 2nd dose; 341 had a single dose vaccine and 99,237 people were fully vaccinated.

 According to our observations, based on the statistics, between the report of January 2022 and that of February 14, 2022, statistical differences in confirmed COVID-19 cases coincide with the so-called “fever epidemic.”

 Over this period, there have been 20,233 tests, 3,358 new confirmed cases, 34 deaths, 377 people hospitalised and 1,375 new people who have recovered from the virus.

The low medical coverage and the insignificant quantity of tests carried out, combined with the scepticism of the Haitian population regarding the existence of COVID-19, have prevented experts from having a real idea of the scale of the impact in Haiti.

 It should also be noted that February 4, 2022, marked the third year since a case of cholera was first recorded in Haiti. Public authorities are now celebrating what they consider to be a victory over a disease imported into Haiti by MINUSTAH soldiers. 

 Since its introduction in 2010, cholera has infected more than 819,000 people and claimed nearly 10,000 lives.

The impact of the Coronavirus on the Haitian health system.

 If COVID-19 has since its appearance caused an overflow and extreme pressure on health and hospital care systems around the world, in Haiti it has had the opposite effect and there is even a claim that it have been certain positive aspects. This can be surmised from an interview with Dr Ernst Robert Jasmin, North Departmental Director of the Ministry of Public Health.

 Translation of our interview with Dr Ernest Jasmin:

 “The appearance of COVID-19 caused a lot of stress at the beginning, taking into account what we observed in developed countries and big cities like New York. Because our capacity of care is modest, we had to cancel a lot of activities and direct our resources towards the management of COVID-19.

 In a context where we did not have enough equipment and the health personnel were afraid of the disease, there was a form of fear. The population was worried and expected the worst. But, with what we have, we had to face it. Thus, the Ministry of Health provided some support and some of our institutions were 60% ready to deal with the disease.

The Haitian Ministry of Public Health's Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Plan gives a detailed idea of the preparations.

 Unlike other countries, paradoxically, we have recorded a drop in patients at the level of healthcare institutions. At the beginning the population had (avoided) the health institutions in order not to be tested. 

 Why?

 People were afraid that their illness would be called COVID-19. So many of our compatriots preferred not to know their real condition.

 In addition, the epidemic caused a drop in attendance for other programmes such as: Child Health, Maternal Health, Routine Vaccination, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis. Patients of all kinds fled hospitals for fear of contracting the disease in health centres.

 Later, scepticism around COVID-19 vaccines caused a lot of fear. People were afraid of being vaccinated without their knowledge. All injections were refused. This has negatively affected traditional vaccination campaigns against other diseases. We had to insist and convince the patients that it had nothing to do with COVID-19.

 Health workers had to innovate to be able to continue to provide HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients with their drugs, without forcing them to enter hospitals. Rumours about COVID-19 and fake news significantly diminished patient confidence.

 At the level of medical personnel, the rate of absenteeism is high, especially among the elderly or those at high risk.

 The most common illnesses for which people go to hospital more easily, such as acute respiratory illnesses, have also seen a considerable drop. Still, health officials hope to observe these specific cases to assess and study the presence of the COVID-19 virus in the country.

 There was a refusal to undergo tests.

 Also, COVID-19 has caused the death of some health workers. Usually, we do not publish the list, but we have lost several co-workers.

 On the positive side, this epidemic has strengthened the capacities of the systems. The epidemiological surveillance system is strengthened. Border control has improved.

 There have been additions of equipment at the private or public level, training for staff who have become more experienced. The preparations and aid received to deal with COVID-19 have led to the strengthening of the hygiene and sanitation system within health institutions.

 It's like cholera. This epidemic has considerably changed some hygiene habits which has a considerable impact on the spread of other diseases contracted by microbes in the intestine. 

 For example, the rate of cases of typhoid, intestinal parasitosis has dropped considerably. This is to explain certain correlations that exist between epidemics.

 So, even when there are not many proven and certified cases, the preparations and changes brought about by information, education and communication campaigns can have effects on the spread or dissemination of other diseases.

 Between December 2021 and the end of January 2022, the country has experienced a seasonal flu epidemic. Among those sick with this flu, the Ministry of Health has observed a modest increase in cases of COVID-19. Modest in number compared to other countries but serious in rate.

 Unfortunately, if the fight against cholera had caused a change in behaviour, for COVID-19 we observe resistance on the part of the population.

 The recent flu epidemic is proof of this. For instance, all Haitian families have had a member who has been a victim of flu or fever during the last two months.

But people do not quarantine themselves. There is no provision to protect people in their environment. The refusal to wear a mask is a real problem. People consider the mask as an obstacle to free speech including Creole expression "babouket" (knot around the mouth of horses or donkeys to easily dominate them). Haitians don't like it. So, if there is a serious variant of the COVID-19 virus, there would be carnage in Haiti.

Are you sure it is not the new OMICRON variant?

 Doctor Jasmin replied:

There is a testing problem in Haiti because it is not systematic. In Haiti, the test rate is extremely low. Therefore, the number of cases identified is also low. And it surely gives a false appearance of reality. The population's refusal to undergo a COVID-19 test is one of the major obstacles for the health system to accurately determine the overall reality of COVID-19 in Haiti.

 The aid received by the Haitian government has made it possible to strengthen health centres with protective equipment for staff, hospital beds, and oxygen. Above all, an oxygen generator to fill the oxygen tanks was provided by the Ministry of Health.

 Insecurity posed a problem in terms of supply. Sometimes trucks had to face difficulties related to gangs and political unrest. Therefore, being able to produce oxygen on site was essential.

 The Ministry of Health has hired additional technicians to deal with the epidemic.

 All other services continue to provide health care to the population. Patients have begun to return to the health centres for the usual cases: high blood pressure, diabetes, dialysis, cardiology, maternity, childcare, other chronic pathologies or general medicine.

 There was no discrimination between private and public institutions. They are all part of the care system. Even when there were not specialized care centres for COVID-19, the other centres received the necessary monitoring equipment with instructions to refer patients to hospitals.

 In terms of overall lethality, he claims to have observed an increase in funerals in some cities across the country. The Ministry of Public Health has statistics on deaths in health centers. Other deaths can be traced through municipal records. But there are still many undeclared funerals in remote parts of the country. He pointed this out to funeral directors who confirm that they have observed an increase in non-violent deaths in the country.

 There is no H1N1 epidemic in Haiti. Only a flu epidemic that seems to be seasonal, and we cannot say specifically that it is H1N1.

 Even without a high number of recorded cases, COVID-19 has changed several medical practices in Haiti. Preparations, staff training and observation of the behaviour of the population allow us to say that we are better prepared than before. 

 He reported that herbal medicine serves as a means of defence for the population. There is a kind of community solidarity that allows the population to share their experience and knowledge in terms of using herbs against the symptoms, to strengthen their immune defence.

 It is a pity that we will not have carried out a study on this aspect in order to list the leaves and the recipes used during this period. We could verify their chemical composition in the laboratory and document their method of use.

 Still, the population believes in the medicinal capacity of these herbs and has made them an object of exchange and solidarity.

Regarding the vaccination programme against COVID-19, it's still ongoing. There was a shortage of Moderna vaccine stock in December. The government just received new doses of Pfizer and Jenssen which are available. WHO has approved interchangeability between vaccines. People who had their first dose with Moderna can receive their 2nd dose with Pfizer or Jenssen. 

 However, my concern is that the COVID-19 vaccination will affect other vaccination programs. Because, contrary to the criticisms of the sceptics, humanity has made a lot of progress thanks to vaccination. Serious epidemics are brought under control thanks to vaccination. Considering the fear that exists against COVID-19 vaccines, I would hate to see this drive people away and decrease the number of children vaccinated for other diseases.

 This interview with Dr Jasmin allowed us to understand the refusal of other health centre managers to be interviewed. He said:

 “As a Hospital Manager serving the population in the centre of the country, I do not see how I can say COVID-19 has negative consequences on my hospital. We do not provide care, we only test people with symptoms, in the vast majority of cases, they are negative. The few proven cases have been referred to the care centres.”

 COVID-19 has impacted the Haitian health system by the invisible nature of its shadow hanging over Haiti and the refusal of its population to believe in it. All ofthis is in contradiction with international recommendations.

Video recording of the interview with Dr Jasmin:

Port au Prince, December 13, 2021 (MIC) -

Haiti’s relatively tardy response to the COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed a stop-start and slow uptake of vaccines – under 1% of the population so far – low levels of testing nationwide and a general view that the country has escaped the worst effects of the pandemic.

 A December 2 report by the Ministry of Public Health and Population notes 25,638 confirmed infections, including 60 new cases with 750 deaths since record-keeping on the pandemic began.

 As at that date, 144,563 people were tested, 4,763 hospitalised and 21,746 patients recovered. Those most heavily affected by the virus were patients between the ages of 40 and 80+ with a near equal distribution of cases between men 52.6% and women 47.5%. The country’s case mortality rate has been recorded at 2.93%.

  Through it all, there is a general view that children have not been severely affected by the disease with nine deaths between January 31, 2020, and December 2, 2021. Children between the ages of 0 and 9 account for 564 cases and 13 deaths – 2.30% of all deaths. Among the 10 to 19 age group, there have been 1,098 infections with 9 deaths – or 0.82% of total fatalities.

 Childcare experts almost all agree that the epidemic has had little impact on the behaviour of children particularly since, nationally, the virus is being viewed as largely a concern related to other countries, affecting Haiti mainly through international travel.

 There has correspondingly been little to note regarding changes in crimes against children. For example, when asked about the effect of the coronavirus on cases of rape or incest observed in certain areas of Haiti, Police Commissioner Eddit Techler Sylvain responded that the presence of the virus has not been “scary” in Haiti.

“The corona is not scary in Haiti,” he said. “In the Haitian mentality people believe that Corona does not exist.”

 “At the start of 2020, at the beginning of the epidemic, there was a psychosis of fear linked to conflicting information and the media coverage of what was happening in Europe and the United States,” he said.

 “(At that time) the confinement decreed by the government created a tendency to panic without any factual justification on the ground,” Sylvain said. “Churches operated in private homes, schools were forced to suspend by order of the Ministry of National Education, but not because there was a problem.”

 He was also dismissive of any links between pandemic measures and changes in criminal behaviour, including acts of violence by and against children.

 “Apart from the economic consequences on certain sectors dependent on international trade, one cannot link social behaviour or deviance to the impact of the corona in Haiti,” the Police Commissioner said. “Only at the beginning was there a sort of panic over the media coverage of confusing and unclear information.”

Cyrus Sibert interviews Police Commissioner Eddit Sylvain and teacher Elvire Eugene. 

Attempts are however being made to safeguard the interests of children within the education system. The Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) has set up several distance education programmes. 

 This was achieved through the Global Coalition for Education, launched by UNESCO with the support of several states to develop the best solutions for distance education for children and young students most at risk. 

 Benefactors have included the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and UNICEF.

 Most of it is conducted via a platform called PR@TIC which has been operational since April 24, 2020. It can be accessed free of charge via the MENFP's website or at the following address: http://pratic.menpf.gouv.ht/app/.

 However, given a high level of poverty, limited access to electricity is scarce, and the unavailability of online devices, only a limited number of economically enabled households have been able to access the service.

 There are also plans to develop broadcasting portals on radio and television to deliver distance education making use of the National Television of Haiti (TNH) and other private channels as well as radio stations in the capital and in the departments, through community radios. 

 The learning content will also be available on USB media in the relevant departments and technical directions for students.

 WhatsApp messaging has also long been employed as a way of keeping teachers in contact with students. The practice emerged in 2018 during disturbances. The platform was also deployed during several pandemic lockdown phases.

There however continue to be concerns directed at the very young. Elvire Eugene, Director of the “Institution Saint Enfant Jesus”, a school for children aged 3 to 6, has observed a disturbing level of complacency and a lack of awareness of the seriousness of the pandemic by both children and their parents.

 “Children take the coronavirus for a game,” she said. “Even when they are taught to put on a mask, they have difficulty in applying it on the face. A lot of times they put it under their chin saying they can't breathe.”

The educator has however noted an improvement in the way children wear masks - largely due to the awareness and education efforts of their parents. At school, she uses an audio cassette to repeat the instructions for wearing a mask.

 Eugene however noted that the most difficult measure is respecting social distancing protocols. She said that after each reminder, the children distance themselves from their classmates. But it only takes a few minutes for them to forget the instructions and start playing together, without any precaution.

 “Social distancing greatly affects young children. When they fail, they tend to regroup. They say it clearly, it saddens them not to be able to play with their school friends. It is painful for them to see their comrade and not be able to touch him,” she said.

 She goes on to say that since teachers have observed a tendency in children to wear their fingers and pencil in their mouths, she has demanded regular hand washing.

 At Institution Saint Enfant Jesus, there have been no reported cases of infection, though there have been situations where children have displayed some symptoms - fever, cough or flu-like symptoms. On such occasions, the children stay at home for two or three days before returning to class.

 Since Haiti is a country where these kinds of respiratory infections or fevers are common, and there has not been little specific testing, Eugene said she cannot consider these instances to be cases of coronavirus.

Ms Eugene also noted that the pandemic has had little or no impact on school performance. The level of stress observed in some children, she said, is rather due to the violence linked to the current political crisis and issues such as the shortage of fuel and the high cost of living.

 “Political tensions and the shortage of fuel have a greater impact on children than COVID-19.” she added.

This situation has been a source of great concern by teachers. Eugene noted one heart-breaking instance when a child told her that “with all these difficulties in life, the ups and downs of coming to school for lack of fuel, the high cost of living, the inability to buy enough to eat with 50 gourdes, God better take his life.”

She herself is less fearful of the death of children from the virus than because of political tension and dysfunctional state governance.

 “The children followed their parents’ advice and the instructions of their school as best they could, without really believing that corona represents a danger to their life,” she concluded.

 Orphaned children also confront similar challenges, including effective denial by parents, teachers and other adults of the threat COVID-19 poses. Debbie Harvey of “Helping Haitian Angels” says there is a view, even among the children, that the virus is “a problem of Americans.”

 Those in charge of the orphanage had to apply strict instructions in terms of social distance, hand washing, wearing of masks, quarantine for people with symptoms, temperature control, confinement, suspension in the event of suspicion of a symptomatic person.

Harvey insisted that when you take the time to educate children and explain a situation in detail, they respond better and cooperate effectively.

Even adults, teachers, and members of the community where the orphanage is located were sceptical of COVID-19 and refused to treat it as a real danger. “They kept saying, there is no COVID-19 in Haiti. It’s the disease of whites and those who travel to their country,” Harvey said.

The orphanage had to spend a lot in terms of time and resources, organising special classes to make everyone understand that this is a situation to be taken seriously.

Returning from the United States with a negative test, the teacher tested positive after a stay in Haiti. Which means, she contracted it in her work environment.

 Harvey observed a flu epidemic among children at an unusual time of year and decided to keep her case a secret for fear of being attacked by some members of the community who could accuse her of introducing this “white man's disease” into Haiti. Before quarantining herself in a hotel, she observed a large number of people with breathing difficulties and pain in the joints of the feet.

 Fortunately, no deaths have been recorded at this orphanage. People who were coughing had not been tested by the Ministry of Public Health. Sometimes she had to close the centre for a while.

 Her orphanage, which is among the three certified centres in the North of the country, is yet to receive specific COVID-19 visits or assistance from Haitian authorities.

 Haitians meanwhile remain largely unaware of the dangers of COVID-19. “Because everyone was repeating “virus, virus” “corona, corona” it caused anxiety in some children who at this time were extremely concerned with the lives of some American supporters who had visited the orphanage,” Harvey said.

 She is however convinced that “if you explain to the children what this is about, they can understand, not panic and cope better.”

 Harvey adds that among the more serious impacts of the virus is a periodic decline in attendance. She fears it may take a long time to see many of them return to school.

 She notes what she describes as “a trivialisation of death” among some children who continue to describe it as “an American issue.”

 Harvey however thinks that abandoned or orphaned children with latent trauma problems are very sensitive to the stress that the pandemic can cause – a phenomenon they do not quite believe exists, but which continues to impose itself on the population.

 Correspondent Cyrus Sibert interviews Debbie Harvey

Meanwhile, international agencies active in Haiti, such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Haiti confirm the low incidence of child fatalities from COVID-19 but note the worsening socio-economic conditions to which they are exposed.

 Jean Stenio Pierre, who head’s UNICEF’s office in the south of the country says while “children are not most at risk of losing their lives (from) COVID-19 … they no longer have access to the rights to education and development, as stated in the Convention on the Rights of the child (CDE).”

 “Children can no longer go to school nor play with their friends. Because of the coronavirus, they are forced to stay at home. They no longer have access to their playgrounds, their classrooms, or their friends,” he said.

 A July 9 report entitled “Haiti: Violence and pandemic leave one in three children in need of humanitarian assistance” UNICEF said it was alarmed by the dire humanitarian situation of children and families in Haiti, which has been rapidly deteriorating since the beginning of this year.

 “In the first three months of 2021 alone, the number of admissions of severely acute malnourished children in health facilities across Haiti has increased by 26 per cent compared to last year,” the report notes. “Nearly one-third of all children in Haiti -at least 1.5 million - are in urgent need of emergency relief due to the rising violence, constrained access to clean water, health and nutrition, disrupted education and protection services in times of COVID-19, as well as hurricanes.”

A recent report published by the US-headquartered Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child also notes these serious concerns. Dr Kathryn Adams, a specialist in the psychology of education is quoted in the report as saying that despite the country’s history of challenges.

 “Although Haiti … is no stranger to crisis,” she says. “The COVID-19 pandemic is different from the rest.”

 “The absence of normative, visible markers of crisis, such as casualties, burning tires, blocked roads, and material damage is causing Haitians, particularly children, to question why schools are closed and to feel hopeless about the future.

 This is a key outcome of the pandemic that threatens to upstage its impacts long after the threat of the virus recedes.

Port au Prince, October 11, 2021 (MIC) -

Though there has been an upsurge in new cases since the end of September, together with a spike in deaths, Haiti continued to record relatively low numbers when set against its neighbours in the Dominican Republic and the rest of the Caribbean.

As at October 1, the official results of COVID-19 were as follows: The number of suspected cases is 123,092, 81 new cases, 22,354 confirmed cases, 1,923 active cases, 19,797 patients cured, 634 deaths. 

For the vaccination campaign launched in July 2021, the latest figures are 52,447 people received the first dose of Moderna, 22,432 received both doses of Moderna and 341 received Johnson and Johnson. The number of people who are fully vaccinated 22,773.

For the time being, the only vaccine used in Haiti is Moderna.

The Haitian government has had to delay the arrival of other vaccines from the COVAX programme because it wants to first administer the 500,000 doses of Moderna which are due to expire on November 6, 2021. 

Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccines are then expected to become available in Haiti by December. There are 113 vaccination sites nationally. So far it has been observed that mainly the people of the middle class are more willing to get the vaccine. Approximately 60,000 doses have been used.

Food nutrition

Nearly a million people are at risk of starving to death this winter in Haiti, according to a September 9 estimate of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

In the south of Haiti, at the epicentre of the August 14 earthquake, 980,000 people are expected to suffer from severe food insecurity between September and February 2022, including 320,000 during the current emergency phase. 

The FAO is trying to raise US$20 million as part of a rescue effort. This money will help rebuild damaged infrastructure including irrigation canals, fruit processing factories, dairies, fish outlets, distribution of seeds, agricultural equipment and livestock, before the start of the next agricultural season in October.

In the other departments of North, Centre and West Haiti, the situation is no different. International and national agencies had already issued food shortage alerts since last year. 

According to the June 2021 report of the World Food Program (WFP), the country has one of the highest levels of chronic food insecurity in the world with more than half of its total population chronically food insecure and 22% of children chronically malnourished. Underlying drivers of this situation include extreme poverty and frequent natural disasters. 

On the 2020 Climate Risk Index, Haiti is also third among the countries most affected by severe weather events.

On February 26, five memoranda of understanding were signed to strengthen resilience and improve the food and nutritional security of the Haitian population. These include projects that will be financed by FAO’s own funds in the amount of US$2.15 million within the framework of the activities of its Technical Cooperation Program.

FAO representative José Luis Fernández, declared at the time that “the problem of hunger and food insecurity constitutes a major challenge that the Government and development actors must face.” He also pointed out that extreme weather events, socio-political unrest and structural weaknesses have contributed to the deterioration of the livelihoods of the most vulnerable.

A document published by the FEWS (Famine Early Warning System Network) on the situation in Haiti, noted that the exchange rate against the US$ has appreciated considerably since December 2020 reaching around 75 gourdes per US$ on the formal market and up to 95 gourdes on the informal market. 

This occurred despite the injection of US$12 million in the banking sector in January.

This situation has led to an increase in the prices of both imported and local products. Food price increases also remain above the five-year average of over 40%.

Restrictive measures to fight COVID-19, including closure of the land border on both sides of the Haitian/Dominican border, have also had negative impacts on the availability of a number of food products in Haiti. These include flour, edible oil, condiments, eggs, and sugar. There have also been heavy limitations on trade between the two countries. 

Food security conditions continue to suffer from the residual effects of the decapitalisation of farms, the socio-political crisis, and measures attached to the pandemic.

The new wave of COVID-19 affecting the major world economies, in particular the United States, the Dominican Republic, Chile, and Brazil, is further amplifying the economic recession in these two countries. This is already having a negative impact on the rate of flow and volume of migrant remittances to Haiti and, resultantly, the purchasing power of households.

Currently, following the earthquake in southern Haiti, the percentage of the Haitian population requiring food assistance has increased from 10% to 50%, with a concentration in the south of the country. This requires increased levels of food aid, including seeds and livestock aid. 

The 7.2 August 14 earthquake followed shortly after by Tropical Storm Grace significantly affected food production and habitats in the departments of Sud, Grande Anse and Nippes. 

The following impacts were recorded: 2,207 dead, 137,000 houses destroyed and significant damage to plantations in many areas, seriously affecting upcoming harvests. 

Stocks have been destroyed, and trade in food products halted, in the process reducing the quantity of local products available in public markets and considerably increasing the prices of available products.

In addition, the activities of many small and micro businesses have been suspended. For example, the manufacture and sale of charcoal, small trades and other entrepreneurial activities have been seriously affected. 

Additionally, public transport to certain localities where the earthquake caused landslides and cracks in the roadway, has remained a serious issue.

Economic indicators

The Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI) has noted a negative annual variation of - 4.5% for the agricultural sector. 

In the second quarter of the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the contribution of sectors that directly affect the underprivileged to the Economic Activity Indicator (ICAE) all show negative results: Agriculture (- 0.69%), Construction (- 0.41 %), Extractive Activities (- 0.04%). These indicators have tragic implications for the poor. 

The Agriculture Branch of the IHSI in the three months (January to March) of fiscal year 2021 registered a drop in production of 4.5% in the current year after recording a decline of 6.9% over the same period last year.

According to the IHSI, in the area of trade, the cumulative annual change for the two quarters from October to March 2021 registered a drop 3.7%, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2020, where it declined 6.1%. 

The commercial sector however grew by 1.9%, during the second quarter of the fiscal year 2020-2021. There was a decline in formal trade (- 3.2%) but growth of 5.4% in the informal sector.

In cumulative terms, trade grew by 1.8% over the period October 2020 to March 2021 compared to the first six months of the last fiscal year.

This may explain a relatively modest revival of trade following last year’s pandemic lockdowns. Some observers believe there are grounds for cautious optimism despite the appearance of the Delta, Brazilian, or South African variants of the COVID-19 virus.

It should be noted that in January 2020, the rate of inflation in Haiti was 20.7%. Six months after the discovery of the first case of COVID-19, it rose to 27.8% in August 2020. Since July 2021, it has fallen back to 12.2%. 

It should be noted that food and non-alcoholic drinks accounted for 48.50% of household expenditure in July 2021. 

Traditionally, this combination of consumables constitutes the dominant element of household expenditure, always positioning between 40 and 50%. Food is therefore at the heart of Haitians’ concerns.

Food prices

In April, significant food price increases were recorded. Nationally, the price of vegetable oil rose by 10%, wheat flour (5%) and rice (3%). These impacts were however unevenly distributed throughout the country.

For example, the price of vegetable oil increased in the Fonds-des- Nègres (42%), in Jacmel (15%), Jérémie (13%) and Hinche, Port-de-Paix (8%). Flour also rose in the markets of Fond-des-Nègres (32%), Cap-Haitien (29%), Cayes and Jacmel (17%). 

The average nominal cost of the food basket in April 2021 is around 2,112 gourdes per person per month or 10,560 gourdes for a family of 5 people against 2,057 gourdes in March 2021 and 1,607 gourdes in April 2021. 

This represents an increase by 3% compared to March and shows a rise of more than 13% compared to February 2021. Year-on-year, the cost of the food basket increased by 2%. This increase is explained by the depreciation of the gourde against the US dollar and the successive poor performance of crop yields. 

Fond-des-Nègres, Port-de-Paix, Jacmel and Cap-Haitien, are the most heavily affected by this increase. This is mainly due to the rise in the prices of vegetable oil, flour, imported rice, creamed sugar and beans.

Fisheries

Rodney Brutus, president of the North Fishermen’s Association (Association des Pêcheurs Nord) said in an interview with MIC that the fishing industry is “infected” with the epidemic due to the absence of tourists who consume a lot of seafood. 

The high demand associated with the sector helps increase the price of seafood products. Most important, Brutus said, is the impact of COVID-19 on eel fishing. This relatively new area is said to be very helpful for fishermen to send their children to school. 

“We used to sell a kilo of eels at 30,000 gourds. Today, they just offer 10,000 gourdes for a kilo. Eel fishing brought in a lot. In one evening, a fisherman could make 10,000 to 15,000 gourdes,” said Brutus

Eel fishing became popular after it was noticed that they were plentiful in the river mouths of Haiti and capable of being raised in ponds. There is a high demand in Chinese and other Asian markets. 

A decline in tourist arrivals and disruptions in global distribution systems have however seriously affected the industry. With the resulting reduction in income and increase in food prices, fishermen are experiencing a sharp deterioration in their living conditions.

Our interview with Rodney Brutus, president of the "Association des pêcheurs du Nord", on the impact of COVID-19 on the fishing sector in Haiti (Cyrus Sibert for MIC):

Food aid

WFP plans to support 215,000 people in urgent need of food aid in the departments of Sud, Grand'Anse and Nippes, the most affected areas; an increase from the 138,000 people who were receiving assistance before the earthquake.

WFP provided emergency assistance for 69,630 households (348,150 people) across 10 departments in Haiti. Approximately USD$5.6 million in cash-based transfers (CBT) and 584 metric tonnes of food were distributed with funding from the Canadian Government, ECHO, the Haitian Government (funded through the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank), LDS Charities, the Swiss Government and USAID. 

Cash distributions implemented on the island of Ile de la Tortue took place for approximately 11,000 people, with the support of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS); Meals and CSB (Super Cereal, a fortified blended food) to 3,000 displaced people in Delmas and Carrefour, following gang violence in these urban areas in Port-au-Prince. 

WFP also provided daily meals for 261,260 schoolchildren (129,395 girls and 131,865 boys); a total of 345 metric tons of food was distributed to 1,436 schools.

The FNE (National Education Fund) contributed to the overall effort by assisting the National School Canteens Program (PNCS) to feed 15,000 children in the Northwestern Department during the 2021-2022 school year. This is aimed at promoting school attendance and discouraging dropouts in rural schools,

Nearly 25,000 students have already benefited from this support during the 2020-2021 school year in the Nord-Est department. 

The National School Canteens Program (PNCS) meanwhile does not have sufficient resources to bring food to all the students spread across the country. 

Out of a total of 2.8 million schoolchildren to be covered, the PNCS, with the support of its associates, wishes to be able to reach only 50%, with a concentration on the south of the country affected by the earthquake of August 14. 

School children of Grand’Anse at school canteen.

According to a report of the activities presented, 94,891 schoolchildren benefited from the PNCS programs from March to July 2021, i.e., the last semester of the 2020-2021 school year. 

The existence of a large number of foundations, NGOs and evangelical missions which have their own school canteen programmes in their private schools should be noted. The private schools sector represents more than the majority of the education sector in Haiti.

Anne Marie Dembele, a nutrition specialist for UNICEF in Haiti, has been quoted as saying the country’s turmoil has led families to reduce both the quality and quantity of food they are consuming. This means, among other things, that children have even more difficulty accessing appropriate diets. This makes school canteens important to help children get the recommended daily caloric intake.

A swathe of other overseas-assisted projects totalling US$23 million are also planned to help the agricultural sector recover with a focus on making more food available to the population.

The Government of Haiti and the International Fund for Agricultural Development of the United Nations (IFAD) have signed a financing agreement for a project that will help Haitian farmers recover from the impact of COVID-19 and increase staple food production. 

The project will kickstart rapid recovery of agricultural production and incomes by rehabilitating small-scale irrigation systems - a basic necessity in a country badly hit by climate change - provide essential agricultural inputs and help increase farmers’ resilience.

An Emergency Project for Strengthening the Resilience of Small Farmers to the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic (PURRACO, by its French acronym) is a US$5.8 million project ($ 5million from IFAD; $ 0.5 million from the Haitian Government and a beneficiaries’ in-kind contribution of $ 0.3 million). It will benefit 3,250 poor rural households (around 13,000 people, half of whom will be women and 30 per cent youth).

The World Bank has also allocated US$9.5 million to provide immediate funding for Haiti’s agriculture sector to support food security in the context of the pandemic.

“The local agriculture sector supplies up to 45% of Haitian food needs. Safeguarding agriculture will be essential to mitigating the impacts of this crisis, particularly for the rural poor,” said Anabela Abreu, World Bank Country Director for Haiti.

The World Bank has also approved additional funding in the amount of $7.75 million for a project on “Resilient Productive Territories in Haiti” which aims to encourage the adoption of agricultural practices and more resilient land use planning.

Port au Prince, August 5, 2021 (MIC) -

The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7 momentarily overshadowed fears associated with the impact of COVID-19 on the people of Haiti. However, an increase in infections, a high incidence of hospitalisations and a rising death toll have injected a greater sense of urgency into both official and community actions to address the pandemic. 

The virus had initially been slow in affecting the Haitian population, but the arrival of the Brazilian (Gamma) variant earlier this year dramatically changed the dynamic and the official response to the virus.

Additionally, and despite continued scepticism, general vaccine hesitation - having turned back an initial COVAX supply - has turned to a programme of action that has witnessed the vaccination of 11,209 Haitians by the first week of August. 

On May 14, there was a public announcement of the discovery of 2 new variants in Haiti, the figures then stood at 274 deaths, 13,520 confirmed cases, 1,955 hospitalised, 12,437 recovered and 67,019 tests conducted. 

However, by July 30, the figures stood at 563 deaths, 20,326 confirmed cases, 4,961 hospitalized, 14,802 recovered and 101,640 tests. 

That has since been an increase in deaths of 289 (49%) and confirmed cases of 6.806 (0.67%) over a three-month period. 

Haiti recorded its first two cases on March 19, 2020. One year later, the head of the National Public Health Laboratory and the GHESKIO Centre, Dr William Pape, announced that “the coronavirus pandemic is on the decline in Haiti. There was no second wave. No case for 3 months.”

He surmised that Haiti was a rare case in the Caribbean. Additionally, the Chairman of the Scientific Committee against COVID-19 in Haiti announced the closure of the 3 GHESKIO centres for the care of infected people. (See report of March 2021)

New cases are now increasingly facilitated by ongoing political and social tensions and accompanying public demonstrations at which very few precautions against the virus are being observed. 

The shortage of petroleum products is also causing crowding at gas stations, even as protests following the assassination continue. Despite numerous deaths in record time, some of whom are important, influential, and well-known personalities, there continues to be little mask wearing or social distancing in public spaces. 

At the end of May, Dr Yolène Surena, prominent head of Civil Protection, died of COVID-19. In June, Mr René Sylvestre, president of the Supreme Court of Haiti died following complications associated with the virus. 

Before these developments, several senior officials were infected at the birthday party of the influential Director of the National Old Age Insurance Office (ONA), Mr Chesnel Pierre, who did not survive either. 

Well-known teachers, professors, and political figures such as the former Senator of the Grande-Anse Department, Mr Maxime Roumer, succumbed to COVID-19.

It was hoped that this upsurge in COVID-19 will raise public awareness of the seriousness of the disease and the extent of the danger. But, with few exceptions, public behaviour has not changed for the better. 

In the festivities sector, the managers of musical groups have cancelled performances originally scheduled for the summer period. The very popular Tropicana and Septentrional orchestras have published a note to this effect. The most popular religious festivals were also celebrated without the customary festivities.

There has also been considerable confusion at several state institutions following the July 7 assassination. Ministry of Health, Dr Marie Gréta Roy CLÉMENT has retained his post and, with it, a level of control over management of the pandemic. 

As a consequence of growing concerns over the impact of the virus and its variants the Haitian government reversed an earlier decision to refuse offers of vaccines. Additionally, there is considerable anxiety related to the possible arrival of the Delta variant that has infected high numbers of patients in the nearby United States of America.

The vaccination campaign 

On July 14, Haiti received 500,000 doses of the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine as a donation from the United States through COVAX. 

Upon receiving the vaccines, Minister Clément declared: “The Department of Public Health and Population expresses its gratitude to the United States Government for this gesture of solidarity and mutual aid. These vaccines will be administered free of charge to the Haitian population.” 

“This donation is part of the U.S. government's plans to increase COVID-19 immunisation coverage in other countries around the world, counter new waves of infection and prioritize immunisation of health workers and other vulnerable populations in neighbouring countries who need vaccines.”

The US government has pledged to donate some 12 million doses of the vaccine to countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. 

The vaccination campaign began with trials in several cities across the country. As at July 23, five vaccination sites were available in the Haitian capital and its surroundings. 

On July 29, the MSPP announced 10 vaccination centres at University Peace Hospital (Delmas), Saint Damien Hospital (Tabarre 41), Gheskio IMIS (Tabarre 41), Geskio INLR (Blvd Harry Truman, Port-au-Prince), Juvenat / FONDEFH Community Hospital (Port-au-Prince), Justinien University Hospital (Cap-Haitien), OFATMA Hospital (Cap-Haitien), Sainte Thérèse Hospital (Hinche), Saint-Michel Hospital (Jacmel), and Fort-Liberté departmental hospital (Fort-Liberté).

The vaccines are being offered free of charge on a “walk-in” basis at most centres except Gheskio IMIS in Tabarre where an appointment is necessary. 

On July 27, 2021, a pre-vaccination campaign trial activity was launched in the city of Cap-Haitien. 

On this occasion, the Moderna vaccine was administered. In less than an hour, 20 people were vaccinated. The elderly and medical personnel were the first to receive their doses. 

Rhudnie Angrand is the campaign manager within the North Department of Public Health Directorate. She said that 2000 doses were available at that venue. 

The MSPP is in phase 1 of vaccination which means elderly people, people at risk and healthcare workers have the option of receiving two doses of Moderna within an interval of 28 days.

Two sites are available in Cap-Haitien for the trial test of July 28, 2021: Hopital Justinien and OFATMA.

The Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF and PAHO/WHO had installed on a solar energy refrigeration system combined with generators to allow for vaccines to remain at a stable temperature until the injection phase.

In the north of the country, people wishing to be vaccinated will have to go to fixed centres since there is no mobile system

For the north department, seven vaccination places are open at Justinien, OFATMA, Milot, New Hope Hospital, Hôpital Saint Jean, Pilate, and Pignon.

Three sites at Cap-Haitien and Milot are also operational, and a team has been set up to monitor the vaccinated people.

Ms Angrand said in an interview that “to deal with scepticism and anti-vaccine resistance, there will be an awareness campaign. Meetings with opinion leaders, clerics, the media, journalists, community leaders to raise awareness about COVID-19 and the importance of getting vaccinated.”

[PHOTO HERE]

All workers in public administration, private companies, and banks will receive a form to this effect.

At the campaign launch on July 27 were leading figures such as Phel Casimir, Chief Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal; senior journalist Gérard Maxineau; footballer and sports instructor Ricardo Magloire, and Dr Chérubin Wilton. 

They all agreed that the availability of vaccines on Haitian soil was a major development. There are some who have travelled to the United States at costs of up to US$1,500 in order to be vaccinated. 

This was the case of Dr Turenne Calil, Head of Department at the Hospital, whose mission is to encourage his colleagues to be vaccinated.

“I have already been in contact with at least seven infected patients without knowing it. It was after the lab tests that I was able to realise the risks I was exposed to. So, I decided to go to the United States to get the vaccine,” he said.

“It cost me a fortune, an unforeseen trip and a lot of wasted time. Today, it’s an opportunity to have this programme in Haiti. There, within our reach. You should take advantage. Because COVID-19 is extremely serious! People are dying.”

Dr Chérubin Wilton thinks that this virus has already killed more than 6,000 people in Haiti. From his experiences, because of economic difficulties, myths and beliefs of all kinds, people rarely consult a doctor or a health centre to address the symptoms of this disease. 

“Clearly, there are no statistics for the traditional medicine sector that people primarily refer to for fever, flu, headaches. There is also self-medication. As a last resort they go to the hospital,” he concluded.

Dr Calil has however advised that educating the population about the disease and vaccines is a major priority. He also sees signs of a positive reaction to the vaccine.

“People will understand eventually,” he said. “In the United States an average of 11 vaccines are usually required to admit a child to school. In Haiti, the American Embassy imposes an important vaccine requirement for obtaining a residence visa.”

He pointed to the fact that “locally, children receive lots of vaccines before the age of five. So, vaccination is present in our life, it has always protected us.”

Dr Calil added: “These are the same companies that produced the vaccines of yesterday that are supplying those of today. The resistance to COVID-19 vaccines is just the effect of a global trauma that will eventually disappear.”

When it comes to Phel Casimir, the solution is simple: “You have to help your body to defend itself. We do it by eating good food, drinking water, playing sports, and getting vaccinated.”

Despite these previous encouraging comments, the sceptics are not far off. Two young women who requested anonymity told us that they will not take any vaccines. “Because Haiti has no luck with foreigners.”

“They don't like us,” one woman said. “So, if they give us a vaccine, it’s to our misfortune. These great powers do not like the Haitians. We intend to strengthen their immune system by natural means and prefer to run the risk of infection.”

There are also others who prefer to stand back and observe, and some, like one hospital janitor who said it is the confidence in those in charge that drives him to be vaccinated. 

“This hospital has always taken care of me from the moment I was born,” he said. “I trust the health officials. Resources are scarce, but they do what they can. You can blame them for anything, but they would never launch a vaccination programme if they did not have the guarantee that it is good for the population”

Meanwhile, since June 23, the Ministry of Public Health has authorised the private sectors to import vaccines and has set up an accelerated administrative procedure to facilitate importers. 

The ministry has however reserved the right to supervise private vaccination centres and shut them down if necessary. But, so far, no private operator is operational in Haiti. 

There is also no special vaccination programme for schoolchildren before the start of the school year. Angrand explained that there is no vaccination for minors yet. The priority remains the elderly, people at risk, healthcare workers, and medical personnel. 

Following a request for information of MIC to the Communication Department (media@gavi.org) of GAVI (The Vaccine Alliance) https://www.gavi.org, the following details have been provided regarding the links between Haiti and this institution. Given the importance of this correspondence in terms of information on the issue, we have chosen to include it in this text:

The Minister of Health of Haiti signed the COVAX Vaccine Request form on December 15th, 2020, indicating Haiti's willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX. 

Related legal agreements, including an annex to the Vaccine Request form were signed by Haiti's Minister of Health and Minister of Finance on March 17, following extensive review by the country's institutions and specific authorisation by the Prime Minister’s Council. 

These documents were shared with COVAX on March 29, clearing the way for COVAX to deliver vaccines to Haiti. Delays since then have been related to an inquiry from the MSPP about the possibility of sending an alternate vaccine due to high levels of vaccine hesitancy in the population as well as AstraZeneca global supply constraints. 

These logistical challenges have been addressed by resorting to donations of doses, channelled through COVAX, by countries that have already procured and received supplies.  

In addition, the country needed to finalise critical readiness needs related to vaccine deployment, mainly concerning indemnification and liability requirements of the suppliers, which also extended timelines. 

As at July 14, a total of 500,000 Moderna doses had arrived in the country, donated by the U.S. Government through COVAX. These are the first doses the country has received. In addition to vaccine doses, Gavi approved technical assistance requested by the country in December 2020 and April 9 this year. 

This is being managed through WHO and UNICEF to support activities under the National Vaccine Deployment Plan (in the amount of US$743,987). 

Cold Chain equipment support is also provided through COVAX to support vaccine storage capacity at national and regional levels (US$350,000). This was approved on May 26. Haiti is also eligible for further support for COVID vaccine delivery in the country through the recently approved Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery Support /CDS.

While COVAX ensures that Haiti has access to vaccines, their distribution is ensured by PROMESS, the “Essential Medicines Program” of the Republic of Haiti which was created in 1992, during the embargo period. 

PROMESS is a PAHO/WHO programme in Haiti. Its objective is to ensure the availability and accessibility of essential drugs and quality medical devices for public and private non-profit medical institutions in the country.

It is this programme that ensures the storage and distribution of vaccine doses depending on availability and the distribution strategy. PROMESS is founded and operates with financial contributions from the World Bank, bilateral (France, Switzerland, Holland, USAID, Canada) and multilateral (UNICEF, UNFPA, European Commission). These partners are members of the Programme Management Committee which is chaired by the Ministry of Public of Health of Haiti. https://www.paho.org/fr/haiti/promess-programme-medicaments-essentiels 

There nevertheless continues to be pervasive resistance to receiving the vaccine. Among the major factors are religious beliefs and mistrust of the international community. 

There is also resistance based on the fact that despite being vaccinated, people can still contract the virus, albeit less severely and with a lower risk of hospitalisation and death. Fears surrounding the Delta variant have not changed these positions.

Port au Prince, June 1, 2021 (MIC) -

Just one month after refusing the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility, Haiti’s COVID-19 caseload began to rise and two variants (Brazil and UK) of the virus were detected in the country. 

 On May 14, the Ministry of Public Health formally informed the population of the discovery of the variants on the national territory and reinforced calls for mask wearing, social distancing, temperature control and early detection of symptoms. 

 At that time, there were 60 confirmed new infections, 3 deaths, 6 new hospital cases, following 329 tests. 

 After two weeks of press releases and sensitization notes urging the population to be cautious, the government re-introduced a state of health emergency throughout the national territory for a period of eight (8) days. 

 Drivers of public transportation vehicles were obligated to keep their buses well ventilated and disinfected. They were also required to wear masks and to offload passengers who refuse to follow suit.

 Public alarm at the situation was heightened by the death, through COVID-19 infection, of several key public figures. These included Chesnel Pierre, Director General of Old Age Insurance, a judge, a clerk, and the Director of the prestigious Catts Pressoir High School. They were among the 15 deaths recorded over a 72-hour period leading into May 25.

 Former Senator of the Department of Grande-Anse, Maxime Roumer, has since tested positive and died and the Director General of the Social Assistance Fund (FAES) has also been infected. 

It was also suspected that several key state officials could have been infected after taking part in Pierre’s birthday party. 

With the numbers rising, the government has now made moves to accept its quota of COVAX supplies. Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Deputy Director of the Americas branch of the World Health Organization, told reporters on Wednesday, May 19, the president of Haiti had been informed of a decision to accept the AstraZeneca vaccine.

 The Minister of Public Health, Mrs. Marie Gréta Roy Clement, sent a letter confirming the decision of the Haitian government to receive 130,000 doses of the vaccine. Haiti is entitled to 756,000 doses under COVAX. 

External Funding

 As of May 20, our estimate is that Haiti has received up to US$281,078,830 in funding for pandemic relief. This figure has proven consistent with Haitian state reporting on the issue. This is higher than an initial estimate of approximately US$165.4 million. That is a difference of US$115,678,830 million.

 The main reason for this big difference is IMF budget support. It should be noted that there was quite a confusion between announced funds and funds actually received by Haiti – both at official and unofficial levels. 

 The Haitian government is not consistent in its recording of all funds entering the country in the form of pandemic support.

 On the one hand, there is the US$2,581,739 released by the Kellogg Foundation for four NGOs. Also, there is US$26.1 million through the United States Embassy in Port au Prince and US$2.3 million from UNDP that are not included in the table of funds received by the Haitian state. 

 However, the Haitian government records certain funds allocated to international agencies or NGOs working in partnership with public institutions.

 This is the case for the $US27 million transferred to PAHO/WHO, UNOPS and PIH (Partners In Health). This amount is shown in the table of funds received by the Haitian government, while in the “Beneficiary/Partner” section, it is clearly mentioned: “MSPP with the support of operators: OPS / OMS, UNOPS and Partners In Health (PIH)”.

 Still following this angle of analysis, we can observe that the Haitian state registers as funds received by it, the 15 million Euros (or US $18,178,830) released by the European Union in favour of private entities such as Gheskio, Zanmi Lasante, IOM and various NGOs, while the aid announced by the Embassy of the United States is not included. This raises questions about the flow of some US-government funding into the country.

Anomalies

 As noted in the April report, the Ministry of Public Health had asked the Ministry of Finance to make available 907,400,000.00 gourdes (US$25,925,714) even before being able to justify a prior budget of 83,842,341.13 gourdes (US$986,380.48).

 Requests for funds before accounting for funds which have been already received is a key form of corruption in Haiti. Recently, the Superior Court of Accounts, which is the national audit institution, has questioned the expenses of the former Director General of the Haitian National Police for the management of approximately US$500 million. The lack of systemic controls during the execution of expenditure offers opportunities for the squandering of public funds. 

 Scandals all too often occur after the departure of those responsible and even several years after the end of the execution of the expenditure. This makes it more difficult to carry out audits as the people who have been in charge would have left office in some instances years before these investigations and those who are at fault have had time to hide the embezzled funds or disappear altogether.

This observation is all the more worrying when the Ministry of Public Health is very opaque with regard to the management of the funds received. For example, while the website of the Ministry of Finance provides detailed expenditure reports, there is nothing of the kind at the Ministry of Health. MIC has sent several emails to communications managers who in turn referred us to others - all without a response.

Faced with the impossibility of obtaining information from the Ministry of Health, we turned to the Minister of Communication, Mr Pradel Henriquez, who replied: “Indeed, there was a very large Communication group including even bosses of the private media sector press. 

“We met every Tuesday at 11 am. Also, there is a multisectoral Commission, a scientific unit and several entities to work on health infrastructure, equipment and materials, and facilities. Unfortunately, I have nothing to share with you. The Ministry of Health (MSPP) is the big boss. I have no documents except meeting minutes. All the follow-up comes to the MSPP including the Communication FORMAT CIPC.”

Spotlight

As a highlight, there is this video made by the OREPA-DINEPA (https://www.dinepa.gouv.ht/orepa/) on May 16, 2021 which is the regional branch of the Nation Office of the National Water distribution bureau, circulating on social networks showing the return of water to the taps in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. 

For 30 years, the water distribution service has been interrupted in the second city of the country. The video shows the culmination of an important project in the context of COVID-19, because the strengthening of the National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation, DINEPA, was one of the priority projects funded under COVID-19.

During the presentation in March 2020 of the Center for Permanent Information on the Coronavirus (CIPC), Mr. Guito Edouard, the Director General of the institution had promised to implement the project in the regions of North, West, Centre and South with the Regional Offices for Drinking Water and Sanitation.

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-30334-icihaiti-dinepa-presentation-of-the-emergency-and-response-plan-to-covid-19.html

Port au Prince, April 9, 2021 (MIC) -

Haiti has so far appeared to have escaped the worst effects of the pandemic. Following infection peaks in May/June 2020 and a less dramatic rise in January, there were relatively moderate impacts on infection, transmission, disease, and mortality. 

 According to the latest 2020-2021 Disease Surveillance Report published by the Ministry of Public Health on March 16, 2021, the country has experienced 57,605 suspected cases, 12,722 confirmed cases (44% women and 56% boys), and 251 deaths. The number of infected people cured is 10,667, 83.8%. The death rate is 1.97%. The number of hospital patients is 1,838.

 Despite observance of the national Carnival during the epidemic and continued civil unrest including street demonstrations and rallies, the disease has not rebounded. 

 In a press release published by the Ministry of Health on March 19, 2021, it was noted that “one year since the first 2 cases of the new coronavirus covid-19 were confirmed, the virus is still circulating in the country with a peak reached towards the end of May 2020. Reality shows that the country has not suffered as many deaths or severe cases as we expected according to the first forecasts on the possible damage of the disease in Haiti.”

The head of the National Public Health Laboratory and the GHESKIO Center, Dr William Pape, said in an interview with Radio Metropole, that “the coronavirus pandemic is on the decline in Haiti. There was no second wave. No case for 3 months.'' While being cautious, “I am not in a position to predict if this situation will continue.”

 He took the opportunity to point out that Haiti is a rare case in the Caribbean. Also, the Chairman of the Committee announced the closure of the 3 GHESKIO centres for the care of infected people.

 According to him, with statistical data showing that 25% of travellers screened in the border area had contracted the virus. He deduced that “the majority of cases of infection came from the Dominican Republic” - a highly developed tourist country with a significant number of tourists from Europe especially during the winter season.

 The Haitian government has since authorised the introduction of anti-covid-19 vaccines in the country.

 One dispatch in the Official Journal Le Moniteur following a resolution of the Council of Ministers adopted on March 16, 2021 says: “The Council of Ministers recognizes the need for the country to have anti-covid-19 vaccines for the benefit of the population. In this sense, it ratifies the steps taken by the Ministry of Public Health and Population to obtain these vaccines.” 

 It should be noted that on March 30, the local press announced the appointment of Dr William Pape to the nine-member Scientific Council of the World Health Organization (WHO). 

In a tweet, President Jovenel Moise welcomed this appointment. "Dr Pape's main mission will be to assess urgent and high priority scientific issues and provide input and advice to translate them into public health guidelines and otherwise within the scope of WHO's mission." can we read in terms of a description of his new responsibility at WHO.

According to a press release  from the Ministry of Public Health dated March 26, 2021, an incident occurred on the Haitian-Dominican border at the Ouanaminthe/Dajabon crossing point, on March 22, involving alleged mandatory Covid testing for Haitian merchants.

The Minister of Health informed the public that he was not aware of the decision and asked the authorities of the neighbouring Republic to suspend such actions, pending a comprehensive awareness campaign involving Haitian merchants. This incident is said to have contributed toward a growing level of vaccine hesitancy by Haitians.

At the time of publishing this report, we learned that Haiti, has refused a donation of 756,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) via the COVAX mechanism. A report from the Spanish news agency EFE quotes a high-ranking government source requesting anonymity.

New financing and reports:

 World Bank

 On March 10, 2021, the national press announced additional assistance from the World Bank to strengthen social protection in Haiti. Indeed, on the website of the World Bank the information is confirmed.

 The US$75 million will be used as part of a programme called: the ASPIRE (Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience) which supports Haiti in the establishment of a social programme aimed at reducing the negative impacts of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable people. It is being used to finance projects such as the provision of food and to deal with future natural disasters.

 "Social protection systems can advance human capital, reduce inequalities, build resilience, and break the cycle of poverty," said Javier Suarez, Head of World Bank operations in Haiti

 "This project offers immediate resources to help the poorest households, while supporting the country in the implementation of its social protection program in order to develop resilience as well as human capital, in the medium term." he added.

 One of the flagship projects of this funding is the CASH transfer organized by the FAES (Economic and Social Assistance Fund), an autonomous entity of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

 In fact, as part of the accompanying measures in the face of COVID19, the telephone company DIGICEL was responsible for distributing 46,080,000,000 gourdes (the Haitian's currency), the program at the level of Digicel consisted in making transfers from the government to the cell phone of subscribers. This service's brand name is MONCASH. Anywhere the DIGICEL signal could be found, you can access the MONCASH service.

According to Watson Delusma, a staff member of DIGICEL, a clause has been made with the government in which FAES is responsible for drawing up the lists and the amount of money to be transferred to each citizen by using their phone number.

 The government promised to transfer 3.072 to 1.5 million people. While the number of people who already received does not exceed 500,000 beneficiaries. The exact number being 321,569 people. 

 At this point, the funding of US$74 million provides for an extension of transfers of funds to 18,000 households (or about 90,000 people), in particular extremely poor families living in exposed rural areas, in case of emergency, like natural disasters or epidemics; with priority for young children, pregnant women, or people with reduced mobility. 

 It also aims to finance the capacity building of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MAST) with a view to improving the management and governance of social protection programs. 200,000 additional households in the department of Grande-Anse to be added to the social register of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

 The full document is available on the World Bank website, here.

European Union

 In addition, on March 11, 2021, the European Union announced an aid of € 17 billion as humanitarian aid to help the most vulnerable populations, whose socio-economic situation is worsened in Haiti and in other countries of the Caribbean because of COVID-19.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_1112

 “In Haiti, € 14 million will help alleviate the suffering of 40% of the food insecure population, protect migrants and victims of criminal gang violence, and build resilience in the face of disasters.” can be read on the EU website.

 Requests for more assistance:

According to a report from the Ministry of Public Health (MSPP), the public health minister projects to fight the COVID-19 pandemic included in the 2020-2021 investment programme for a forecast period of 4 months total 11,008,713,714.90 gourdes (national currency) or US$ 137,285,111.13 according to the “Google currency converter”.

 Disbursements have already made a total of 5,010,270.27 gourdes (US$ 62,481.01) Or a rate of 45.51% for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

 Under the PIP, the project benefits from a budgetary envelope of 1 billion gourdes. The justified expenses amount to 4,926,427,729.14. That is an absorption rate of 98.33% and a pound value of 83,842,341.13 gourdes not yet justified. The statement of expenditure is duly approved by the public accountant.

 UNICEF

 UNICEF has indicated https://www.unicef.org/media/94046/file/Haiti-SitRep-December-2020.pdf that US$29.7 million is to be available through its COVID-19 Response Plan to meet the basic needs of children and their families amid multiple on-going crisis, including a protracted socio-political crisis, rising food insecurity and malnutrition, the Haitian-Dominican migration situation, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.”

 It adds: “Despite severe disruptions due to COVID-19, UNICEF Haiti has been engaged since day one in supporting the Government of Haiti and developed a US$51.7 million COVID-19 Response Plan focused on emergency WASH and public health response, and continuity of basic services in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, and Child Protection.”

 The activities are described as follows:

 “UNICEF has been at the forefront of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) interventions, including through massive communication campaigns reaching around 8 million people (radio, TV and social media). Working alongside and engaging some 10,000 community and religious leaders, UNICEF has been mobilising communities around COVID-19 prevention including hand washing, hygiene promotion, physical distancing, and prevention of stigma. More than 5.4 million persons have been sensitized at community level on COVID-19 risks and prevention measures and more than 10,000 handwashing stations have been installed.”

 Regarding expenses, still on the UNICEF website, the following information has been provided:

 “The UNICEF 2020 Haiti Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appealed in January 2020 for US$18.6 million to address the needs of 648,200 people, including 366,000 children and adolescents. To address worsening malnutrition rates, the 2020 HAC was revised up to US$24.5 million in September. By December 2020, only US$7.9 million had been raised against the HAC to support implementation of child protection, education, health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and cholera interventions, as well as to cover operational and logistics support costs related to delivery of this assistance. 

 In the meantime, the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Haiti has been revised twice due to increased needs in all humanitarian sectors in 2020. To address the immediate health risks and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Haitian children and their families, UNICEF Haiti appealed for US$ 51.7 million under the UNICEF Global COVID-19 HAC.”

 On a request of US$51.7 million, UNICEF Haiti only received US$12.23 million in terms of emergency humanitarian aid. Another US$9.7 million was spent. Under the heading “other funds” there are reprogrammed funds.

Funding Summary

 In terms of summary of funds related to COVID-19, the estimated amount is $US165.4 million. This excludes assistance from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) which we have not yet been able to detail financially. This is also the case for The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation (BTCF) which provided material assistance. 

There is also the public debt relief and the contribution of private companies which have agreed to assist through the cancellation of service charges and other measures.

DIGICEL which normally levies a charge of 18 gourdes for each1000 gourdes transferred, has cancelled this service charge. In this sense, the company estimates that it left 48 gourdes for each person who received 3000 gourdes from state transfers. 

Hence a contribution of 48 x 321,569 beneficiaries giving a total of 15,435,321 gourdes. The estimated contribution is in the order of close to $US193,000.

Port au Prince, February 28, 2021 (MIC) -

On March 19, the first two cases of COVID19 were confirmed in Haiti. On April 5, 2020, the country recorded its first death. On April 12, the Haitian government ordered the closure of schools and assembly factories - a key sector in terms of exports and employment opportunities for the less skilled workforce. 

Faced with the economic fallout, the leaders quickly decided to reopen the factories, recommending that business leaders respect social distancing. It was a provision that reduced the number of people who can work at the same time in the production workshops. This caused the factories’ production capacity to drop considerably from 90% to 30%.

The economic consequences for Haiti have been considerable. The Haitian workforce relies heavily on the informal sector and the country is not as globally integrated as others in the region.

Among the focus of attention of the government have been food security, inflation, the performance of the gourde (the national currency), unemployment, and the impacts of ongoing political instability.

The cessation of activities in certain sectors such as tourism in the Dominican Republic led to the voluntary return of several thousand Haitian workers. There was also the forcible repatriation of Haitians from the neighbouring territory even in the face of the health crisis. 

On May 8, 2020, the United Nations Economic and Social Council expressed its concerns about the consequences of the epidemic in Haiti. In the February 2021 report of the Secretary General of the United Nations the impact of political instability and the COVID-19 pandemic on the Haitian economy will be “lasting”. 

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) estimates that the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 3% in 2020 and expects it to show a modest recovery in 2021, provided that a certain number of economic measures are applied.

Faced with this situation, international support has manifested itself as follows:

A few weeks after the registration of the first case, on April 9, 2020, the Board of Directors of the World Bank approved US$20 million dollars in support of Haiti’s efforts to combat the virus.

A few days later, US$10 million was allocated to UNICEF for the benefit of Haiti for a programme entitled “Support to the Haitian education system and to the most vulnerable children in response to the covid-19 crisis”. 

While the total amount is US$10 million, the partner agent commission percentage is 7%, for a total of US$700,070.00 - the Coordinating Agency being the Delegation of the European Union in the country. 

Also, in April 2020, the US government through its Embassy in Haiti announced aid of $16.1 million to finance a project titled “Support the Haitian Government’s National COVID-19 response plan”. 

This funding is in support of the activities of the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of the Interior in the Directorate for Civil Protection (DPC) for a network of health centres administered by the state and international NGOs.

On May 1, 2020, the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) announced aid of US$2,308,427 for support to the National Response and Recovery to contain the impact of COVID19 in the purchase of medical and non-medical supplies and payment of health professionals.

On May 13, 2020, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation (BTCF) announced “Actions of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation (BTCF) in response to COVID”. No dollar estimate has been released. But there has been the provision of PPEs.

In July 2020, the European Union announced humanitarian aid of 15 million euros (US$18.1 million). So far, €3 million (US$3.6 million) has been received for disaster preparedness and €2 million (US$2.4 million) as a protection response to support vulnerable migrants and returnees due to ongoing political violence.

We do not know what percentage has been dedicated specifically to fighting the pandemic. However, it seems clear that €2 million has been allocated to support vulnerable migrants returning to Haiti. It is not yet known whether the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the executing agency that received this funding.

In August 2020, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Programme released $25 million for the benefit of six countries including Haiti. On the organisation’s website it is mentioned: “CERF has provided an innovative allocation of $25 million via IOM to support front-line NGOs (international and national) in response to COVID-19 needs in six countries; Bangladesh, the Central African Republic, Haiti, Libya, South Sudan and Sudan.”

We have no details on the exact amount given to IOM in Haiti. But the IOM has been active with the Ministry of Public Health in epidemiological surveillance along the Haitian-Dominican border. 

The Kellogg Foundation has also provided total funding of US$2.7 million to several NGOs and foundations working in Haiti covering a swathe of initiatives throughout the country.

The following institutions are on the beneficiary list: St. Boniface Haiti Foundation Inc, Fondasyon Kole Zèpol, Groupe Haitien d'Etude du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infections Opportunistes, Zamni Lasante and Health Equity International.

Funding of US$175,000 has also come from the “Students Rebuild” Foundation for the financing of a canteen for the benefit of Haitian children. The institutions that received this money are “Mary’s Meals USA” and “CREOLE, Inc”.

CDB

Caribbean Development Bank support includes the following: 

Support in the provision of PPE includes acquisition of 10,964 Tyvek Suits, 39,091 Surgical masks, 21,164 goggles, 34,400 Isolation gowns, 78,183 nitrile gloves and 10,946 KN95 Masks. Extremely important aid for the protection of medical personnel at the start of an epidemic which claimed the lives of many first responders.

In the cultural industries sector, three emergency grants of US$100,000 was disbursed by the CDB to “support the cultural industry practitioners impacted by the cancellation of events due to the pandemic.”

IDB

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has contributed US$150,000 in support of Project HA-T1277: Informing Growth and Development Policy in Haiti for the Post COVID-19 Recovery Period Through Research Initiatives.

The objective of this project is to fund research initiatives that can better inform policymaking in Haiti, especially in the context of the economic crisis that will result from the pandemic. 

This will be achieved by financing a series of research proposals submitted to the Fonds pour la Recherche et le Développement (FRD) of the Central Bank of Haiti (BRH). 

The FRD is a recently launched initiative that will fund applied research in Haiti in public policy management, economics, and finance that will contribute to the development and implementation of national policies related to growth and sustainable development.