Haiti, a nation about the size of Maryland, shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Its population of about 9 million is mostly urban, mostly black and largely Roman Catholic, although voodoo is commonly practiced. French, West Indian and African influences combine with a rich history to create a uniquely Haitian culture.

In 1804, Haiti came to be as the result of the world’s only successful slave revolt. Since the beginning, the nation has struggled to create a stable government. The country now has a democratically elected president and parliament, with a critical election scheduled for the not-too-distant future. In 2004, the UN established a stabilization force called MINUSTAH, whose Web site describes its mission as “to restore a secure and stable environment, to promote the political process, to strengthen Haiti’s Government institutions and rule-of-law-structures, as well as to promote and to protect human rights.” Despite victories and improvements—MINUSTAH has succeeded, for example, in reducing kidnappings and organized crime—many Haitians live with a sense of political uncertainty and instability.

With 80 percent of the population living under the poverty line, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. Statistics can’t quite capture the tragedy of poverty in a country where the poorest of the poor sometimes fill their children’s bellies with patties of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening. Supplies of medicine and food were already thin before the quake, and many worry about how the nation will cope.

Haiti is home to a stubborn hope, however, and has witnessed a surge in humanitarian efforts in recent years. In September of last year the Clinton Global Initiative announced plans to invest $258 million in 21 new projects for Haiti during 2010. Habitat for Humanity has served in Haiti for 26 years, taking special interest in rebuilding after the hurricanes of 2008.

In December of 2006, the United States passed a tariff-benefit bill called the HOPE (Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement) Act. This foreign investment is partly credited with job creation and economic incline in recent years, and many believed Haiti to be on the road to recovery and economic growth. The earthquake comes as a devastating blow to this nascent development. Time will tell whether an international outpouring will not only help Haiti rebuild after its most recent natural disaster, but also support its long-term recovery.

Sources:

• www.cia.gov
• www.pbs.org
• Americas Quarterly
• The Daily Haitian Times
• Providence Ministries – Haiti

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