Since armed rebels seized control of Haiti’s fourth largest city, Gonaives, on February 5, 2004, and protests calling for President Aristide’s resignation culminated in his departure on February 29, there has been increasing concern about a looming humanitarian crisis in Haiti. With events on the ground constantly shifting and an increasing lack of security, assessments of the humanitarian situation remain fluid and subject to change. This report covers recent developments and the humanitarian response to the crisis by the United States and other international actors

Margesson, Rhoda

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1 U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Background Note: Haiti,November 2003.2 CIA, The World Fact Book, “Haiti.”  United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,“UNHCR Regional Office Washington Hotspot Profile on Haiti,” UNHCR Regional Office forthe U.S. and the Caribbean, February 2004.3 U.S. Agency for International Development, “Budget Justification to the Congress,” Fiscal Year2004.  See also, USAID/Haiti: Population and Health at [http://www.usaid.gov/ht/health.html]and USAID: Haiti at [http://www.usaid.gov/haiti/]. Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21751Updated March 5, 2004Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti: 2004Rhoda MargessonForeign Affairs AnalystForeign Affairs, Defense, and TradeSummarySince armed rebels seized control of Haiti’s fourth largest city, Gonaives, onFebruary 5, 2004, and protests calling for President Aristide’s resignation culminatedin his departure on February 29, there has been increasing concern about a loominghumanitarian crisis in Haiti.  With events on the ground constantly shifting and anincreasing lack of security, assessments of the humanitarian situation remain fluid andsubject to change.  This report covers recent developments and the humanitarianresponse to the crisis by the United States and other international actors.  It  will beupdated as events warrant.  For further information, see CRS Issue Brief IB96019, Haiti:Issues for Congress by Maureen Taft-Morales.The Republic of Haiti covers an area of 10,714 square miles (about the size ofMaryland).1  Located in the central Caribbean, Haiti makes up one-third of the island ofHispaniola and shares a border to the east with the Dominican Republic.  Populationestimates range from 7.5 million to 8.3 million, with roughly 80% living in poverty.2According to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), with an annualper capita income of $400, Haiti is “the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.”Contributing factors include its high infant and maternal mortality, malnutrition, andsevere health issues (such as AIDS); Haitians have an average life expectancy of 53 years.Poor literacy rates, poverty, and eroding natural resources combined with political unrest,economic decline, and increasing insecurity have contributed to a lack of developmentand investment.3CRS-24 According to WFP, one metric ton is enough food to feed 2,000 people a day.5 UNHCR, “UNHCR Regional Office Washington Hotspot Profile on Haiti,” UNHCR RegionalOffice for the U.S. and the Caribbean, February 2004.6 U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “Haiti: Socio-PoliticalCrisis OCHA Situation Report No. 2,” February 25, 2004.7 USAID, “Haiti: Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #3 (FY2004),” March 1, 2004.8 WFP, “First WFP Truck Hits the Road in Haiti to Take Food to Orphanage,” March 5, 2004.Humanitarian relief efforts since February 5, 2004, have been very limited due toinsecurity, chaos, and lack of access within the capital and on roads throughout thecountry.  Distribution of food and provision of health care remain the issues of greatestconcern.  Protection of civilians and humanitarian organizations are also a top priority.The offices of a number of humanitarian organizations in Haiti have been looted, althoughthe violence witnessed around President Aristide’s February 29 departure appears to haveeased with the presence of U.S., French, and Canadian military forces on the ground.Recent Developments by SectorFood Security.  It has been reported that food stocks, stored by the World FoodProgram (WFP) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), could last several monthsif appropriately distributed.  USAID estimates that a total of 20,000 metric tons iscurrently available.4  Lack of road security has so far prevented the WFP from deliveringsome food aid, particularly in the north, where floods in December 2003 had alreadyaffected 25,000 people.  Estimates suggest that more than 250,000 beneficiaries of foodaid in the north could now be affected by suspended food distributions.5  Moreover, eighthundred tons of food and other non-food items were looted from the WFP warehouse inCap-Haitien on February 22, 2004.  As a result of the insecurity and unrest, the WFPsuspended shipments of rice to Cap-Haitien.6 The rural areas are of less concern thanurban areas in terms of the impact of the conflict on local food availability.7  On March5, WFP began to deliver food rations to a hospital and orphanage in Port-au-Prince fromits warehouse in the capital. This is the first distribution in a couple of weeks.  If securitycontinues to improve, WFP is to increase its deliveries in March to include 66,000 peoplein the capital.8Health.  Provision of basic health services and the availability of drugs and medicalsupplies in hospitals remain of critical concern.  The International Committee of the RedCross (ICRC), in cooperation with the Haitian Red Cross, is sending convoys to severalcities with medical supplies.  It is also coordinating its work with other National Societies,such as the French Red Cross and Netherlands Red Cross. The World HealthOrganization (WHO), which leads the Inter-Agency Crisis Committee along with the PanAmerican Health Organization (PAHO), is coordinating with U.N. agencies such as theU.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), other internationalpartners, and the Haitian Health Ministry to coordinate humanitarian aid and supply mainCRS-39 OCHA, “Haiti: Socio-Political Crisis OCHA Situation Report No. 2,” February 25, 2004;USAID, “Haiti: Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #1 (FY2004).”10 Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), “PAHO Asks Respect for Health Centers in HaitiCrisis,” February 23, 2004.11 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), “ICRC Boosts Aid and Calls for Respectfor Civilians and Medical Personnel,” March 4, 2004.12 USAID “Haiti: Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #2 (FY2004).”13 OCHA, “Lack of Fuel Disrupting Life in Northern Haiti,”February 24, 2004.14 PAHO, “PAHO Seeks to Restore Service at 10 Key Haitian Hospitals,” March 2, 2004.15  International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), “Red Cross RalliesRound for Haiti Refugees,” March 4, 2004.16 UNHCR, “UNHCR Regional Office Washington Hotspot Profile on Haiti,” UNHCR RegionalOffice for the U.S. and the Caribbean, February 2004.17 UNCHR, Public Information Section, “UNHCR Urges International Support for Haitians andRight of Asylum,” February 26, 2004.  For more information on the 1951 U.N. ConventionRelating to the Status of Refugees and/or its 1967 Protocol, see CRS Report RL31690 UnitedNations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) by Rhoda Margesson and Johanna Bockman.hospitals and operating centers.9  They are also working with PROMESS, Haiti’s centralpharmacy to supply essential drugs.10 The Committee is now also focused on guarantees of security for convoys andmedical personnel.  The ICRC reports that armed incursions have taken place in hospitals,where the lives of medical staff and patients have been threatened, equipment destroyed,and supplies looted. The ICRC is also increasing efforts to appeal for security for aidworkers and civilians.11Fuel. Fuel scarcity is being reported as a critical problem throughout the country,particularly in the north.12  There are concerns that this will delay humanitarian reliefoperations and have an impact on relief services, such as the delivery of food, generationof electricity for potable water supplies, and provision of health care.13   On March 2,PAHO began distributing much need fuel supplies at 10 Haitian hospitals.14  Population Movements. So far there have been very limited populationmovements — approximately 30 Haitians are seeking asylum in Cuba, 62 in Jamaica and300 in the Dominican Republic.  No large groups of internally displaced persons (IDPs)have been reported.15  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)is setting up contingency plans in the event of a mass exodus from Haiti.  A UNHCREmergency Coordinator has been assigned to the region.16 The Dominican Republic, aparty to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, had reportedly hinted atpossible border closures, but  UNHCR has assigned an emergency and planning expertto the Dominican Republic who is to remain there for the duration of the crisis and assistwith contingency efforts.17  The International Federation of Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties (IFRC) is focused on those leaving the country and working with NationalSocieties in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Cuba.CRS-418 OCHA, “Haiti: Socio-Political Crisis OCHA Situation Report No. 2,” February 20, 2004.19 OCHA, “Haiti: Socio-Political Crisis OCHA Situation Report No. 2,” February 25, 2004.20 Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.21 Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard.22 State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for the Year 2003.Some reports by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA) suggest that people may be moving from insecure areas into the mountains andfrom some rural areas into the main cities, making needs assessments more difficult at thistime.18 The deportation of undocumented Haitians from the United States was suspendedon February 23, 2004, due to the violent situation emerging in Haiti.19  However, as ofFebruary 28, the United States has removed 717 Haitians back to Haiti thus far inFY2004.20  As of March 2, 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard has interdicted 2,053 Haitians inFY2004.21  For more information about Haitian migrants, see CRS Report RS21349, U.S.Immigration Policy on Haitian Migrants, by Ruth Ellen Wasem.Foreign nationals, including U.S. Embassy and U.N. non-essential staff anddependents, have been evacuated, although access to airports and main roads of the capitalmay have delayed some departures.  Protection of Human Rights.  Congress has been concerned with the protectionof human rights and with security conditions within Haiti.  During President Aristide’ssecond term, increases in political violence renewed concerns over security and policeeffectiveness.  In 2001, President Aristide announced a “zero tolerance” policy towardsuspected criminals.  According to various human rights reports, this announcement wasfollowed by numerous extrajudicial killings by the Haitian National Police and lynchingsby mobs.  The government’s respect for freedom of the press continued to deteriorate.According to the State Department, “The [Haitian] government’s human rights recordremained poor, with political and civil officials implicated in serious abuses.”22New concerns over human rights violations are presented by the leaders of the armedrebellion which contributed to Aristide’s resignation.  Both Louis Jodel Chamblain andGuy Phillipe were members of the Haitian military.  Chamblain is the alleged leader ofa death squad responsible for killing thousands of civilians after the 1991 military coupagainst former President Aristide.  Philippe, who was also a police commissioner in Cap-Hatien, fled into exile after being accused of involvement in a coup attempt againstPresident Preval in 2000.  Philippe says he wants to reconstitute the Haitian army, andreportedly declared himself its head on March 2, 2004.  The Haitian army, which had along history of human rights abuses, was disbanded in 1995.CRS-523 USAID, “”Haiti: Complex Emergency Fact Sheet, #3 (FY2004),” March 1, 2004.24 InterAction, “InterAction Members Respond to Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti,”[http://www.reliefweb.int].  See also [http://www.interaction.org]. 25 OCHA, “Haiti: Socio-Political Crisis OCHA Situation Report No. 2,” February 20, 2004.26 OCHA, “Haiti: Socio-Political Crisis OCHA Situation Report No. 2,” February 20, 2004.Response to the Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti U.S. Government Assistance. The United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) and its Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)conducted an assessment mission from February 9-11, 2004 and sent a permanent three-person team to Haiti on February 24.  Ambassador James B. Foley, the U.S. Ambassadorto Haiti, declared Haiti a disaster on February 18, 2004, making it eligible for U.S.humanitarian assistance.  As of early 2004, OFDA had provided $50,000 for transport anddelivery of medical supplies, $87,000 for medical kits, $400,000 to PAHO for medicalsupplies and relief activities, and $412,287 for Catholic Relief Services to provideemergency cash grants, for a total of $949,287 in humanitarian assistance.23  The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) at the State Departmentis also actively involved in providing assistance.  It released $20,000 in Ambassador’sFunds in February.  The ICRC has appealed to donors for 4.6 million Swiss francs(US$3.6 million) to cover relief operations over the next several months.  PRM plans torespond with a significant amount of support, although final numbers are pendingapproval.  Other appeals appear to be focused on medical and food assistance which arethe main areas of concern at the moment.  Contingency planning for refugees andmonitoring needs in other areas will continue as the situation in Haiti unfolds. Interaction, a coalition of US-based relief organizations, reports that a number of itsaffiliates are coordinating relief on the ground and from the United States.24 International Humanitarian Actors.  Humanitarian actors responding to thecrisis in Haiti also include U.N. agencies, international organizations, NGOs, and bilateraland multilateral donors.25  The U.N. Secretary-General appointed John Reginald Dumasof Trinidad and Tobago as the Special Advisor on Haiti on February 26, 2004.  The U.N.established an Inter-Agency Humanitarian Mission which conducted an assessment of thesituation.  It is currently focused on coordinating relief through a Task Force withrepresentatives from all U.N. agencies involved (WFP, WHO/PAHO, UNICEF, OCHA,Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS(UNAIDS), UNFPA, U.N. Development Program (UNDP), U.N. Educational, Scientific,and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)), assisting the U.N. Resident Coordinator and theU.N. Country Team with information sharing and decisionmaking involving thehumanitarian actors in Haiti, and negotiating the safe, neutral, and effective delivery ofaid through a “Humanitarian Corridor.”26International donors have also been making commitments to assist Haiti.  Forexample, on March 4, 2004, the European Commission earmarked 1.8 million euros forthe provision of health care, protection for civilians and humanitarian organizations, andCRS-627 European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), “European Commission EarmarksEU1.8 million in Emergency Funding for the Crisis in Haiti,” March 4, 2004.28 U.N. Security Council, “Security Council Authorizes Deployment of Multinational Force toHaiti for 3 Months, Unanimously Adopts Resolution 1529 (2004),” February 29, 2004.humanitarian aid to be funded through the European Commission Humanitarian AidOffice (ECHO). 27  The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, which supportsthe projects of various NGOs, is making an assessment of the humanitarian situation andneed for a mission.  So far, the Swiss NGOs have focused on the provision of clean water,health and education.  UNICEF airlifted 30 tonnes of material, equipment and suppliesinto Port-au-Prince on March 3.  On February 29, 2004, under Resolution 1529 (2004), the U.N. Security Councilauthorized the deployment of a Multinational Interim Force (MIF) for three months tohelp restore order in Haiti.  The MIF may grow to 5,000 troops.  Its mandate covers arange of tasks, including “to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance and theaccess of international humanitarian workers to the Haitian people in need.”28  

Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti: 2004

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Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti: 2004

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