Haiti - History and Demographics

The recorded history of Haiti began in 1492 when Christopher Columbus landed on a large island in the region. The island was inhabited by the Taino and Arawakan people. The Geneste’s asked missionaries and others to volunteer to help in the different communities. In 1804, Haiti gained it’s independence again. The new nation struggled economically until the Constitution of 1867 brought about peaceful and progressive transitions in government. The country had full democratic elections in 1930. Many dictatorships soon followed as the Constitution was dismantled to allow for complete control of the executive branch. In 1987, a new Constitution was ratified providing separation of powers. Military rule continued to overthrow leaders and wreak havoc on the country. In 1994, the U.S. prepared to enter for Operation Uphold Democracy. The operation ended 31 March 1995, when it was replaced by the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH).  The country continues to have elected officials overthrown and experiences violence.

A recent New York Times Series explains: "Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, and a new Times investigative series explores why. One stunning detail: France demanded reparations from Haitians it once enslaved. That debt hamstrung Haiti’s economy for decades — and kept it from building even basic social services, like sewage and electricity. The series is based on more than a year of reporting, troves of centuries-old documents and an analysis of financial records." Read a summary of Haiti's history by Times reporter German Lopez.

Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010 with estimates of up to 300,000 deaths. A million Haitians were left homeless and hundreds of thousands starved. A hurricane in 2017 affected over 2 million people with the destruction of buildings and crops which are a major source of income. The 2021 earthquake was less extreme but caused major damage to roads and structures.

Bountiful Children in Haiti

Bountiful Children started screening for malnourishment in 2022. Approximately 100,000 children under the age of 5 are malnourished in Haiti. 59% of Haitians live on less than $2/day. The issues facing Haiti include housing, nutrition, infant mortality rates, healthcare, education, energy issues, political instability, unemployment, and environmental factors.