Poverty in Haiti
by Jinny Kang , Koki Kin , Vansh Padaliya
Haiti , located in the Caribbean , is one of the poorest countries in the world . Poverty has been a major issue in the country for decades , and it affects a significant portion of the population . According to the World Bank , in 2019 , the poverty rate in Haiti was 59 %, which means that more than half of the population lives below the poverty line . The World Food Programme also reports that more than 4 million people in Haiti are food insecure . the situation , they had difficulty recovering from these disasters . As Haiti remains one of the most impoverished countries in the Latin American region , the poverty level is increasingly higher after the devastating earthquake in 2010 . Focusing on the rural areas , according to the world banks group , one in two Haitians is living under 2.41 dollars per day .
8 | SLAS TIMES
Several factors contribute to poverty in Haiti , including natural disasters , political instability , and economic challenges . The country has been hit by multiple natural disasters , including earthquakes and hurricanes , which have destroyed homes , infrastructure , and crops . Political instability has also been a significant issue , with frequent changes in government and corruption . The country ’ s economy is also struggling , with high unemployment rates and low wages . Poverty is one of the major problems where Haitians are suffering from . There are several factors that led the country to poverty which include less job opportunities , political instability , poor infrastructure , as well as war .
According to npr . org , “ statistics are difficult to pin down for the Caribbean nation , but some estimates put Haiti ’ s unemployment rate as high as 70 percent ,” meaning they are the one actively looking for job but do not have one . In addition , frequent hurricanes and earthquakes damaged the infrastructure systems , including roads and buildings . Because Haiti did not respond quickly to
The solution to these poverty issues can be discovered in the general differences between rural areas and urban areas . Urban areas have comparatively better nonagricultural employment chances , more seizure of critical goods , and an increasing amount of service businesses . Moreover , the confined infrastructure and economic systems create a secure base for other businesses to join Haiti . Businesses such as specialization firms and educational facilities can join to develop a diverse variety of human resources . Also , to encourage entrepreneurship , the government can strengthen social protection programs that provide welfare such as economic aid and chances . Therefore , to reduce poverty issues , the infrastructure , and economic systems of the urban areas must expand to the rural areas , and an exquisite collaboration between the citizen and government is critical .