Haiti

Introducing Haiti

Warning: An earthquake in January 2010 caused enormous damage to the cities of Port-au-Prince, Gressier, Leogane, Carrefore and Jacmel. Any travel to Haiti unless by ship has been restricted to emergency personel. For travel updates please refer to Safe Travel or news updates at the BBC If you want to help, you may wish to check out this Thorn Tree thread.

The earthquake of January 2010 is the most recent, and possibly most tragic, of events to have befallen the impoverished island nation of Haiti. As both failed state and media whipping boy, Haiti has long played the dark shadow to the bright sunlight of the rest of the Caribbean. Optimism over Haiti's impending renaissance has been subsumed beneath the horrors of the earthquake, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and millions of displacements.

Despite the ordeals that Haitians have endured over the years, the country has maintained a welcoming and proud spirit. We can only hope that this spirit will sustain the people of Haiti through their latest trials, and that Haiti can finally emerge from its murky past and tragic present.

Last updated: Jan 21, 2010