Human Rights Watch has highlighted an alarming surge in cholera cases in Haiti’s West department. From January 1 to October 30 this year, Haitian health authorities have identified 2,852 suspected cases, of which 186 have been confirmed, resulting in 48 deaths. The outbreak is predominantly affecting Port-au-Prince and its surrounding locales, where a failing health infrastructure compounds the crisis. Conditions are dire, with the UN reporting that only 25% of Haitian households have access to adequate handwashing facilities while a staggering 70% lack proper sanitation systems.
Haiti faces an expanding humanitarian emergency, exacerbated by insecurity due to criminal groups, displacing over 1.4 million people and confining them to overcrowded areas lacking clean water. Gang control obstructs humanitarian operations, as response efforts, managed by the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population, struggle to reach affected populations.
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the challenges facing Haiti’s infrastructure have intensified, as noted by Diana Manilla Arroyo of Médicins Sans Frontières, who warns that heavy rainfall provides fertile ground for the cholera spread. Nathalye Cotrino, a Senior Americas Researcher at HRW, called for comprehensive governmental and international measures to prevent further avoidable tragedies. The appeal underscores the need to repair the national water and sewage network, ensure humanitarian access, and revitalize Haiti’s public health sector.
Adding to the complexities, ongoing deportations to Haiti from countries such as the Dominican Republic and the United States, amounting to over 225,000 this year by the International Organization for Migration, pose further risks to the vulnerable population. HRW stressed halting these deportations to prevent complicating the humanitarian situation.
The cholera issue has roots in 2010, when contamination from a UN peacekeeping base led to a devastating outbreak, resulting in approximately 9,800 deaths. The incident drew an apology from the United Nations in 2016. The current crisis is a reminder of the enduring struggle Haiti faces in controlling waterborne diseases, necessitating significant collaborative efforts to avert further loss of life and health challenges.
For more on the rights group’s recent concerns and Haiti’s ongoing choleral challenges, see the JURIST report.