Even before the earthquake, Haiti suffered from a series of crises. The global food crisis had Haiti in its grip. As soaring food prices cripple many impoverished countries, Haiti was still shelling out millions of dollars in debt repayments while its people starved. See it for yourself in this short film produced by Journeyman Pictures.
On June 30th, Haitit reached "completion point" in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative which cancelled $1.2 billion of Haitis debt. 40% of this was run up by the Duvalier dictators who between 1957 and 1986 stole part of these loans for themselves, and used the rest to repress the population.
To reach completion point, Haiti had meet a series of conditions, including the sorts of economic policy reforms that have been so harmful in the past.
Thanks to continued work by activists and advocates in the US, Haiti, and around the world, the Obama Administration committed to paying $20 million of Haiti's debt payments for 2009. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated: "Food security is not only a source of suffering, it is a direct threat to economic growth and global stability."
In early 2009, 72 Members of Congress sent a letter to World Bank President Robert Zoellick, urging Haiti's immediate debt cancellation. Thousands of letters and hearts have been written to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner about Haiti, and will be delivered soon. Last year, nearly 3,000 of you signed the petition to Secretary Paulson urging immediate debt cancellation for Haiti. Thank you. Jubilee USA Network delivered your petition to the U.S. Treasury Department urging Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr. to support immediate debt cancellation for Haiti. You joined Members of Congress, religious leaders and development advocates from across the country in urging immediate action on Haiti's debt in light of the current food crisis.
