The global food crisis has Haiti in its grip. As soaring food prices cripple many impoverished countries, Haiti is still shelling out millions of dollars in debt repayments while its people starve. See it for yourself in this short film produced by Journeyman Pictures.
The lack of affordable food has caused riots and political turmoil. While some Haitians are reportedly eating dirt to quell their hunger, their government is forced to pay almost $1 million each week in debt service to wealthy banks that were supposedly established to fight poverty.
Haiti's current debt stands at $1.3 billion, 40% of which 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.
Haiti has now qualified for debt relief through the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative but it still has to meet a series of conditions, including the sorts of economic policy reforms that have been so harmful in the past, before it can complete the HIPC process and access urgently needed debt cancellation.
Haiti is just one country facing a double crisis as food prices soar while debt payments have to take precedence over tackling poverty. Jubilee USA Network is calling for immediate debt cancellation, and an interim moratorium on debt service, for ALL poor countries affected by the food crisis.
On June 11, 2008 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.
