haitifacts.html
Facts about Haiti
- Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and the 3rd
hungriest in the world. Most families live below the poverty line, and there
is severe malnutrition.
- Life expectancy in Haiti is 51.58 years for men and 54.31 years for
women. Many children die before the age of five.
Nearly half the health services are provided by non-governmental agencies.
Because most doctors live in Port-au-Prince, there is only one doctor per
30,000 people living in the rural areas.
- Unemployment is 70% and illiteracy is 47.1%. The average annual
income is $250 per year, and continues to fall because of high inflation. The most basic education and medical opportunities
are considered a luxury. Haitians needing surgery or operations for life
threatening problems either make their way to the U.S. or die.
- The difficulties of life such as low levels of community sanitation,
improper housing, no electricity, no telephones, severe shortage of potable
water and lack of transportation, contribute to the cycle of poor health,
especially in the rural areas.
- Natural hazards: Haiti lies in the middle of the hurricane belt
and is subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding
and earthquakes; chronic droughts
- Environment issues: extensive deforestation, inadequate potable
water, air pollution from charcoal fires
- Natural resources: none
- Population:8,121,622
- Area locator: 600 miles from coast of Fla., 1 1/2 hours from Miami by plane; land area slightly smaller than Maryland. (See map)
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