UN Warns of 'Cholera Time Bomb' in Haiti

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Facts

  • The UNICEF representative in Haiti, Bruno Maes, said on Wednesday that 1.2M children are at risk of contracting cholera as violence and insecurity have turned Haiti into a "time bomb" for infection.
  • Eight people have died of cholera so far according to Haiti's health ministry, and the medical humanitarian group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported 68 new cases since the start of October. The majority of cases tracked by MSF are children.
  • This outbreak ends a three-year period without a new case of cholera in Haiti when the disease killed about 10K people after the 2010 earthquake. This comes as local gangs control many areas of the country, hindering access to fuel, clean drinking water, and medical care.
  • Cases were reported in the Dekayet community and in the gang-controlled Cité Soleil, where many live in unsanitary conditions. Cholera spreads very quickly through food and water contaminated and can cause deadly gastrointestinal complications and dehydration.
  • The fatality rate for cholera is reportedly less than 1% for cases when simple treatments can be used. In Haiti, however, most hospitals are closing or reducing operations because of violence and shortages of fuel and drinking water.
  • Haiti's PM Ariel Henry urged the international community to help the Caribbean nation to fight the overall humanitarian crisis, claiming gang violence has taken the country hostage.

Sources: Al Jazeera, CNN, Washington Post, PBS NewsHour, Guardian, and Bloomberg.

Narratives

  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by The Washington Post. This cholera outbreak is another consequence of the complex humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the killing of President Jovenal Moïse in 2021. Though the country has drifted into chaos, the international community remains silent and indifferent to Haiti's suffering. It's time for a robust international intervention to restore order and provide crucial aid.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Al Jazeera. While the international community must support action to assist Haiti to address the humanitarian crisis - including this cholera outbreak - global powers must resist temptations to intervene strongly in Haitian affairs. Yes, Port-au-Prince needs help, but it can only achieve long-term political stability if Haitians are allowed to create a political system on their terms.