Catholic Charities warns two million Haitians are in danger of starvation

Madrid, Spain, Feb 26, 2004 / 22:00 pm

The Director of Catholic Charities in Haiti, Wilnus Tilus, is warning the international community about the alarming risk to food supplies which could affect up to two million Haitians, half of the country’s population.

Catholic Charities and representatives of six Haitian organizations issued a statement warning of “the distressing, alarming and critical socio-political situation affecting the Haitian people, who are approaching the celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of their independence.”   

The statement underscored the climate of terror that exists in the country, the systematic repression carried out by both police forces and armed civilians, and the difficulties for victims to have recourse to justice, in the midst of a widespread lack of security.

The statement also called on the international community to ensure that the people of Haiti—65% of whom live in absolute poverty—can exercise their constitutional rights, that all acts of political violence in the country be condemned, and that the necessary means be adopted to halt the export of arms and munitions to Haiti.

 Likewise, Catholic Charities of Haiti asked that the humanitarian intervention that is launched avoid creating a sense of dependency in the Haitian people, and that the repatriations of Haitian immigrants be suspended until minimum security conditions in the country can be established.