URGENT UPDATE 4/9/2008

As we experience price hikes here in the US, the people of Haiti feel the effects at an even more dramatic level.  Protests and riots are currently taking place in Haiti to demand relief from "la vi che"-expensive life.  Haitians, 80% of whom live on less than $2 USD per day (about 15 Haitian dollars), are going hungry in the face of rising prices for even the most basic staples.  Our field coordinators in Haiti, Ginette and Menes Meneus, have notified us of some of the staggering inflation that is ravaging Haiti.  For example, a sack of imported American rice which cost $165 Haitian dollars just one month ago now costs $230.  A gallon of dry black beans has gone from $37 to $50 in just one month.

Unfortunately, the good work that is being done in Lougou may also face setbacks in these difficult times.  Those administering the Breakfast Feeding Program in Lougou are currently considering cutting the program to just 2 or 3 breakfasts per week for the students as a result of prohibitive costs.  We are calling on our friends and supporters to consider offering an extra gift at this time to ensure that the nutrition of these students is not compromised.  Please follow the link "donate" to find out how you can help.

Link to CNN Story

High cost of living in Haiti

Life in Haiti is forcing everyone to ask, “where is this going to end up, why is food so expensive?”  These are the questions that everybody in the country is asking.  Prices are climbing on almost everything every day.  This situation has a negative impact on every activity or project any individual or organization is implementing or about to do so.  Here is a matrix of some price hikes on some products. 

Price hikes on food commodities from March 2007 to April 2008

Prices quoted in US dollars
Product	March 2007	April 2008
1 bag of US rice	$19.18	$31.51
1 bag of flour	$26.03	$54.79
1 bag of rice	$30.82	$39.04
1 bag of corn meal	$18.49	$21.92
1 case of cooking oil	$29.45	$52.05
1 case of herring	$24.66	$25.34
1 case of tomato paste	$19.18	$23.97
1 case of butter	$21.23	$24.66
1 gallon of black beans	$3.42	$6.85
1 refill of a  25 lbs propane tank	$27.40	$41.10

 

Price hikes on some construction materials from January 2007 to April 2008

Prices quoted in US dollars
Product	January 2007	April 2008
1 bar of 1/2 " iron	$7.95	$14.04
1 bar of 1/4" iron	$1.37	$2.57
1 bar of 3/8" iron	$1.37	$7.95
1 bag of cement (Varreux)	$6.85	$7.81
1 bag of cement (National)	$6.71	$7.67
1 case of nails for tin roofing	$31.51	$31.51
1 lbs of wire	$0.96	$0.96
1 sheet of tin for roofing	$5.21	$6.58

 

High prices are just invading all public markets, whether in the city or in the rural areas in the countryside. We can try to bargain, but there’s been a substantial price increase on most products everywhere.