“Drought disrupts spring growing season: The persistent water deficit is blamed for the underperforming spring growing season, as the livelihoods of the population deteriorate further due to high commodity prices and persistent drought. The poorest continue to be affected most severely, and most regions of Haiti are in CPI Phase 2 or Phase 3 Food Crisis (defined as ‘Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis: Highly stressed and critical lack of food access with high and above usual malnutrition and accelerated depletion of livelihood assets that, if continued, will likely result in chronic poverty’).”
“Strikes multiply in the public service sector: While the socio-economic situation continues to deteriorate a little more every day in the country, strikes in the public service are multiplying, with aggravating consequences for Haiti’s economy and the people. The Public Treasury being almost empty, these conflicts seem for the moment without solution. Tuesday, June 4, officials of the Directorate General of Taxes” (similar to our Dept. of Revenue) “announced a work stoppage to demand a salary increase that they justify because of the increase in the cost of living. A stoppage or a disruption in the collection of taxes would have considerable aggravating consequences for the Public Treasury, whose collected tax revenues, already insufficient, are vital for the survival of the State.
“Already on strike are members of the judicial system (since May 20), employees of the Ministries of Planning (9th week of strike), and employees of the Ministry of Commerce. We have also just learned that employees of the Blood Transfusion Center, a vital infrastructure for public health, are also on strike. Employees claim payment of 7 months of back salary which have not been paid.”
“Pressures mounting in the deteriorating political situation: Calls for the resignation of President Moise have continued escalating over the past few days from multiple opposition groups. On Wednesday, a religious interfaith organization called “Religions for Peace” issued a statement offering to serve as intermediary between the various sectors of the country in the search for a way out of the crisis. This offer was flatly rejected by the opposition leaders, who have now issued an ultimatum to President Moise to resign within the next 72 hours, or face a ‘general mobilization of the population’ (i.e. riots) this Sunday to force his departure from the presidency.”
“Haiti – Flash floods, major damage, several victims: The Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) informs that following the torrential rains that have fallen on the department of the West (Port-au-Prince area) between 3 and 6 June 2019, floods, significant damage and several victims are reported.
“Human balance sheet : Cité Soleil: 2 dead ; Carrefour: 1 death and at least 3 light wounded and 3 missing persons; Cabaret: 1 death and 1 missing person.
“Other damage: About 20 of cattle were washed away by the water at Cité Ferrier (City of Soleil); the Town Hall of Carrefour informs us that 17 houses were destroyed, 547 flooded and 57 damaged notably at the level of the road of the rails (between Christophe Channel and Lamentin 54); at Cabaret, the two ends of the Bethel Bridge on the national road number 1 were damaged in the night of June 4th to 5th by the furious waters paralyzing the traffic; several sections of roads were washed away in the commune of Arcahaie.
“The DPC calls on the population, especially the inhabitants and those in areas at risk of flooding and landslides, to stay away from the watercourses and especially not to cross under any circumstances rivers in flood. Those living on mountainsides, on unstable terrain, already flooded with water and in flood-prone areas must evacuate for their safety.”
