Misery In Haiti Is Expected To Worsen

Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

From The Miami Herald:

A perfect storm of hurricanes, politics, donor fatigue and a global financial meltdown creates a bad prognosis for Haiti's future.

PORT-AU-PRINCE -- Hundreds were killed and tens of thousands left homeless in 2008 when hurricane rains washed their homes away. Joblessness deepened. Malnutrition magnified. Farms failed.

Haiti's misery is expected to deepen this year as its crippled economy and the global financial crisis collide with donor fatigue and increasing frustrations about the lack of social and economic progress.

''There is Haiti fatigue, or rather Haiti impatience, that after three to four years very little has been accomplished and all of those natural catastrophes have compounded the problem,'' said Robert Fatton, a University of Virginia professor and Haiti expert. ``2009 is going to be a very difficult year in Haiti.''

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