Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with desperately inadequate health and education services and 70% unemployment.
Incredibly, 1% of the population owns nearly half the country's wealth with 80% of people living off the land, much of which is seriously degraded.
The Dominican Republic has extremely high poverty levels, despite the booming tourist industry. Haitian migrant workers and their Dominican-born descendants are amongst the poorest and most marginalised people in the country.
ActionAid in Haiti and the Dominican Republic
ActionAid began operating in Haiti and the Dominican Republic in 1996 and now works with 30,000 people in both countries. We work with local organisations and community groups so that change is appropriate and long-lasting.
In Haiti, we support poor people's basic rights and needs, working at a practical level to improve their access to basic services. We also lobby government and others for changes to the policies and practices that affect poor people's lives.
In the Dominican Republic, we particularly support Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent. Many have no legal status, poor access to healthcare and education and face discrimination at every level.
ActionAid helps Haitians and Dominico-Haitians to create employment, better education and health facilities, and to raise awareness of their particular problems.
"This community is so insignificant in the eyes of the world that we're not even marked on the map. We are so neglected that when we cry out for help, our voices are not even heard.
But we know that this does not need to be so: we have ample human resources here, even if some of the best of us have to leave to seek opportunities elsewhere."
Joanna Sordeus, elected Mayor of Cote de Fer in Mare Rouge, Haiti
Essential Stats
| Haiti | Domican Republic | Australia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8.94 million (2009) | 9.03 million (2009) | 21.5 million (2009) |
| Area | 27,750 km2 | 48,310 km2 | 7,703,581 km2 |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $9.03 billion (2009) | $59 billion | $970.6 billion (2009) |
| GDP per capita | $1,008 (2009) | $6,535 (2009) | $44,598 (2009) |
| Human Development Index | 0.529 (2006) | 0.779 (2006) | 0.965 (2006) |
| Life Expectancy (male/female) | 59/63 (2005-2010) | 69/75 (2005-2010) | 79/84 (2005-2010) |
| Adult Literacy % | 54.8 (1995-2005) | 87 (1995-2005) | 99 (1995-2005) |
SOURCES: IMF, UN Data, HDI, UN Statistics
