A shocking humanitarian crisis is unfolding within Haiti’s prison system, according to a devastating report released by the Haitian NGO Association of Volunteers for the Reintegration of Inmates (AVRED). The organization’s December 2025 investigation revealed that 312 inmates incarcerated at Fort-Liberté’s two detention facilities are enduring conditions that systematically strip them of basic human dignity and essential healthcare services.
The comprehensive assessment documents a multi-faceted institutional failure affecting both convicted individuals (279) and those awaiting trial (33). Beyond mere deprivation of liberty, detainees face critical shortages in medical staffing with only one physician serving the entire population, supported by just three nurses and two psychology interns operating without necessary resources. The near-total absence of essential medications creates a dangerous environment where communicable diseases including tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and scabies spread unchecked due to inadequate isolation protocols.
Infrastructure deficiencies compound the health emergency, with investigators reporting cracked walls, complete electrical system failure, overcrowded cells, non-functional water systems, and overflowing septic tanks. These hazardous conditions are exacerbated by severe understaffing among prison personnel, increasing risks of violence and tension within the facilities.
Nutritional provisions fail to meet basic standards, with merely two cooks attempting to serve 300 individuals. The resulting meals lack essential nutrients, particularly damaging for inmates suffering from chronic illnesses and further compromising already weakened immune systems.
The crisis extends to judicial rights, as the absence of functional transportation prevents both emergency hospital transfers and court appearances. This institutional failure results in unjustified extensions of pretrial detention, effectively punishing individuals before conviction.
AVRED concludes that the Fort-Liberté situation represents a collective societal failure rather than merely a prison administration problem. The organization urgently calls for immediate intervention from national and international partners, substantial reinforcement of health and logistics systems, and comprehensive infrastructure rehabilitation to ensure basic safety and human rights protections.