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标签： Haiti

海地

  • Strengthening of external security at the National Police Academy of Haiti

    Strengthening of external security at the National Police Academy of Haiti

    Against a backdrop of persistent instability and growing security challenges in Haiti, a landmark infrastructure project focused on strengthening the National Police Academy (ENP) located on Road of Frère has reached completion, with an official handover ceremony held on April 22, 2026. The event brought together key stakeholders: Vladimir Paraison, Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Haitian National Police (PNH), Japanese Ambassador to Haiti Kazuhiko Nishiuchi, and Xavier Michon, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

    This critical security upgrade project, made possible through full funding from the Japanese government and implemented on the ground by UNDP, was designed to address long-standing vulnerabilities at the academy, which operates in one of Haiti’s high-risk security zones. The goal of the initiative is to establish sustained protective infrastructure for the ENP’s facilities and guarantee uninterrupted training operations for new police recruits, a core priority for Haiti’s efforts to rebuild its national security capacity.

    The completed upgrades encompass a comprehensive range of improvements spanning security, utilities, and healthcare. For perimeter defense, the project delivered 1,350 linear meters of reinforced perimeter wall, topped with 850 meters of new barbed wire to block unauthorized access. The ENP’s lead security post received a full structural renovation, while a complete 360-degree video surveillance system covering the entire academy perimeter was installed, alongside a dedicated centralized surveillance room purpose-built to help security teams detect and respond to external threats proactively. In a sustainable energy upgrade, the outdated diesel-powered campus lighting was replaced with solar-powered streetlights that deliver more reliable, consistent illumination across the academy grounds. The project also included critical support for the on-site infirmary, with a donation of essential medications and new medical equipment including three fully functional X-ray machines. Finally, the ENP’s aging water supply network was fully repaired, eliminating long-standing service interruptions that have disrupted training activities in the past.

    Beyond the completed security upgrades, the ceremony brought announcements of upcoming development projects to expand PNH training capacity across the country. Michon confirmed that UNDP will soon break ground on a new facility that will add multiple classrooms and purpose-built dormitory space specifically for future female police recruits, a step designed to boost gender diversity within Haiti’s national police force. Additionally, two new regional PNH training centers are planned, one in northern Haiti and one in the south, to allow new recruits to complete training closer to their home communities, removing barriers to entry for candidates from remote areas.

    In his remarks at the ceremony, Ambassador Nishiuchi reaffirmed Japan’s unwavering solidarity with the Haitian people and government as the country works toward long-term political and social stability. He emphasized that Japan’s partnership with Haiti is rooted in a steady, incremental approach, advancing progress “one step at a time” through consistent, collaborative development and security support.

    Paraison extended formal gratitude to UNDP for the expert execution of the project and to the government and people of Japan for their critical financial investment, which he described as a powerful demonstration of international solidarity with Haiti’s security efforts. He also used the occasion to outline the PNH’s most pressing unmet needs, including the development of a specialized national trauma center for first responders, the reconstruction of multiple damaged police stations across the country—most notably the station in Miragoâne, which requires rebuilding of a rear dock, the acquisition of 500 new patrol vehicles to ensure sustained police presence in hard-to-reach rural areas, particularly ahead of upcoming national election periods.

    Following the formal handover, the delegation conducted an on-site visit to the pre-construction sites for the upcoming new dormitory and classroom facility. To mark the occasion and recognize the enduring cooperative relationship between Haiti and Japan, Paraison presented Ambassador Nishiuchi with an honorary plaque, a symbolic gesture highlighting the fraternal ties between the two nations.

  • Address by the Prime Minister of Haiti to the UN Security Council (video)

    Address by the Prime Minister of Haiti to the UN Security Council (video)

    In a high-stakes address to the United Nations Security Council on April 23, 2026, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé delivered an urgent appeal to the global community, calling for rapid, concrete and scaled-up support to curb the country’s spiraling insecurity crisis.

    The prime minister was joined by a senior Haitian government delegation that included Foreign Minister Raina Forbin, Minister of Planning and External Cooperation Sandra Paulemon, Special Advisor Guerly Leriche, and Erick Pierre, Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the UN headquarters in New York.

    Opening his remarks against the backdrop of one of the most severe security crises the Caribbean nation has faced in recent decades, Fils-Aimé reaffirmed that reestablishing full state authority across Haitian territory stands as his administration’s top policy priority. He stressed a foundational point for the country’s future: “Without security, there can be neither democracy nor development.”

    The prime minister acknowledged the early progress that national security forces, backed by the Gang Repression Force (FRG), have made in pushing back against armed gang control. Even so, he emphasized that the full, rapid deployment of the FRG is a critical unmet need, and that the force must be paired with sufficient funding, equipment and personnel to match the scale of the challenge at hand. Rejecting vague pledges of future support, Fils-Aimé made clear that the Haitian people require immediate action rather than empty promises, calling on all international partners to follow through on the commitments they have already made to Haiti’s stability.

  • URGENT : 3 departments on Alert threatened by heavy rain

    URGENT : 3 departments on Alert threatened by heavy rain

    On April 23, 2026, Haitian disaster management authorities issued an urgent weather alert, placing three northern departments of the country on heightened standby amid ongoing forecasts of heavy rain and thunderstorms. The National System for Risk and Disaster Management (SNGRD), working in coordination with the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGDPC), has maintained a Yellow alert level for the North, Northeast, and Northwest departments, responding to persistent threats of flash floods and landslides across the far northern region of Haiti.

    Meteorological projections released on the same date confirm that unstable weather conditions will continue through the forecast period, bringing sustained downpours that raise the likelihood of sudden, life-threatening flooding and earth movement in vulnerable northern zones. Low-lying coastal areas, communities adjacent to ravines, and regions with a documented history of flood damage are identified as the highest-risk locations, prompting officials to roll out clear, actionable guidance for local residents to reduce potential harm.

    Civil protection authorities have issued specific safety instructions for populations residing in at-risk zones. First, households located near coastlines, ravines, or flood-prone terrain are advised to pre-arrange emergency shelter with relatives or friends located outside of high-risk areas to avoid being trapped by sudden flood surges. Second, officials have issued a strict warning against attempting to cross flooded waterways or roadways under any circumstances, regardless of whether travel is on foot, horseback, or by motor vehicle, as hidden debris, fast-moving currents, and weakened roadbeds create extreme, often fatal hazards. Third, residents are reminded to secure critical personal documents and valuable belongings by storing these items in elevated, water-tight locations to prevent irreversible damage.

    The alert remains in effect as meteorologists continue monitoring weather patterns, with authorities prepared to upgrade the warning level or issue additional guidance if conditions worsen across northern Haiti.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #18

    Leisure : Did you know ? #18

    One of the most extraordinary artifacts ever uncovered by archaeology, the Antikythera Mechanism, continues to upend long-held assumptions about the technical capabilities of ancient civilizations, as shared in the 18th installment of the popular ‘Did You Know’ trivia series from Haiti-based media outlet HaitiLibre.

    Dated to the 2nd century BC, this intricate bronze artifact houses a sophisticated network of over 30 interlocking toothed gears. High-resolution X-ray analysis conducted in modern decades has unlocked the device’s true purpose: it served as a remarkably precise analog astronomical computer, capable of predicting the orbital positions of the Sun and Moon, forecasting solar and lunar eclipses, and even tracking the four-year competition cycle of the ancient Olympic Games. What makes this creation even more remarkable is that mechanical technology of comparable complexity did not reemerge across Europe until the 14th century — more than 1,500 years after the Mechanism was crafted.

    Before the discovery and analysis of this artifact, scholars widely believed that ancient Greek engineers had never developed such advanced mechanical expertise. The Mechanism’s existence has forced a complete reevaluation of ancient scientific knowledge, but it has also left researchers with enduring questions: where did the Greeks acquire the foundational knowledge to build this device, and how did this groundbreaking technology disappear from recorded use for more than a millennium? To this day, the Antikythera Mechanism remains one of the most puzzling and captivating objects in global archaeology.

    This fascinating fact appears as a featured answer on Quiz-HaïtiLibre, HaitiLibre’s free, no-registration general knowledge quiz platform. Designed for audiences of all ages and skill levels, the platform offers dozens of quiz games across three difficulty tiers — easy, intermediate, and difficult — with full support for both French and English languages. New content is added to the platform every month, with a recent April 8 update introducing 28 brand-new quiz games to challenge visitors.

    Quiz-HaïtiLibre invites users to test their knowledge across a wide range of topics, from Haitian current affairs and culture to global history, science, and specialized expert-level trivia. Curious readers can explore the full collection of quizzes and the entire ‘Did You Know’ trivia series at the platform’s official website: https://quiz.haitilibre.com/en.

  • Taiwan’s President’s visit to Eswatini blocked by mainland China

    Taiwan’s President’s visit to Eswatini blocked by mainland China

    A planned official visit by Lai Ching-te, leader of the Taiwan region, to the Kingdom of Eswatini has been forced into postponement after multiple countries along the proposed travel route withdrew overflight clearances under pressure from mainland China, Taiwan’s representative office in Haiti announced this week. The trip, originally scheduled to run from April 22 to 27, was meant to mark national celebrations in Eswatini, one of the few countries that still formally recognizes Taiwan.

    In an official statement released Wednesday, the representative office said the abrupt cancellation of overflight authorizations eliminated the necessary security conditions for Lai, his accompanying delegation and the presidential aircraft to complete the journey safely. In response to the change of plans, Lai has appointed a special envoy to attend Eswatini’s national events in his place.

    The statement pinned the blame for the canceled permits directly on Beijing, claiming the affected countries made their decisions after facing economic coercion and political pressure from Chinese authorities. It argued that these actions violate the sovereignty of the countries that withdrew the permits, threaten the safety of global civil aviation travel, and run counter to long-standing international norms and standard practices for cross-border air travel.

    The Taiwan region’s government issued a formal condemnation of the move, reaffirming its claim that Taiwan is a sovereign entity and that its 23 million residents are entitled to unimpeded, un-intimidated participation in international affairs.

  • Haiti health : A first batch of about one hundred nomination letters already available

    Haiti health : A first batch of about one hundred nomination letters already available

    A critical milestone has been achieved in the ongoing effort to reinforce Haiti’s under-resourced healthcare infrastructure in the Nippes department, with the first group of roughly 100 staff appointment letters now available for distribution. This early progress serves as a clear demonstration of the Haitian national government’s commitment to delivering long-term, sustainable improvements in local healthcare access and quality for residents of the region.

    The appointment initiative is being spearheaded at the national level by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and Public Health Minister Dr. Sinal Bertrand, who have framed the push to fill vacant healthcare roles as a core component of a broader national strategy to equip public health institutions across Haiti—particularly in underserved departments like Nippes—with skilled, qualified personnel.

    At the local level, the milestone is the product of consistent, targeted work led by Dr. Esther Ceus Dumont, Director of the Nippes Health Directorate (DSNI). Under her leadership, the DSNI team oversaw end-to-end management of candidate applications, from initial preparation and submission to the central government to rigorous ongoing follow-up to move the process forward.

    The 100 appointment letters released in this first round cover a full spectrum of roles critical to the daily operation of local healthcare facilities, including practicing physicians, registered nurses, nursing assistants, and administrative and support staff. Importantly, officials emphasize that this initial batch is only the first phase of a much larger hiring effort. All remaining applications from Nippes-based candidates are currently in late-stage processing at the national central level, with finalization expected in the near term.

    A top priority group of 40 nurses who successfully passed the national competitive hiring examination is receiving special attention in the process. Both the National Directorate of Nursing and Information and the Ministry of Public Health have flagged the integration of these qualified nurses as an urgent priority, and their appointment letters are expected to be issued imminently. Once hired, these new nursing staff will directly address critical staffing shortages that have hampered care delivery at multiple healthcare facilities across the department.

    In acknowledgement of the widespread public and candidate anticipation surrounding the hiring process, the DSNI has called on all applicants to maintain patience and confidence in the system. Departmental officials have implemented comprehensive safeguards to ensure all applications are reviewed thoroughly and fairly, with results set to be released in incremental phases as processing is completed.

    This first round of appointments has kicked off what many local health leaders describe as a promising new trajectory for healthcare in Nippes. The milestone confirms the department is moving steadily toward a stronger, more structured, and better-resourced public healthcare system designed to meet the full spectrum of health needs of its local population.

  • The Haitian Maritime and Navigation Service raises its voice

    The Haitian Maritime and Navigation Service raises its voice

    Haiti’s top maritime regulator has launched a urgent compliance push targeting unsafe coastal shipping operations in the Caribbean nation’s territorial waters, announcing strict penalties for vessel owners that fail to resolve outstanding maintenance violations. In an official circular published April 21, 2026, Éric Prévost Jr., Director General of the Haitian Maritime and Navigation Service (SEMANAH), exercised his statutory authority over navigational safety and maritime law enforcement to order immediate adherence to existing maritime rules for all coastal vessels operating in Haitian jurisdiction.

    The regulator confirmed that it has documented widespread non-compliance across the sector, with a significant number of vessels failing to meet mandatory requirements for periodic dry-dock maintenance. These violations directly contradict core provisions of the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), including all subsequent amendments, as well as established clauses in Haiti’s own domestic Maritime and Navigation Code.

    Under the new directive, any vessel found operating outside regulatory guidelines has been given a strict 15-day window, counting from the date the circular is formally served, to submit either a valid, up-to-date dry-docking certificate or a fully completed technical report of a recent hull inspection to SEMANAH for review. Failure to correct the violation and submit the required documentation within this mandated timeframe will trigger immediate administrative action: the vessel’s operating permit will be automatically suspended with no additional administrative procedures required, and all commercial and private maritime activity for that craft will be banned until compliance is achieved.

    SEMANAH made clear that competent local enforcement authorities will be called in to ensure these measures are implemented, and that enforcement via official force remains an option if non-compliant operators refuse to cooperate. In a statement accompanying the circular, the agency emphasized that it will not accept any operational practice that puts seafarers, coastal communities, or Haiti’s sensitive marine ecosystem at unnecessary risk. The move comes amid growing international and domestic pressure to improve maritime safety standards across Haiti’s coastline, a critical transport artery for the island nation’s domestic trade and supply networks.

  • URGENT : Flood threat on 5 departments of Haiti

    URGENT : Flood threat on 5 departments of Haiti

    On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Haiti’s civil defense authorities issued an urgent warning, alerting residents across multiple regions of the country to an imminent threat of flash flooding driven by lingering adverse weather conditions. The announcement from the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) confirms that a stationary cold front positioned over northern Haiti, paired with broader unstable atmospheric conditions, will sustain steady rainfall and severe thunderstorms across eight national departments through the late afternoon and overnight hours. The affected departments include North, Northwest, Artibonite, South, Southeast, Nippes, Grand’Anse, and West.

    Haiti’s national Hydrometeorological Unit has tracked worsening soil conditions across most of these monitored regions, noting that saturated ground has lost its ability to absorb additional precipitation. This environmental state elevates the risk of sudden, dangerous flash flooding specifically across five departments: North, Northwest, South, Nippes, and Grand’Anse, where low-lying and river-adjacent communities face the highest danger.

    In response to the escalating threat, the National System for Risk and Disaster Management (SNGRD) has partnered with the DPC to roll out public safety guidance, urging all residents in high-risk flood zones to prioritize preparedness and follow official instructions closely. The joint advisory outlines three core safety measures for at-risk communities: first, secure all personal belongings and critical official documents in elevated, water-safe locations to avoid irreparable damage. Second, avoid unnecessary long-distance travel to remote mountainous areas or riverbanks far from residential zones, particularly for trips that require an extended half-day or longer return journey during active storm conditions. Third, never attempt to cross overflowing or swollen waterways by any means of transport, including on foot, motorcycle, horseback, or passenger vehicle, as fast-moving floodwaters pose severe drowning and injury risks.

    The urgent warning comes as Haiti continues to grapple with recurring climate-driven disasters, with vulnerable communities disproportionately exposed to extreme weather events that strain the country’s limited disaster response infrastructure. Authorities are continuing to update weather conditions and safety guidance as the storm system progresses.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #17

    Leisure : Did you know ? #17

    Nestled in the hedgerows and wild gardens of Haiti, a climbing vine known locally as Asosi (scientific name Momordique) has long held a central place in the Caribbean nation’s traditional healing practices. Now, this little-documented native plant is drawing new attention for its potential to support modern medical research, while highlighting the urgent value of preserving indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge for marginalized communities.

    For generations, Haitian communities have relied on Asosi’s distinctive serrated leaves and intensely bitter fruits to treat a range of common ailments. Preparations of the plant, most often steeped into infusions or added to therapeutic baths, are traditionally used as a depurative to “purify the blood,” as well as to address topical skin infections and reduce fever. In rural regions of Haiti where access to modern clinical healthcare remains severely limited, this widespread climbing vine has served as a trusted, accessible primary care resource for locals.

    Modern science is beginning to validate the traditional uses of Asosi: researchers have confirmed that the plant contains a range of biologically active compounds that are currently the subject of ongoing studies focused on developing new treatments for type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition that affects growing numbers of people across Haiti and the globe. Even with its notoriously bitter taste, the plant remains a staple of local traditional pharmacopoeia in underserved rural areas.

    Beyond its medicinal value, protecting the natural habitats where Asosi grows wild delivers dual benefits: it preserves a free, accessible “green pharmacy” for low-income communities that lack reliable access to conventional medications, and it protects a native species that acts as a natural ecological regulator in local hedgerows and untended green spaces. This makes conservation of Asosi’s growing areas both a public health priority and an ecological win for Haiti.

    This profile of Asosi originates from the fact sheets published alongside quiz answers on HaitiLibre’s QuizHaitiLibre platform, an online educational resource that lets users test their general knowledge across a wide range of topics focused on Haiti and global affairs. The free, no-registration quiz platform offers content for all experience levels, with three difficulty tiers—normal, intermediate, and advanced—available in both French and English. New quiz content is added to the platform on a monthly rolling update, with 28 new games added to the site in the most recent update on April 8. Visitors can explore the full collection of existing quizzes, including previous installments of the platform’s “Did You Know” educational series covering Haitian culture, botany, and history, at https://quiz.haitilibre.com/en.

  • Economic recovery and security challenges : discussions between the PM of Haiti and IMF

    Economic recovery and security challenges : discussions between the PM of Haiti and IMF

    In a high-stakes diplomatic meeting focused on Haiti’s path forward, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and his official delegation sat down with International Monetary Fund (IMF) representatives to deliberate on three of the Caribbean nation’s most pressing priorities: advancing the ongoing national economic program, addressing rampant insecurity, and locking in key structural reforms.

    The gathering, which took place ahead of planned national elections at the end of 2026, opened with positive recognition of Haiti’s recent policy efforts from the IMF side. IMF officials highlighted tangible progress in public financial governance, noting that the country has managed to maintain a satisfactory level of foreign reserves even amid a volatile global economic landscape that has put unprecedented pressure on small, developing nations across the world.

    For their part, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé and his delegation reaffirmed that restoring full security and reestablishing sovereign state authority across the entire country remains the government’s top immediate priority. Armed gang violence has displaced hundreds of thousands of Haitians and disrupted basic governance in large swathes of the nation, particularly in urban centers, and the government is prioritizing the stabilization of these gang-controlled areas. The reestablishment of security, officials stressed, is a non-negotiable precondition to creating the stable, trusted environment required to hold what the government has pledged will be credible, free, inclusive, and democratic elections by the close of 2026.

    Beyond security, the two sides also centered conversations on inclusive economic growth that delivers tangible benefits to Haitian communities. A core topic of these talks was expanding job opportunities, especially for young Haitians, who make up a large share of the country’s population and have faced disproportionately high unemployment in recent years. Delegates also delved into plans to advance ongoing tax reform efforts, with a focus on boosting transparent, equitable revenue collection and tightening border control measures to cut down on illicit trade and protect domestic revenue streams.

    In the final segment of discussions, both parties aligned on the critical need to strengthen Haiti’s judicial institutions and root out systemic impunity. These steps, both sides agreed, are foundational to consolidating the rule of law across the country and rebuilding public trust in state institutions, which has been eroded by years of political instability and violence.

    At the conclusion of the meeting, the IMF reiterated its long-standing commitment to standing with Haiti as it works to address its interconnected challenges. The organization confirmed it will continue to provide targeted technical assistance and policy support aligned with the Haitian government’s stated national priorities to help advance reform and stabilization efforts.