Haiti: Devastating floods leave a tragic toll on lives and livelihoods

Haiti is currently facing one of the worst natural disasters in its history, with devastating floods particularly affecting the north, Grande-Anse, and the North-West of the country. The human and material losses are staggering. Dozens of bodies have already been recovered from the waters. Peasants, the backbone of the rural economy, have lost almost all their crops and livestock essential for their survival. Entire communities are plunged into despair due to the scale of destruction.

The damage is incalculable, directly impacting the lives of thousands of peasants. These floods come amidst an already challenging context for Haitians, who have spent years struggling to recover from political, economic, and social crises. Currently, the floods in the Nord department are compounding Haiti’s suffering and losses, as the country is already grappling with gang violence in the Ouest and Artibonite departments, as well as on the country’s main highways. In recent days, 184 people lost their lives in a coordinated attack in Port-au-Prince, and another 20 were killed in Artibonite while sleeping. Meanwhile, the Haitian-led solution for Haiti continues to be ignored by the international community.

In Grand’Anse, over 6,000 farmers and 500 livestock keepers affected

From November 30 to December 2, torrential rains devastated Grand’Anse, particularly hitting Jérémie, the main city of the department. The waters engulfed nearly 80% of the communal territory, taking with them the lives of two children. Thirteen others were injured, and two more went missing, victims of a landslide and the overflow of the Tipiman River. The floods affected 32 families, forcing around sixty people to flee their homes. In Dame-Marie, two fishermen are missing, also victims of the same fury of the waters.

The already fragile infrastructure did not withstand the damage. Two houses were completely destroyed, and around twenty others sustained heavy damage. The intercommunal roads, vital for transporting food, were severely damaged. In Jérémie, the streets have been turned into muddy rivers, littered with debris, mud, and waste.

For small-scale farmers, already burdened with hardships, the toll is even heavier. More than 6,000 farmers and 500 livestock keepers have seen their crops and livestock devastated, while irrigation channels have been blocked.

Dramatic agricultural losses in the Grand South

The heavy rains hit the Grand South hard, flooding the fields of Congo peas, a crop sensitive to excess water. The losses from this harvest, which was supposed to take place between now and January, endanger the livelihood of peasants already severely impacted by hunger.
 
The irrigation systems in Dubreuil, Torbeck, and Les Anglais have been destroyed, and heavy machinery is needed for repairs. Agricultural roads have also been severely damaged, and the destruction of irrigation channels jeopardizes the winter harvest. Urgent mobilization is crucial to prepare for the spring season and secure upcoming crops.

Consequences of flooding in northern communes

Among the most affected areas, many are part of the Cap-Haïtien watershed, located in the northern part of the country.

• In the commune of Acul-du-Nord, peasants have suffered immense losses. Among the livestock, seven oxen, fifteen goats, ten pigs, and over 200 garden plots of various crops have been destroyed. Four houses were demolished, leaving families homeless and without resources.
• In Milot, the situation is equally dire, with the loss of six oxen, seventy garden plots, seven goats, and ten pigs. The material damage is overwhelming, and farmers are devastated by the destruction of their livelihoods.
• In Bas-Limbe, thirty oxen and forty goats were swept away by the waters. Banana and rice fields, vital sources of food and income, have been completely destroyed. Over 100 gardens were affected, and more than 50 homes were inundated.
• In Plaine-du-Nord, seven oxen, twenty goats, and twenty pigs were lost to the river. Fifty garden plots were entirely washed away. The inhabitants face critical conditions, their daily lives upended by the loss of essential resources.
• In Cap-Haïtien, the damage is also significant, but it is currently impossible to assess the full extent of the destruction caused by the relentless rains. The situation remains dire, with reports trickling in slowly as some communes remain inaccessible.

The human toll is equally tragic. The death toll stands at about ten victims, including seven in Cap-Haïtien, two in Acul-du-Nord, and one in Bas-Limbe. Roads are almost entirely cut off due to damage caused by ravines and rivers, making movement extremely difficult. The ongoing rains worsen the situation, and a fuel shortage in the north has emerged due to the inability to transport supplies. Two main roadways have been completely severed by the floods. The population is urgently calling for government intervention, particularly to secure the Haut-du-Cap River, which poses a constant threat of flooding during heavy rains.

Local peasant leaders of MPA/MPNKP in the north, while doing their best to support affected populations, are calling for general mobilization and more effective support from the state and international organizations to address the crisis.

A regional overview on the climate crisis

The floods in northern Haiti are an urgent call to action, not only to provide immediate aid to victims but also to strengthen infrastructure and disaster prevention systems. They tragically highlight the climate crisis that is increasingly affecting the Caribbean, where devastating natural phenomena are becoming more frequent.

In Cuba, the passage of Hurricane Rafael in early November 2024 caused severe losses for farmers in the provinces of Artemisa, Mayabeque, and Havana. In Artemisa, 7,200 hectares of bananas, 3,040 hectares of cassava, and 432 hectares of maize were affected, while Mayabeque lost 704 hectares of bananas, 417 of cassava, and 56 of sweet potatoes. In Havana, the losses were 156 hectares of bananas, 103 of cassava, and 12 of maize. Additionally, 832 hectares of vegetables were destroyed in Artemisa and 238 in Mayabeque, while beans also suffered significant damage with 560 hectares affected in Artemisa and 185 in Mayabeque. This devastation, which also caused severe damage to homes and infrastructure, jeopardizes the food sovereignty of farming families.

Flooding reported this year in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico has left thousands of families homeless and disconnected due to the destruction of roads, further highlighting the severity of the situation in the region.  Peasants are often the first victims of such disasters, but they are also key actors offering concrete solutions to mitigate and fight climate change. They achieve this through soil restoration practices and the sustainable management of their territories, particularly via peasant agroecology as part of the quest for food sovereignty. It is more urgent than ever to listen to them and support their initiatives.

Read here the responses of La Via Campesina to the climate crisis, presented in Baku during COP29.