On April 3, 2008, violent protests against the rising cost of food broke out across Haiti. By April 5, at least four people had been killed and 20 injured. Thousands of people took to the streets, blocked roads, burned cars, and looted shops and homes. The price of food in Haiti, where the average citizen lives on less than $2 a day, has increased by more than 50 percent in the last year. United Nations peacekeepers had to fire rubber bullets into the mob to prevent them from penetrating the presidential palace. Many Haitians blame government policy for the price increases. By April 10, 2008, the riots had been subdued, but Haiti's opposition party demanded that Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis step down.
Fast Facts:
- Started on April 3, 2008
- At least 4 people killed and 20 injured
- The price of food in Haiti has increased 50% in the last year
- 80% of Haitians live on less than $2 a day
- The opposition party has asked Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis to step down
- Protesters claim one was killed by rubber bullets fired by UN peace keepers
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Haiti Food Riots News
- Google News: Haiti Food Riots
- NPR: Spiraling Food Prices Buffet Poverty-Stricken Haiti (April 18, 2008)
- BBC News: Haitian senators vote to fire PM (April 12, 2008)
- Reuters: Haiti Senate fires prime minister over food riots (April 12, 2008)
- Washington Post: Haiti cuts cost of rice to stop food riots (April 12, 2008)
- Relief Web (Press Release): Haiti food riots (April 11, 2008)
- Reuters: Haiti Food Riots Ease but Critics Demand PM's Head (April 10, 2008)
- "Too little, too late. That's the feeling that your proposals have provoked. It is obvious that the majority of the people don't believe any more in the capacity of your government to take courageous measures to ease the misery that the population is facing daily."
- Agence France-Presse: Haiti Lawmakers Urge PM to Quit Amid Food Protests (April 10, 2008)
- International Herald Tribune: Haitian President's Calls for Tax Cuts Fails... (April 9, 2008)
- BBC News: Hungry Mob Attacks Haiti Palace (April 9, 2008)
- MSNBC: 4 Dead in Haiti Food Riots (April 5, 2008)
- BBC News: Food Riots Turn Deadly in Haiti (April 5, 2008)
What factors have caused Haiti to have 50 percent unemployment?(1 Answer)
A:
These are the political problems that caused a high rate of unemployment in Haiti: 1. The government failed to create jobs for the people in the last five ...
Is there a food crisis? Why is food so expensive?(4 Answers)
A:
there is a food crisis and it is global. "Global Food Crisis 2008 Food prices have been rising for a while. In some countries this has resulted in ...
Has anyone come across websites for Haiti relief using Google Map Maker?(2 Answers)
A:
Here's are some recent Google earth maps if that helps. They are from the World Food Programme - wfpLogistics. org The Haiti earthquake map information is here - http ...
