Haiti reports cholera deaths for first time in 3 years, prompting emergency response
PBS NewsHourDec 23, 2022
The Facts
The UNICEF representative in Haiti, Bruno Maes, said on Wednesday that 1.2M children are at risk of contracting cholera as violence and insecurity have turned Haiti into a "time bomb" for infection.
Eight people have died of cholera so far according to Haiti's health ministry, and the medical humanitarian group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported 68 new cases since the start of October. The majority of cases tracked by MSF are children.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
This cholera outbreak is another consequence of the complex humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the killing of President Jovenal Moïse in 2021. Though the country has drifted into chaos, the international community remains silent and indifferent to Haiti's suffering. It's time for a robust international intervention to restore order and provide crucial aid.
Pro-establishment narrative
While the international community must assist Haiti in addressing the humanitarian crisis - including the latest cholera outbreak - global powers should resist temptations to intervene strongly in Haitian affairs. Yes, Port-au-Prince needs help, but it can only achieve long-term political stability if Haitians are allowed to create a political system on their terms.