Distribution of relief supplies has always been an interesting prospect in Haiti. Because of Haiti’s history of political turmoil, extreme poverty and frequent natural disasters, distributions of vital supplies have been done on a major scale a number of times in the last 25 years. Some interesting lessons can be garnered from our experiences.
Food distribution is always fraught with logistical difficulties. Staples like rice and beans are bulky and heavy. To have any measurable impact these items need to be moved in significant quantities involving large vehicles and a lot of manual labor. Further complicating the logistical process is the need for tight security throughout the whole operation from plane or ship to the distribution center. Distribution done without proper planning or understanding of the cultural issues came be very dangerous to both the donors and intended recipients.
Media reports of mob violence at distribution centers tend to create the impression that the Haitian people are by nature unruly or greedy. The truth is much more complicated. Everyday vehicles loaded with food stuffs move without security of any kind, unmolested, through the streets of Port-au-Prince and other cities. Bags and boxes of the very goods that have created mob scenes at distribution points are carried openly without incident. But let any cargo marked with symbols that identify it as relief supplies appear on the street without appropriate precautions and the “fun” begins.
So what is the problem with relief supply distribution?! Fundamentally, the issue is one of ownership—to whom does this stuff belong? The amazing truth is that in a country that has so little sense of anyone being in charge, the Haitian people have a deep respect for personal property rights. Venders spread their wares on city sidewalks without fear, retail businesses of every sort are doing a booming business, money changers ply their trade in the streets with big handfuls of cash. Rarely is there violence, or strong armed robbery. Like any society there is a criminal element here but not seemingly out of proportion to the population.
Relief supplies are properly understood to be the gifts of other nations or of multi-national organizations to relieve the suffering of the people in crisis and as such are seen as belonging to the people. When the distribution is carried out properly, (when the food supplies are sufficient for the local population and the distribution plan well-crafted for the local situation) people will stand quietly for hours patiently waiting for their turn. Generally speaking, on those occasions where there has been a violent incident related to distribution it is because people waiting for their share perceive that the food will run out before they get their turn or that something is unfair about the manner of distribution (stealing food, partiality, politics).
Another observation important to this discussion is that the longer that relief operations go on the greater likelihood of problem developing. An entitlement mentality will almost inevitably develop within the affected population who then can rationalize aggressive or even violent behavior. As well, that smaller group which has devious intent in the first place may become bolder and better organized.
In Haiti, one immediate effect of the earthquake was the disruption of the normal food supply chain. A significant number of food staples eaten in Haiti are imported, the vast majority of them passing through the capital city of Port-au-Prince. When Port was largely destroyed these food shipments were interrupted. As a result the price of food staples more than doubled. North American type groceries were almost impossible to find for weeks afterwards as the majority of the supermarket retail stores were destroyed in the capital.
As most of you know who have followed the progression of events here, beginning immediately after the earthquake, LaGonave was inundated with wave after wave of refugees, mostly friends and family members of LaGonave families but a number of people who were simply looking for a better place than their shattered neighborhoods in the capital.
US and UN troops did helicopter fly- overs, apparently looking for the tent cities that were popping up all over P-au-P and other devastated areas. Finding none, some agencies declared that LaGonave had no refugees. The fact was that the refugees of LaGonave were absorbed into the community, not living under tarps or tents as in other parts of the country.
As a rule, LaGonave is always on the hungry side in February and March, even in the best of times, as the dry season ends the food crops have long since been harvested, sold and eaten. Fruit trees and banana plants slow their production waiting for the rains.
The additional refugee population, the increased food prices, and the seasonal factors soon made hunger the everyday companion of many of the citizens of LaGonave, as existing food stocks dwindled. As the people began to cry out more and more for food relief, we realized that the mission had to be involved in finding and delivering food stuff to this part of the country in spite of the obstacles. Without food distribution starvation would have inevitably followed quickly on the heels of the devastation.
- Dan Irvine
