Haiti
Haiti is a Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. It's about the size of the state of Maryland with an estimated population of just under 11 million people. The terrain is mountainous with small coastal plains, and the climate is mainly tropical.
Haiti became the first free black republic in the world and the first independent state in the Caribbean in 1804 after the Haitian people revolted against the French. Haiti then paid France 112 million francs (about $560 million in today's currency) in "reparations", a debt that took Haiti nearly a century to pay off.
In recent decades, political unrest and economic struggles have plagued Haiti. What was once the richest colony in the Americas is now the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
​
Statisticians estimate that more than 6 million (59%) Haitians live under the national poverty line of $2.42 (US) per day, and over 2.5 million (24%) live under the national extreme poverty line of $1.23 (US) per day. Currently, nearly half of the population is facing acute hunger. Gang violence is rampant, and there's a severe gas shortage in the country. ​
Carrefour, Haiti
Carrefour is home to an estimated 511,345 inhabitants, making it the most densely populated commune within the larger metropolitan area of Port au Prince, Haiti.
65 years ago, Carrefour was a popular destination for vacationers seeking to bask in the natural beauty of Haiti and the Caribbean sea.
​
The community of Carrefour is still struggling to rebuild following the massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010.
The earthquake’s epicenter was about 15 kilometers (9 miles) west of Carrefour. Following the earthquake, less than 1% of all relief money donated went directly to the Haitian people, and very little foreign aid actually reached Carrefour. Walking through that area, today, one can still see shredded threads of blue tarps that remain from what was meant to be temporary tent structures.