CRS - Haiti: Cholera, the United Nations, and Hurricane Matthew
- Cholera was introduced to Haiti by UN peacekeepers after the 2010 earthquake.
- Hurricane Matthew in 2016 exacerbated the spread of cholera due to flooding and damaged water systems.
- The UN has a "moral responsibility" to the cholera victims but claims diplomatic immunity.
- Efforts to control cholera have been hampered by funding shortfalls and lack of access to clean water and sanitation.
- Human rights groups are demanding reparations for cholera victims from the UN.
The report focuses on the cholera outbreak in Haiti that began after the 2010 earthquake, tracing its origins to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). It details how the introduction of cholera by peacekeepers led to a widespread epidemic, infecting nearly 800,000 Haitians and causing over 9,000 deaths. The report also examines the impact of Hurricane Matthew in 2016, which exacerbated the situation by causing flooding and damaging water systems, leading to a surge in cholera cases. It discusses the efforts to control the disease, including the National Plan for the Elimination of Cholera in Haiti, and the challenges in securing funding and implementing effective prevention measures. The report further addresses the dispute over the UN's response to the epidemic, including legal claims demanding reparations for victims and the ongoing debate over the UN's immunity.
How to cite
Congressional Research Service (CRS), 2016, CRS - Haiti: Cholera, the United Nations, and Hurricane Matthew, accessed via HaitiDocs, https://www.haitidocs.org/doc/crs-2016-haiti-cholera-united-nations