The Northwest of Haiti is facing a critical situation of inaccessibility, particularly by air, according to an open letter addressed to the ministers concerned. The 19 organizations of the Northwest, co-signatories of the letter, alert on the deterioration of the situation which deprives the region of any regular access by air, thus worsening its isolation already existing for many years.
The letter points out that no airline now serves the department’s runways, making travel extremely difficult for the population and local institutions. The roads are also marked by insecurity, especially in areas such as Gros Morne, Pont-Sondé, Côte-des-Arcadins and Canaan. Faced with this situation, the inhabitants of the Northwest face multiple challenges in accessing essential and centralized services in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
“The consequences of this isolation are felt in different areas. Professionals can no longer travel, health emergencies are left without solutions, families are separated and live in fear of unforeseen events, while businesses, hotels and other entities are facing major economic difficulties, with disruptions in trade, supply and customers.”
The open letter calls on authorities to consider urgent solutions to restore regular air access to the Northwest. It also mentions previous attempts, including the inclusion of the rehabilitation of this destination in the national budget for the fiscal year 2009-2010, and suggests to engage with airlines and aircraft manufacturers to find concrete solutions.
The signatories emphasize that despite other vital issues in the region, the restoration of air access is an urgent, necessary and indispensable measure to facilitate other interventions for the population.
“The precarious situation in the North West of Haiti and the appeal launched by these 19 organizations highlight the challenges faced by this region isolated from the rest of the country. The authorities are called upon to act quickly to restore regular air links and pave the way for significant improvements for the local population.
Signatories to the letter include organizations such as ADEMA Ansanm pou yon Demen Miyò, AGRER, ATD Fourth World, AVSI Association des Volontaires pour le Service International, Caritas Switzerland, GADEL Groupe d’Appuie au Développement Local, and the Centre de Recherches et d’Analyse en Développement Local CRADEL.
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