Information on Haiti:

Haiti, located approximately 800 miles off the coast of Florida, is one of the poorest, least developed and most dangerous countries in the Western Hemisphere.   More than 80% of the population lives in abject poverty.  Nearly 2/3 of the labor force do not have formal jobs.

Following elections in May 2000, fraught with irregularities, international donors, including the US and EU, suspended almost all aid to Haiti.

During 2003, the U.S. Embassy issued approximately one security-related alert per month warning U.S. citizens in Haiti of violent or unstable conditions.  There are no "safe areas" in Haiti.

Medical:

Medical facilities in Haiti are scarce and for the most part sub-standard; outside the capital they are almost non-existent. Sanitation is extremely low.

Education:

Although public education is free, the cost is still quite high for Haitian families who must pay for uniforms, textbooks, supplies, and other inputs. Due to weak state provision of education services, private and parochial schools account for approximately 90% of primary schools, and only 65% of primary school-aged children are actually enrolled. At the secondary level, the figure drops to around 20%. Less than 35% of those who enter will complete primary school. Though Haitians place a high value on education, few can afford to send their children to secondary school and primary school enrollment is dropping due to economic factors.