Caribbean News
Starvation and Malnutrition in Haiti’s prisons leading to Inmate deaths
By Shanieka Smith
Features Writer
#Haiti, June 30, 2022 – More deaths in Haiti, but this time it is a result of the lack of food and water in an overcrowded prison. Hungry and heat have left a tleast eight inmates dead. The prison, which is in the southwest city of Les Cayes ran out of food two months ago.
The city’s government commissioner said the prison houses 833 inmates. He also said that “whoever can help should help immediately because the prisoners are in need,” he said.
The United Nations Security Council has also urged Haiti’s government “to take the necessary measures to find a long-lasting solution to the prison food, water and medicine crisis.”
Last week, it reported that between January and April alone, at least 54 prison deaths related to malnutrition were documented in Haiti.
By law, prisons in Haiti are required to provide inmates with water and two meals a day. However, there is an increase in malnutrition and deaths and the prison blames this on insufficient government funds.