Haiti Supply Risk Management Report - Quarterly Sweep

Terrorism and Insurrection:

Crime:

May 20 – Haiti ranks as 3rd most violent country in hemisphere, according to 2008 Global Peace Index
May 29 – Government reports 25 kidnappings in Port-au-Port for May, human rights groups estimate 40
May 30 – 150 kidnappings reported since start of 2008, compared to 237 for whole of 2007, UN police report

Political and Regulatory Environment:

April 5 – Four killed in protest over food prices
April 7 – 5 dead in protests as food prices for rice, other staples doubles, even triples in cases
April 12 – 15.7% drop in price of rice, president announces
April 12 – Prime Minister removed from office on vote of no confidence
April 18 – Stratfor Diary on high price of grain, Haitian food riots
May 12 – Protesters threaten to reignite riots if parliament fails to ratify prime minister candidate
May 13 –Parliament rejects senate-approved prime minister nominee
May 15 – Rejected PM candidate says his refusal to accept bribes for appointments led to defeat
June 23 – Influential Roman Catholic priest cleared of criminal weapons charges in Haiti, free to seek political office
June 24 – President nominates 3rd candidate for Prime Minister

Labor Unrest and Action:

July 7 – Leaders of 10 Unions protest against high fuel prices, warn of new hunger riots

Natural Disasters:

International Frictions:

May 9 – Spanish journalist shot by Haitian soldiers during political rally
May 13 – Threatening protesters accept US-sponsored job program, temporarily appeased
May 14 - Brazil, Spain announce food aid for Haiti
May 15 – Haiti included as recipient of US anti-drug Merida initiative’s increased funds
May 29 – Preval asks Lula for more troops, engineers
May 29 – Brazil to increase troop count, relief aid package to Haiti
June 10 – Dominican officials post 50 extra guards on Haitian border to crack down on food smuggling
June 25 – House panel passes bill calling on US Treasury to urge WB to suspend Haiti’s debt payment services

NGOs:

May 21 – Wyclef Jean establishes food relief program in Haiti
May 30 – World Bank offers $1.2 billion in food price relief, $10 million to Haiti
June 3 – UN to extend school feeding programs in Haiti through summer months
June 4 – Thousands march to protest kidnappings in Haiti¸ call for death penalty
June 20 – Unicef denounces more than 50 children kidnapped in Haiti this year
June 20 – IMF approves $26.5 million in additional funding for Haiti amid food shock
July 1 – Donor response to Haitian food crisis positive but not sufficient, UN official says