Capital: Port-au-Prince
Location:
Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic (slightly smaller than Maryland)
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
U.S. citizens living in or visiting Haiti are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince and obtain updated information on travel and security in Haiti. The Consular Section is located on Rue Oswald Durand, Port-au-Prince; telephone (509) 23-7011; fax (509) 23-1641. Consular Section hours are 7:30 am to 2:00 pm Monday through Friday, except U.S. and local holidays. The U.S. Embassy is located on Harry Truman Blvd., Port-au-Prince; telephone (509) 22-0200, 22-0354, 23-0955 or 22-0269; fax (509) 23-1641. Internet: http://usembassy.state.gov/haiti.
Background:
One of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. Over three decades of dictatorship followed by military rule ended in 1990 when Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE was elected president. Most of his term was usurped by a military takeover, but he was able to return to office in 1994 and oversee the installation of a close associate to the presidency in 1996. ARISTIDE won a second term as president in 2000, and took office early the following year.
Ethnic Groups:
Black 95%, mulatto and white 5%
Language:
French (official), Creole (official)
Currency:
HTG
gourde (HTG)
gourdes per US dollar - 36.9 (March 2007), 23.761 (January 2001), 22.524 (2000), 17.965 (1999), 16.505 (1998), 17.311 (1997), 15.093 (1996)
Climate:
Tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Population:
6,964,549
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
note: roughly one-half of the population also practices Voodoo
Medical:
Medical facilities are scarce and sub-standard. Medical care in Port-au-Prince is limited, and the level of community sanitation is low. Medical facilities outside the capital are generally below U.S. standards. Life-threatening emergencies may require evacuation by air ambulance at the patient's expense. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.
The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the U.S. The information below concerning Haiti is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
n/a
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance:
poor
Driving in Haiti should be undertaken with extreme caution. It is often preferable for those with no knowledge of Haitian roads and traffic customs to hire a driver. This can generally be accomplished through local hotels. Those who do drive in Haiti should be conservative in their actions, avoid confrontations such as jockeying for position, and remain aware of the vehicles around them. Drivers should carry the phone numbers of people to call for assistance in an emergency as the Haitian government is unlikely to respond to requests for assistance. When travelling outside of Port-Au-Prince, drivers should caravan with multiple vehicles; in case a problem occurs with one car, another will be available.
The Haitian government lacks adequate resources to assist drivers in distress or to clear the road of accidents or broken-down vehicles blocking the flow of traffic. Public transportation as it is usually defined does not exist in Haiti. While Haitians use buses, "taptaps" and taxis, which may observe regular routes much like public transportation, none of these should be considered reliable. The Embassy strongly discourages their use.
Speeding is the cause of many of the fatal traffic accidents in Haiti, as are overloaded vehicles on winding, mountainous roads and vehicles without brakes. Poor maintenance and mechanical failures often cause accidents as well. Drivers should be particularly cautious at night, as unlighted vehicles can appear seemingly from nowhere.
As neither written nor driving tests are required to qualify for driver's licenses, road laws are not generally known or applied. Signaling imminent actions is not widely practiced, and not all drivers use turn indicators or international hand signals properly. For instance, many drivers use their left blinker for all actions, including turning right and stopping in the road, and others flap their left arm out the window to indicate that they will be taking an unspecified action. Drivers do not always verify that the road is clear before switching lanes, turning, or merging.
The situation on the roads can be described as chaotic at best. Roads are generally unmarked, and detailed, accurate maps are not widely available. The lack of organization on the roads causes drivers to execute unpredictable and dangerous maneuvers in order to turn or merge into traffic.
Traffic is extremely heavy in urban areas, and hours-long traffic jams develop throughout the country. Cars are supposed to be driven on the right side of the road in Haiti. Few roads have lane indicators, however, and drivers use whatever part of the road is open to them, even if it is not the correct side of the road. Speed limits are seldom posted and are not widely known or observed.
In addition to vehicles, a variety of other objects may appear on the road in Haiti, such as wooden carts dragged by people, small ice cream carts, animals, mechanics with vehicles, and even vendors and their wares. Vehicles are often abandoned in the road or by the side of the road. There are few marked crosswalks and sidewalks, and pedestrians often wend their way through traffic in urban areas.
Right of way is not widely observed in Haiti and there are few operational traffic lights or traffic signs. It is advisable at most intersections to stop and verify that there is no oncoming traffic even if it appears that you have the right of way. Drivers can be quite aggressive and will seldom yield. Walls built to the edge of roads frequently make it impossible to see around corners, forcing drivers to edge their cars into the road at intersections to check for oncoming traffic. Drinking and driving is illegal in Haiti, but people do drive after drinking, as there is no alternative transportation.
