Hungry Haitians attack UN base in food-shortage protests

Demonstrators angry over Haiti’s rising cost of living attacked a United Nations peacekeeping base and looted food shops in the south.

About 5,000 people demonstrated in the southern peninsula city of Les Cayes, where protesters chanting slogans against President Rene Preval attempted to set the UN police base on fire and stole rice from trucks as Haitian police stood by helplessly.

Hundreds more demonstrated in the north-western port city of Gonaives. UN workers were evacuated to a police base there, though protests in the coastal city remained peaceful.

At least one demonstrator was shot in the foot in Les Cayes, but there were no reports of serious injuries. Crowds were under control by late in the day, said UN police spokesman Fred Blaise.

Though food prices are rising worldwide, they are a particular problem in Haiti, where 80% of the population lives on less than £1.05p a day. Rice cost 31p at a Port-au-Prince market in January, up 50% from a year before. Beans, condensed milk and fruit went up at a similar rate, while spaghetti has doubled.

The food unrest threatens the country’s fragile security, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said in a report this week on the 9,000-member peacekeeping mission there.

Graffiti declaring: “Down with the expensive life!” has spread throughout Port-au-Prince. Some of the most desperate Haitians depend on a traditional hunger palliative of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening to get through the day.