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Haiti

Safety

  • The primary security concern for travelers to Haiti is crime.
  • Petty theft is endemic throughout the country, and incidents of violent crime — including armed robbery, homicide, sexual assault and kidnapping are becoming increasingly common.
  • It is important to exercise a high degree of caution throughout the country.
  • Keep valuables well hidden, ensure possessions are not left in parked vehicles, use private transportation, alternate your travel routes, and keep doors and windows in homes and vehicles closed and locked.
  • You should avoid all night-time travel due to poor road conditions and increased criminal activity after dark.
  • Remain alert for suspicious onlookers when entering and exiting banks, as criminals often watch and subsequently attack bank customers.
  • Criminal perpetrators often operate in groups of two to four individuals, and may occasionally be confrontational and gratuitously violent.
  • Criminals sometimes will seriously injure or kill those who resist their attempts to commit crime.
  • Exercise caution at all times and review basic personal security procedures frequently.
  • While in Haiti, you must be particularly alert when arriving from overseas at the Portau- Prince airport, as criminals have often targeted arriving passengers for later assaults and robberies.
  • Avoid using public transportation, including “tap-taps” (private transportation used for commercial purposes). Instead, arrange for someone you know to meet you at the airport.
  • You should ALWAYS decline requests for people to carry items for you.

Safety in Haiti
What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?

People’s Opinions

  1. In Mirebalias at Grace so Amazing, we were able to walk to the coffee shop and back or to the river and back alone after a week or so. All of the people we ran into on the streets were very nice. We felt safe here the whole time.
  2. We felt very safe at Supply and Multiply! We had awesome guards who guarded the gate all night and all day! They let the children come in very rarely and we’re very respectable of our space!
  3. We were blessed to stay at Mission of Hope, a very safe, guarded, yet spacious compound. While out in the villages, we were partnered with MOH interns, village champions, and translators. Belongings are kept behind keypad doors but if you go out into the villages, make sure you take everything off of the bus (just incase). Overall, it’s safe and secure.

Health

CDC Travelers Health | Haiti

Malaria

  • Areas affected: All (including Port Labadee)
  • Estimated risk: Moderate
  • Recommended chemoprofylaxis: Atovaquone/ proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, or mefloquine
  • Symptoms
    • Fever
    • Chills
    • Sweats
    • Headache
    • Body Aches
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Fatigue

*The medicines used to prevent malaria can be very effective when used properly, but none of them are 100% effective.


Dengue Fever

  • Areas Affected: All of Haiti
  • Symptoms
    • Principal
      • High fever and at least two of the following
      • Severe headache
      • Severe eye pain (behind eyes)
      • Join pain
      • Muscle and/or bone pain
      • Rash
      • Mild bleeding manifestation (e.g., nose or gum bleed, or easy bruising)
      • Low white cell count
    • Severe warning signs (IMMEDIATELY go to an emergency room if the following appear)
      • Severe abdominal pain or persistant vomiting
      • Red spots or patches on the skin
      • Bleeding from nose or gums
      • Vomiting blood
      • Black, tarry stools
      • Drowsiness or irritability
      • Pale, cold, or clammy skin
      • Difficulty breathing

Chickungunya 

  • Areas Affected: All of Haiti
  • Estimated Risk: Moderate
  • Symptoms:
    • Sharp fever
    • Headache
    • Joint pain
    • Nausea
    • Fatigue
    • Rash
  • Treatment: Seek care from a medical professional. No cure or vaccine available, treatment is centered around relieving symptoms (fever reducing medication, fluids, and rest)
  • Mosquito borne illness prevention:
    • Eliminate standing water where mosquitos breed
    • Use insect repellent with deet
    • Use mosquito nets properly
    • Strenghten your immune system by taking vitamin C, D, and Zinc daily
    • Seek medical care and report illnesses to leaders to aid in the prevention of spreading illnesses to others

Health in Haiti
Any special health concerns?

People’s Opinions

Visa Info

U.S. State Dept Visa Info | Haiti

Visa Info in Haiti
Do you need one? Where did you get it? Cost? Resources/sources:

People’s Opinions

  1. When you get off the place in Port Au Prince, you will fill out a visa form and it cost $10USD.

Currency Info

Currency Info in Haiti
Name of currency? Where can you exchange money?

People’s Opinions

  1. Haitian Gouds is the currency but some things may be marked or sold in Haitian Dollars which is 5 Gouds= 1 Haitian Dollar.

Communication

Communication in Haiti
Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?

People’s Opinions

  1. In Mirebalias we used Digicel which was the best option for data since Wifi wasn’t a great option. You can pick a SIM card up at a vendor on the side of the road for 100 Gouds.
  2. Supply and Multiply did not have wifi at the compound but they were kind enough to give us transportation to a resort once a week to get wifi! They really rocked my socks!

Transportation

How did you get to Haiti….

International Travel
  • From Dominican Republic:
  • etc

Transportation in Haiti
What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.

People’s Opinions

Culture

 
Cultural Norms and Sensitivities
  • Greeting: When you meet someone for the first time, if you ask him where he comes from, he will quickly reply that he comes from the North, Cap-Haïtien; the South, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince; the Artibonite, Gonaïves, or St-Marc.
  • Communication: Avoid subjects about politics or the condition of the country. Hygiene and poor sanitation in the city are also very delicate subjects. You can show that you have a sense of humor, as long as it relates to the behavior or feelings of the person with whom you are speaking.

Culture in Haiti
Anything Racers need to be aware/respectful of? Suggestions/Recommendations?

People’s Opinions

  1. It is very common to see Albanians walking around holding hands or linking arms with members of hte same sex. This is just a cultural thing, it is not an indication of homosexuality. Albanians are warm people and will usually greet you with a handshake, and, once acquainted with you, a kiss (or air kiss) on each cheek starting with the left cheek.Women will usually dress nice to go out of the house and will rarely leave the house without lipstick.You will get invited to have a “coffee” – this can be anything that is available at any of the myriad coffee bars around.Family ties are very strong. It is very rare for a young person to openly defy their parents or older relatives, especially in the village settings. Particulalry in the north of Albania there is almost a tribal mentality. The extended family is called the “fis” (pronounced “feece”) and people are fiercely loyal to their fis.There are still active blood feuds in the north. Families involved in a blood feud (or “under blood”) will keep their male members in hiding. It is estimated that some 300 families are under blood at this time. Any male member of a family in a blood feud is a target if they are out in public. As long as they stay in their homes they are safe. Outsiders are safe from danger, although I would not recommend going out in public with someone who is involved in a blood feud.

Shipping / Mailing

DHL | Haiti

Shipping / Mailing in Haiti
Company used and contact info? How did you get packages to them?

Tips

People’s Opinions

  1. If you are with Supply and Multiply take advantage of walking through the market everyday. Get to know the vendors, maybe you’ll make some good deals on things!
  2. Always travel with at least 2 other people.

Additional Info

Emergency Contact Numbers
Ambulance 118
Fire N/A
Police 114

Embassy and Consulate Information
 
United States Embassy (Port-au-Prince)
Emergency #: (+509) 2229-8122
Non-emergency #: (+509) 2229-8000
Email: acspap@state.gov
Web: http://haiti.usembassy.gov/
The Embassy is located at Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre
 
Canadian Embassy (Port-au-Prince)
Emergency #: (+613) 996-8885 (Collect call)
Non-emergency #: (+509) 2812-9000
Email: prnce@international.gc.ca
Web: http://haiti.gc.ca
The Embassy is located at Delmas between Delmas 75 and 71
 
British Consulate (Port-au-Prince)
Emergency #: (+509) 3744-6371 -or- (+809) 472-7111 [Dominican Republic]
Non-emergency #: (+509) 3744-6371
Web: http://ukindominicanrepublic.fco.gov.uk/ (Affiliated with the Dominican
Embassy)
The Consulate is located at 337 Route de Delmas 72-73

Additional Info in Haiti
Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?