Port-Au-Prince is the capital of Haiti, and is also the the most populous city.
With it's growing population, it is no surprise that Haiti is a heavily polluted city. The land is subject to logging for wood and the spread of urbanization, which has greatly diminished its agricultural ability to supply food to its fast-growing population by decreasing the number of fields in the area. Logging, that began in the 1950s, reduced Haiti’s forest cover from 60 percent to less than two percent. The lack of trees causes soil erosion problems that threatens both food souces and clean water sources for the city's inhabitants. 93% of the population currently relies on charcoal and wood for their cooking energy needs. Consequently, the country suffers from extreme deforestation due to the needing of wood. It is estimated that around 9,500 Haitians die each year due to hazardous air pollutants released by cars and factories, as well as the logging industry.
With it's growing population, it is no surprise that Haiti is a heavily polluted city. The land is subject to logging for wood and the spread of urbanization, which has greatly diminished its agricultural ability to supply food to its fast-growing population by decreasing the number of fields in the area. Logging, that began in the 1950s, reduced Haiti’s forest cover from 60 percent to less than two percent. The lack of trees causes soil erosion problems that threatens both food souces and clean water sources for the city's inhabitants. 93% of the population currently relies on charcoal and wood for their cooking energy needs. Consequently, the country suffers from extreme deforestation due to the needing of wood. It is estimated that around 9,500 Haitians die each year due to hazardous air pollutants released by cars and factories, as well as the logging industry.
The lack of sanitation in Port Au Prince contributes to the lack of clean water that goes into the city. Many industrial plants are careless and let chemicals drain into the waterways. With no clean water, many food sources such as fish have an unhealthy environment, and many die. The remaining fish that get eaten by the people contain chemicals that are cancer causing agents and can affect the health of many, especially younger kids and older adults.
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After the earthquake that hit in 2010 and devastated the country, pollution was high. Debris from houses flooded the streets and due to the lack of forest cover, Haiti suffers much more during hurricanes. The sanitation problems have stepped up cases of diseases like water borne malaria and drug-resistant tuberculosis among Haiti’s poverty-stricken population. Beaches covered in trash and water sources loaded with dead fish carcauses and tons of floating debris stand as a testament to Haiti’s pollution problems, made even worse by earthquakes and other natural disasters. Even before the quake, Haiti's water systems were fragile, and just months after the quake the country was hit with a devastating cholera outbreak, which caused many to get sick. Most water sources are contaminated with human waste because of the absence of a sewage sanitation system. Dirty water can cause sicknesses that force people to miss work and school, costing them money and education. There is no logical reason as to why water access in Haiti has to be so rare, or have so much potential to destroy lives. Clean water can help children stay in school, go to work, and lead better lives.
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The use of firewood and charcoal in Haiti by individuals and small businesses has increased pressure on local natural resources and the environment. This reliance on charcoal is a major reason why forests now cover less than 2 percent of the country. Without tree cover, the country has no protection from storms, and less oxygen.
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