In response to the humanitarian crisis affecting the country's prisons, where several inmates were suffering from severe malnutrition and some were dying from lack of food, Patrick Pélissier, the Minister of Justice, took unprecedented measures to ensure an efficient supply of food to Haiti's prisons.

Until now, companies supplying the Haitian government with dry goods (rice, corn, beans, etc...) delivered these products exclusively to the Directorate of Prison Administration (DAP) in Port-au-Prince.

However, due to insecurity and the inaccessibility of certain roads, distribution to detention centers located outside the capital was severely hampered, leaving many inmates in a situation of critical food insecurity. To address this situation, the Minister successfully secured the commitment of the companies concerned, allowing them to deliver food directly to the various regions where prisons are located, particularly in the Far North and Far South, in coordination with the DAP.

This strategic decision significantly reduces transportation risks and accelerates the delivery of food to inmates. This decentralization measure represents a major step forward in the management of prisons in Haiti. For the first time, a sustainable solution has been implemented to guarantee inmates access to adequate food, while taking into account the country's infrastructure and security challenges.

"Inmates remain human beings. Ensuring their nutrition is a moral and humanitarian imperative. This reform aims to preserve their dignity and their fundamental right to life," declared Minister Pélissier.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40428-haiti-justice-219-detainees-died-of-starvation-or-disease-in-haitian-prisons.html

HL/ HaitiLibre