Living the breaking story...

Over the last week there has been a rising tide of protests against the high food prices. It started in a city in the south, Le Cayes. As of yesterday morning it reached Port-au-Prince.

We drove in a little later than usual this morning and had to back track a couple of times in the car to avoid burning tires and large crowds (not at all as exciting/dangerous as it sounds). While there were some patients around earlier, many of the staff did not make it in to work and so they have decided to keep minimal staffing for the next day or so until the government finally responds to the protesters' demands. We are caravaning home from the clinic today. (FYI - That means we will be stuck at the house- which is a very safe place- but where the internet hasn't been working so I won't be able to update this for a little while)

There is always a bigger story in these situations. From what I've heard the one behind the current situation is related to the fact that there are always people who profit from instability. Things have been improving security wise around Haiti - thanks in part to the UN's not always wonderful efforts. At the same time though food prices really have doubled or tripled (as I have written about before) due to forces beyond Haiti itself.

So the story I have heard is that powerful people in the south paid off a small number of people last week to start protests targeted at the UN but in the name of rising food prices. The UN base and warehouses in the South were the first places to be targeted. Other people, who are not being paid off, have joined in thinking that they are protesting food prices and so now the instability has spread - restaurants around town have been looted, we heard that the Canadian Embassy had windows broken - things are generally tense.

Once again - I'm safe and sound and surrounded by good people so don't worry about me. Do pray and stay informed about the situation here though because as always, it's those with the least who are suffering most.