Haiti: Have We Drunk Fecal Matter?

Sometimes, harsh words are needed to describe even harsher realities. Today, it is no longer a metaphor: in Haiti, we have drunk fecal matter. Published at the end of January 2026, the report from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is unequivocal: more than 92% of the water consumed in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince is contaminated, sometimes by microbes, sometimes by fecal matter. In other words, what millions of citizens buy every day as “drinking water” is, in reality, a danger to their lives.

This health scandal is not just a statistic. It has a face: that of sick children, weakened elderly people, and families who spend their meager resources on treatment after simply drinking water.

In a country already afflicted by insecurity, poverty, and the collapse of the healthcare system, this revelation sounds like a silent condemnation of an entire population.

Most revolting is that this water is sold, labeled, and presented as “treated,” “pure,” “safe.” The State has allowed a market to thrive where illusion has replaced control, where profit has taken precedence over public health. How can it be explained that in 2026, in a country of nearly 12 million inhabitants, drinking water has become a high-risk act?

Certainly, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry acknowledges the seriousness of the situation and promises strengthened controls and better regulation. This is necessary. But it is not enough. For this tragedy is not new. It is the product of years of laxity, a lack of enforced standards, and non-existent or complacent controls. The State cannot merely observe; it is accountable for what happens.

Access to drinking water is not a luxury. On July 28, 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 64/292, recognizing the right to safe drinking water and sanitation as a fundamental human right, essential for the full enjoyment of the right to life and all human rights. It calls on States and international organizations to provide resources, strengthen capacities, and cooperate to ensure access for all to safe, clean, wholesome, accessible, and affordable drinking water.

No discourse on the development, stability, or reconstruction of Haiti can stand if the population cannot even drink without risking illness. A nation that fails to protect the water its children consume compromises its own future.

Today, it is no longer time for reports filed away in drawers or promises made at press conferences. Firm decisions are needed, including the closure of offending businesses, permanent controls, and a clear and assertive public policy on drinking water. And above all, accountability is needed. Because this scandal has those responsible.

Yes, we have drunk contaminated water. Yes, we may have, unknowingly, drunk fecal matter. But what we must never again swallow is the State's indifference in the face of a health crime of this magnitude. Water is life. And the lives of Haitians deserve better than this.