By Garry Pierre-Pierre
The Haitian Times
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Last week, the price of a small bag of rice cost $2, today it costs $3.50; the gallon of cooking oil fetched $10 only days ago and now it goes for $20. What will they cost tomorrow, no one knows.
The price of most basic goods such as beans, flour and pasta have mushroomed rapidly since the earthquake devastated Haiti, leaving millions homeless and hungry. Those are the lucky ones, because so far, government officials have put the number of people they’ve buried at 70,000, not counting familial burials that take place daily.
For the living, life here has become extremely difficult and uncertain. As the prices of goods continue to rise, tons of food aid are stuck at the airport, victim of the Haitian government’s ineptness. Almost a week after the earthquake most of the population in dire need of food and water have not received any.
As they await the distribution, prices skyrocket. On a visit to several vending stands, merchants were hesitant about telling prices of goods a couple of days ago. Most of them would do so only if this reporter agreed to buy something from them.
“Who are you C.I.A,” said an irate vendor. “Why do you want to know theses things.”
Then he became somewhat defensive saying that they were only passing down the prices that they had to pay to buy the goods. The dollar has lost at least 20 percent of its value.
Most gasoline stations are closed, selling their reserve with precaution. So as soon as words spread that a station is open, a line almost a mile long is created, blocking traffic.
WATCH: Earthquake victims have food within reach, but can’t afford to eat
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Some 800 Marines moved ashore Tuesday in Haiti, ferrying supplies on helicopters and Humvees as the U.S. military force there swelled to as many as 11,000.
The influx of troops comes as the military struggles to distribute aid throughout the country without setting off street riots. Defense officials last week ruled out air drops directly into unsecured populated areas because of the fear of street rioting.
But in some cases, large swarms of people have kept helicopters from landing and troops were forced to drop water bottles into the populated areas instead of distributing them on the ground.
“If you’re trying to do it like this, you’re going to create chaos,” said Himler Rebu, a former Haitian army colonel, who ran unsuccessfully for president four years ago. “They have to establish a location and set up distribution network.”
Still, many in Haiti fear that if the aid is not forthcoming and people can’t afford to buy the limited food available in the market that the population will become restless and violence will ensue.
The economic landscape is dire. There is no electricity, no running water and no functioning business in and out of the capital. It is not known when banks and other businesses will reopen.