A history of slavery, exploitation and dictatorship has paved the way for Haiti to become the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
An earthquake in January 2010 entrenched that poverty, as well as claiming more than 200,000 lives. Some 1.3 million people still live in tents.
But even before the quake struck, three-quarters of the population lived on less than 2 US dollars a day and half on less than 1 dollar.
Haiti was once used as a massive sugar and coffee plantation for the world, but its people saw few benefits. In 2008 parts of Haiti erupted into violence triggered by the spiralling cost of food. Rice, beans and fruit prices had gone up by 50 per cent in 12 months.
Outside of sub-Saharan Africa, Haiti is the country most affected by HIV/AIDS. Extensive deforestation (just two per cent of forest cover remains) has made Haiti more vulnerable to floods and hurricanes.
Amid all these challenges, Haiti’s church has become a symbol of hope as quake-devastated communities sought a focal point for their grief and local churches responded to the needs around them.