Near the southeastern coast of Haiti lies Boucan Ferdinand, a village increasingly abandoned by its residents due to its isolation and lack of essential services. For over a decade, Boucan Ferdinand has been deprived of health services, electricity, and paved roads, following devastating floods in 2004 that severed its connection to the nearest town, Bois Negresse.
Reports indicate that many villagers are leaving in search of better opportunities across the border in the Dominican Republic, where conditions are generally more favorable. Jean Gilles Viola, the mayor of the municipality that encompasses Boucan Ferdinand and approximately 20 other villages, highlighted that the absence of basic social services drives this mass migration. He stated, “They do not have access to basic social services, this situation is at the root of the mass migration to the Dominican Republic.”
The remaining residents of Boucan Ferdinand live in precarious conditions, often in makeshift structures. They rely on rainwater for drinking and are constantly at risk of infectious diseases. The children face long journeys to school in nearby Chapotin, a trek that can take up to an hour and a half on a path that becomes impassable during the rainy season.
Local infrastructure is minimal; there are only two makeshift classrooms provided by the Baptist and Catholic churches. Residents express concerns about educational access, with some parents indicating that they cannot afford to send their children to school this year. Wilber Jean, a local farmer, remarked on the financial burdens, comparing schooling in Haiti unfavorably to the support offered in the Dominican Republic, where the government provides education funding.
Economic opportunities are limited, with many villagers earning less than $2 a day working in agriculture or collecting firewood. Haiti remains the poorest country in the Americas, struggling to recover from a series of devastating events, including a major earthquake in 2010. The country’s rural population has dwindled; less than half of Haitians now reside in rural areas compared to 84% in 1960.
Efforts to rebuild the road connecting Boucan Ferdinand to Bois Negresse are hindered by a lack of funding, according to local officials. The mayor has indicated a strong desire to restore this essential route, which would improve access to critical services. Meanwhile, the village’s older residents, who may have returned from the Dominican Republic, like Polo, age 64, find themselves in a community that sometimes feels disconnected, relying on sporadic cross-border trips for healthcare and support.
### Why It Matters
The situation in Boucan Ferdinand sheds light on the broader challenges faced by rural communities in Haiti, where inadequate infrastructure and limited resources lead to widespread migration and declining populations. Strengthening local services and infrastructure could mitigate these issues and help reinvigorate forgotten villages like Boucan Ferdinand.
