Northwest Haiti confronts climate threats as hurricane season begins
Overview:
Government officials and community leaders held a series of discussions in Port-de-Paix early June to assess climate risks, strengthen coordination and improve disaster preparedness ahead of the months-long hurricane season. Multisectoral roundtables included representatives from different municipalities across the department, the Ministry of the Environment, Civil Protection, civil society organizations and technical partners.
PORT-DE-PAIX — As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins, government officials, disaster response authorities and community leaders in Haiti’s Northwest Department are warning that stronger preparation—not emergency response after disasters strike—is essential to protect one of the country’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
The discussions took place in early June during a series of sectoral roundtables held in Port-de-Paix and several municipalities across the department. Representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, Civil Protection, local governments, civil society organizations and technical partners met to assess climate risks, strengthen coordination and improve disaster preparedness ahead of the months-long hurricane season.
“We have already mobilized volunteers and trained them in disaster risk management to protect lives and property,” said Ifrène Monfort, Civil Protection director for the Northwest Department. “These volunteers will lead public awareness campaigns to help residents understand the precautions they should take throughout the hurricane season.”
The conversations come as Haiti continues to face increasingly destructive hurricanes, floods, droughts and landslides while struggling with weak infrastructure, widespread deforestation and limited emergency response capacity. The Northwest Department is among the country’s most exposed regions because of its long coastline, degraded watersheds, recurring droughts and limited public infrastructure. Many communities lack reliable roads, drainage systems, early warning networks and emergency shelters, making evacuation and disaster response especially difficult when tropical storms or hurricanes strike. Local officials said reducing those vulnerabilities will require year-round investments in environmental protection, risk reduction, and community preparedness—not just emergency relief after disasters.
Residents urge action, not promises
Residents welcomed the discussions but said authorities must move beyond meetings and implement concrete environmental policies.
“The waste management policy in Port-de-Paix is a mathematical equation that equals zero,” said Jean Garry Sanon, a university professor and local politician. “The city generates approximately 220 tons of waste every day.”
Sanon said improperly managed waste contributes to flooding, pollution and environmental degradation while representing a missed economic opportunity.
“When leaders say waste is poison, it makes me smile because waste can be transformed into valuable resources,” he added.
Sanon urged local authorities to work more closely with civil society to develop sustainable environmental solutions.
Other residents, like Monfort Thélusnord, called for stronger enforcement against illegal construction in environmentally sensitive areas.
“Our biggest problem in Port-de-Paix [the capital city of the Northwest Department] is the environment,” said resident Thélusnord. “Leaders must stop trying to please everyone and finally make decisions.”
Léonel Agénor echoed those concerns.
“Every year, officials report the number of deaths, destroyed homes and damages after disasters,” Agénor said. “But they rarely take preventive action early enough to reduce those losses.”
Northwest remains highly exposed amid need to build resilience
Officials from the Ministry of the Environment said the Northwest faces multiple climate threats because of its geography and environmental degradation.
“The Northwest is particularly vulnerable to climate change,” said Lucner Noël, the department’s environmental director.
He explained that coastal communities remain exposed to storm surges, hurricanes and rough seas, while mountainous areas face growing risks of landslides and soil erosion due to extensive deforestation.
At the same time, many municipalities are experiencing prolonged droughts and declining water supplies that continue to undermine agriculture and local livelihoods.
“The department lies in the path of several extreme weather events,” Noël said. “Some communities can experience flash floods while others face severe drought at the same time.”
For the officials, strengthening community resilience remains a priority.
The Ministry of the Environment and Civil Protection are working with support from the European Union-funded Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) program to expand environmental education, community training and restoration projects throughout the department.
The initiatives include reforestation, watershed protection, improved water management and promoting farming practices better adapted to changing climate conditions.
Noël declined to disclose the amount of European Union funding supporting the projects but emphasized that community participation remains critical.
“This approach promotes reforestation, watershed conservation, responsible water management and agricultural practices adapted to new climate realities,” he said.
With hurricane season running from June 1 through Nov. 30, officials urged residents to remain vigilant, follow Civil Protection guidance and prepare emergency plans.
They said stronger coordination among government agencies, local organizations and communities will be essential to reducing disaster risks and protecting lives in one of Haiti’s most climate-exposed regions.