July 3, 2008 (LPAC)--Haiti's desperate crisis deepened at the end of June when the government eliminated fuel subsidies, causing an immediate 80-cent increase per gallon of fuel -- something almost no one in the country can afford. After local taxi drivers raised their fares, people refused to pay.

The government began to subsidize fuel after the April food riots, but can't afford to continue with the policy, while trying to deal with food crisis at the same time. The $15 million spent over three months for these subsidies has to be deployed elsewhere.

Food donations have arrived in Haiti from several governments, but UN officials say that they are insufficient. "We need to do more and urgently," said Joel Boutroue, permanent coordinator of the United Nations System in Haiti.

Food prices continue to rise, including rice, a basic staple that President Rene Preval had said he would subsidize. Rice is also scarce. Importers who go to the capital of Port au Prince from outlying areas seeking rice, return empty-handed.

In the slum of Carrefour-feuilles, on a hill facing the capital, residents report "We've changed our eating habits. We eat once a day instead of three. That allows us to survive...."

The Dominican Republic used to be an outlet for desperate Haitians, who crossed the border to get subsidized food and bring it home. But now the Dominican government is clamping down on this practice, posting more border guards prepared to arrest any Haitians carrying food across the border. Dominican immigration officials have also begun to round up undocumented Haitians in the city of Santiago, and the major town of Moca. This came just days after local newspapers and businesses reported an increase in the number of beggars, and in particular child beggars from Haiti in the streets. Similar sweeps are occurring in the capital of Santo Domingo's seaside boulevard, the Malecon, frequented by tourists.