“Haiti is a special case, almost a textbook example. There are several dimensions to the Haitian crisis, but when we look at the World Bank’s policy, it’s clear that, given the impact on the population, you have all the symptoms of a country in civil war,” explained Lefebvre in response to a question on whether the situation in Haiti should be labeled as a rebellion, a national liberation movement, terrorism, or simply a security issue.

For the World Bank, Haiti is a fragile, conflict-ridden, and violent country. “We consider it a fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) country. I believe Haiti’s dynamics are relatively unique since it’s an internal conflict, even if it’s beginning to have external dimensions, particularly regarding what’s happening at the border with the Dominican Republic,” clarified Lefebvre, describing the situation as complex.