Haiti (the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere) is facing a severe economic shock after the government raised diesel prices by 37% and gasoline by 29% on April 2, increases tied to surging global oil prices linked to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. The hikes have cascaded into sharp rises in food costs, with nearly half of Haiti's 12 million people already experiencing acute food insecurity and roughly 40% surviving on less than $2.15 a day, according to the World Food Programme and World Bank. The crisis has sparked street protests in Port-au-Prince, where demonstrators blocked roads with burning debris, and the country's economy has now contracted for seven consecutive years, with inflation hitting 32% at the close of fiscal year 2025.