Breaking News

These portraits of young women in Haiti offer glimpses into their daily struggles

By Loumay Alesali and Christina Zdanowicz, CNN

Updated 2337 GMT (0737 HKT) February 20, 2019

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Photographer Nadia Todres created this series of portraits of young women in Haiti. Each is holding food or a related item that's a symbol of their challenging lives in the island country, which has been rocked by protests and food shortages. Todres asked each woman to write about her struggles.<br /><br />"The situation is very stressful. I am scared because I don't know what will happen. We can't find water and food. We spend more money to buy rice & beans. I feel our future is threatened because I don't know when we will go back to school," wrote Abigaelle Mezidor.
Photos: Hungry in Haiti
Photographer Nadia Todres created this series of portraits of young women in Haiti. Each is holding food or a related item that's a symbol of their challenging lives in the island country, which has been rocked by protests and food shortages. Todres asked each woman to write about her struggles.

"The situation is very stressful. I am scared because I don't know what will happen. We can't find water and food. We spend more money to buy rice & beans. I feel our future is threatened because I don't know when we will go back to school," wrote Abigaelle Mezidor.
Hide Caption
1 of 10
"Because of the situation of my country I have a headache every day. I feel so sad when I witness the bad choices being made and how we are killing the future of our children," Bianca Lucien wrote.
Photos: Hungry in Haiti
"Because of the situation of my country I have a headache every day. I feel so sad when I witness the bad choices being made and how we are killing the future of our children," Bianca Lucien wrote.
Hide Caption
2 of 10
"In my neighborhood I can't find anything to buy, even with a little money. Everyone across the country is in long lines to buy something to eat. To save water I can't allow myself to shower every day," Dieulynda Maxillien wrote.
Photos: Hungry in Haiti
"In my neighborhood I can't find anything to buy, even with a little money. Everyone across the country is in long lines to buy something to eat. To save water I can't allow myself to shower every day," Dieulynda Maxillien wrote.
Hide Caption
3 of 10
"I am afraid that if this situation does not change I will lose my job. All my savings are gone. I am very frustrated," Jennifer Laguerre wrote.
Photos: Hungry in Haiti
"I am afraid that if this situation does not change I will lose my job. All my savings are gone. I am very frustrated," Jennifer Laguerre wrote.
Hide Caption
4 of 10
"I am living with sadness because of the protests. I would like to eat every day, but there's no money to buy food. Sometimes I sleep without having eaten anything all day. It's very hard for me. Every day I'm praying to God to change everything," Jouseline Norde wrote.
Photos: Hungry in Haiti
"I am living with sadness because of the protests. I would like to eat every day, but there's no money to buy food. Sometimes I sleep without having eaten anything all day. It's very hard for me. Every day I'm praying to God to change everything," Jouseline Norde wrote.
Hide Caption
5 of 10
"During these past 10 days I don't feel at peace. I feel traumatized and afraid. In my neighborhood it's like a desert; we don't have any water to drink. I am going through a very bad time, like everyone else. I hope everything returns to normal soon," Melanca Lucien wrote.
Photos: Hungry in Haiti
"During these past 10 days I don't feel at peace. I feel traumatized and afraid. In my neighborhood it's like a desert; we don't have any water to drink. I am going through a very bad time, like everyone else. I hope everything returns to normal soon," Melanca Lucien wrote.
Hide Caption
6 of 10
"I am frustrated with the situation of my country, the difficulties to find drinking water, food & inflation of prices. Bread was 60 htg (Haitian hourde) for a packet before. Now it costs 75 gourdes. I am scared because if the situation continues we can die from lack of food and thirst," Naivda Estinvil wrote.
Photos: Hungry in Haiti
"I am frustrated with the situation of my country, the difficulties to find drinking water, food & inflation of prices. Bread was 60 htg (Haitian hourde) for a packet before. Now it costs 75 gourdes. I am scared because if the situation continues we can die from lack of food and thirst," Naivda Estinvil wrote.
Hide Caption
7 of 10
"Staying home for days is not part of my routine. It's something that I don't like and not used to doing. I'm forced to stay. They also increased the price of food and the essential elements of life which is water that I can not even find," Sherlanda Otello wrote.
Photos: Hungry in Haiti
"Staying home for days is not part of my routine. It's something that I don't like and not used to doing. I'm forced to stay. They also increased the price of food and the essential elements of life which is water that I can not even find," Sherlanda Otello wrote.
Hide Caption
8 of 10