Like most of the third worlds problem's, Haiti's were caused by first world countries.
France enslaved it and destroyed it when Haitian revolted around 1800. France then demanded Haiti become indebted to France for the lost value of its slaves. The US, wanting to protect its own slavery not only supported France's demand but refused to acknowledge Haiti as independent and put a trade embargo on it that further destroyed its economy for another century. That debt hung over Haiti's head for 150 years, keeping the nation in poverty.
This debt made Haiti too poor to build widespread energy infrastructure, so the people have relied upon wood fuel. With the total absence of government regulation of the sort the Trump and all "free market" idiots love, the forests have been clear cut for wood, causing massive soil erosion and flooding during the many hurricanes Haiti is subject to.
Had Haiti's status as a "shithole" not been in large part the fault of the US, allowing immigrants from their would still be the right thing to do, but given our role, it is morally reprehensible not to do it. And we should exert all the power we can on France to pay back every cent the extorted from Haiti, with interest.
