Is Haiti small enough that one large modern nuclear plant built there and run by foreigners (to start) could power the country PLUS a large desalination plant for plenty of fresh water for people, industry, and crops? Seems more forward sighted than just giving them food which only creates a need for more food...
I agree with you on this! Haiti has had some problems, like the French requiring them to pay for the island after the revolution ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiti_Independence_Debt ).
There is a book written by someone from Africa about the destructiveness of charity — one I can give is that in a Central American nation, some people started a powdered milk factory, then the US sent a huge amount of powdered milk... and then stopped. Of course, in the meantime the powdered milk company had gone broke.
You are right: aid should be helpful, and of the type to lift up. Sure, aid to bridge a gap has its place, but when a nation is struggling due to long-range problems and not simply a short-range problem like a hurricane or earthquake, then the aid should be more helpful longterm.
The book: Dead Aid by Dambisi Moyo