Haitian prison rife with malnutrition and disease

Prisoners cram shoulder to shoulder to watch TV in their crowded cell inside the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

Some 4,400 inmates are housed in squalid conditions at the National Penitentiary in the centre of Port-au-Prince, just a block away from government headquarters.

An ailing prisoner stands in a cell designated for sick prisoners near the infirmary in the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

Cells originally made for 20 inmates are crammed with between 80 and 100 men, who remain locked down for 22 hours a day.

Prisoners rest in makeshift hammocks inside the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

Many prisoners sleep in makeshift hammocks suspended from the ceiling or squeeze four to a bunk. They are forced to defecate into plastic bags as there are no latrines in the cells.

A prisoner stands near the body of an inmate, covered with a plastic tarp, who died of malnutrition inside the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

Overcrowding, malnutrition and infectious diseases have contributed to an upsurge of inmate deaths at this prison - 21 died just last month.

Families with food in tow for their incarcerated relatives, line up in front of the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

Conditions in Haiti prisons were considered "inhumane" by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in 2008.

A prisoner pulls a large stock pot filled with rice and beans during lunch inside the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

Visiting relatives are allowed to bring in food and cigarettes to prisoners. But the large majority are dependent on the prison's meals, served twice a day. The meals are made of rationed supplies of rice, oats or cornmeal.

Sick prisoners rest in the infirmary at the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

Food provisions have been affected by insufficient state funds, according to prison authorities, leading to deadly cases of malnutrition-related ailments such as beriberi and anaemia.

A prisoner, too weak to stand, lies in the prison infirmary at the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

This prisoner, too weak to stand, has been treated at the penitentiary's infirmary.

A prisoner bathes during recreation time inside the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

Even clean water was said to often be in short supply.

Some prisoners play dominoes, checkers or card games, during recreation time inside the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

Some inmates spend the recreation time playing checkers or dominoes.

Prisoners in a courtyard at the National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-PrinceAP

A prisoner told AP: "This is hell. Getting locked up in Haiti will drive you crazy if it doesn't kill you first."

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