As the world economy collapses, the lifeline to already-impoverished Haiti has run thin.

One third of Haiti's economy flows through remittances -- through companies such as Western Union and Moneygram -- from overseas family members sending cash home.

Banks and micro-finance institutions such as Fonkoze also play a role. This amounts to 90% of Haiti's federal budget and three times the size of its exports.

A recent video conference linking Haitians in Port-au-Prince and across...