As many of readers and supporters know, Haiti has been rife with gang violence as gangs now control the vast majority of the country, including up to 85% of the capital Port-au-Prince. Haiti has been on a precipitous decline in freedom and safety since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. We've covered the sometimes bleak nature of life in Haiti in interviews like this, which seem prophetic in retrospect. Yet, the last few months have seen extreme gang violence and today we bring news and requests from two specific areas where we have churches in Haiti.
La Gonâve
La Gonâve is an isolated and impoverished island off the western coast of Haiti, home to over 100,000 people who is facing a humanitarian crisis that is rapidly worsening. The island had been cut off from essential trade and resources. Key mainland access points like Arcahaie, Montrouis and Carries were blocked by violence so the boats that once brought food, medicine, and supplies, were no longer permitted to dock. More recently, the situation has become safer, and boats can dock but the people of La Gonave have been forgotten and neglected. They have limited government support. The people of the island suffer from extreme poverty, scarce access to clean water, unreliable electricity, and failing education infrastructure. Medical services are nearly nonexistent, forcing families to travel by boat, often in emergencies to reach care in Pierre Payen Hospital or St Marc.
The island’s few schools are under-resourced, and many children walk long distances to attend class, often without meals or supplies. Malnutrition, preventable diseases, and lack of economic opportunity are part of daily life. PHH has a sister church (La Gonave Church of God) on the island with over 132 members. The sister school is crowded with students, but parents can’t afford tuition, so it is hard to pay teachers. Our pastor’s name is Lifaite Noel. The people of La Gonave church and community could use basic necessities like food, clean water, hygiene items, and basic medicine. Your donations will enable PHH staff to purchase and distribute these necessities to the LaGonave Island community.
Petite Rivière
Another area is also facing immediate crisis in need of relief items such as food, water, clothes, and medicine. The gangs recently infiltrated the Ti Riviere community, where PHH sister church, (Petites-Rivieres Church of God, pastored by Samuel Bernard) is located. The people of this community were forced to escape, many with just the clothes on their backs and what food they had in their hands.
The Associated Press reported in late April that gangs had infiltrated the community, setting fire to homes with people inside, and that people were fleeing across the river with whatever they could carry.
The Borel area was one of the closest communities where they could find rest and safety. The Borel campus is temporarily housing as many as 100 of these refugees. Many are families from Petites-Rivieres church. Pastor Luc and PHH Borel church is helping host these families, but we can help by donating funds to provide the necessities of food, clean water, medicine and clothes for these refugees.
Donations by mail should be designated for “9300-Haiti Emergency relief supplies”, and mailed to our address:
P.O. Box 926
Findlay OH, 45839
Online donations can be made at the link below, where 100% of the designated funds go to this cause.
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