update from Haiti

As Florida Regional Minister Sandy Messick offers pastoral care for our Haitian Disciples in this time of upheaval and distress in Haiti, Week of Compassion is working with partners, especially with CWS (Church World Service), to address critical care and humanitarian response there in the ways we are able.​

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The situation in Port-au-Prince is critical. Violence has increased dramatically over the past month as gangs protest the Ariel Henry administration and the signing of an agreement for deployment of Kenyan troops for a peacekeeping mission. Food and other basic supplies are scarce as the airport in Port-au-Prince and the sea port operate at significantly reduced capacity.

According to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 15,000 Haitians have been displaced in the last two weeks, most health services have suspended operations, and an estimated 5.5million Haitians are in need of food aid.

Despite the critical situation in Port-au-Prince, other parts of the country remain relatively calm, and Week of Compassion partners are able to continue with long-term responses, food security programs, and constructing water cisterns for clean drinking water. These actions bring hope in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.

CWS is focusing on completing projects in Pestel and the Northwest Departments of Haiti and does not have a current plan to respond to the situation in Port-au-Prince itself. These projects face delays and uncertainty given the violence in Port-au-Prince and the challenges with securing materials for program activities.

CWS has a program working with Haitians arriving under the humanitarian parole program (primarily in Florida) which provides support to new arrivals in securing food and housing assistance and connects them with eligible employment. Week of Compassion is working with CWS and other partners in signing a statement regarding humanitarian parole and deportations to publish soon.
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Please keep the safety of staff and partners in your prayers. Pray for the communities that we are serving. Pray for the parents and children who are exposed to the traumas of poverty and violence. Pray for peace.