Already the poorest country in the Americas, Haiti is now in the grip of a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis. Chaos and terror have enveloped the country, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, which is now almost completely controlled by armed gangs. The prime minister, Ariel Henry, has been forced to resign, the police and army are unable to maintain order or quell the escalating violence and lawlessness.
Many hospitals, health centres, schools, police stations, prisons and other public institutions have been attacked, leaving the country’s already fragile infrastructure in tatters. The country is on the verge of collapse, awaiting the creation of a transition government with no guarantee this will alleviate the crisis.
Displaced families sheltering at a disused school in Port-au-Prince. (Photo: Ralph Tedy Erol)
Children and families facing violence and hunger
Haitians are living in fear of their lives, exposed to unimaginable violence. Murders, robberies, rape and kidnappings are rife. According to the U.N.’s World Food Programme, almost 4.5 million Haitians face ‘acute food insecurity‘. With armed gangs in control of major ports and the international airport no longer functioning, basic necessities including food, drinking water, medicines and fuel are harder to find. The plight of the Haitian people is likely to only get worse. Thousands of families are desperately trying to flee the capital and surrounding areas. Over 360,000 Haitians are now displaced and over half of them are children.
Our team in Haiti is working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the children in our care and our staff. We are also providing humanitarian aid to desperate families.
At our Kenscoff site, away from the violence of the capital, all the children in residential care are safe and the school is open to students from the community.
We are offering shelter to many of our staff, as it is too dangerous for them to travel to and from work.
St. Damien Hospital in Port-au-Prince is currently fully operational, providing life-saving medical care to those in need when many other hospitals have been forced to close.
Our community schools and therapy centres in Tabarre in the capital are closed due to high levels of insecurity. We are providing emergency food kits to families.
We are supporting an increasing number of displaced families to flee Port-au-Prince and travel to safer provinces.
Family fleeing their home in Port-au-Prince after it was attacked by gangs. (Photo: Ralph Tedy Erol)
How you can help
£15
An emergency food kit for a family in need
£60
A 25kg bag of rice and a 25kg bag of beans
£600
Refuge from the violence of Port-au-Prince for a family
Mirlanda* was only three years old when she started kindergarten at the NPH Haiti school for vulnerable children. Today, she is a confident and educated young woman who works as a teacher in the school, thanks to NPH programmes investing in her future.
Mirlanda’s story shows the difference NPH can make to children’s lives
Tough beginnings
Haiti is the most poverty-stricken country in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 80% of the population living below the poverty line. Many children are vulnerable: maltreated, abandoned and suffering from lack of healthcare and malnutrition. The area Mirlanda lives and works in is currently under the control of armed gangs.
Her NPH mentor explains: “The current challenge for this young woman is to fight for a place in society with all the socio-political difficulties at present. She finds that day by day things are getting more complicated here in Haiti.”
Despite the economic and political situation in Haiti, NPH programmes, both residential and in the community, continue to operate to help children who live there.
Raised by the NPH family
Mirlanda was one of the lucky ones – she had a place in St. Helene, one of NPH Haiti’s residential homes in the mountains and grew up there exposed to all the development opportunities that they could offer her. It has both a primary and secondary school on-site, as well as a pre-school, farm and other amenities, which serve the 430 children who live there, as well as 350 children who come to school from the local communities.
“My name is Mirlanda. I am a young beneficiary of the programmes of NPH Haiti,” she explains, “I grew up in St. Helene, joining at a very young age where I was offered health, education and all kinds of leisure. Throughout my stay in St. Helene, I lived a very beautiful experience and learned to share, love and better understand others.”
“Now, I am a university student, thanks to the support of all our donors,” she continues, “Today, I work as a teacher at the NPH school, bringing my contribution to education, all this thanks to your support. On behalf of each of our children, a big thanks to all our sponsors. Thank you for allowing them to realise their dreams.”
Mirlanda loves to teach and combines studying for a university degree with working in the NPH school
