Emergency in Haiti

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.

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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 child sheltering with group of other displaced people in Haiti
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.

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NPH helping those in dire need

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 home with a few belongings in Haiti
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

Support Haitians in need

Giving back what she received: young teacher raised by NPH

Posted on by Beverly La Ferla

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.

School teacher at NPH Haiti
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.”

Young female teacher addressing the children in her class who are sitting at wooden desks facing each other.
Mirlanda teaching her class
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Giving back

“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.”

Young teacher stands surrounded by children from her class who are smiling, fidgeting and laughing.
Mirlanda loves to teach and combines studying for a university degree with working in the NPH school
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*Privacy note: Children’s names, marked with an asterisk, have been changed to protect their privacy.

Your help for those in need

Posted on by John Maughan

Work goes on to help victims

It’s tough to get aid to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti for various reasons: roads cut and collapsed bridges make it very tough to get through to the areas affected.

Injured baby receiving treatment from NPH

Gangs and storms

Gangs all around the capital, Port de Prince, and in the areas worst affected, Jeremies y Les Cayes, add an extra layer of difficulty. Additionally, Storm Grace hit the South-West immediately after the earthquake.

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In spite of all these difficulties, your donations from NPH UK are getting through, via our local organization, NPH Haiti, and also the related organization, St. Luke Foundation for Haiti.

Short- and long-term support

We have managed to get through by road and sea to the worst-affected areas in the South-West. NPH is providing medical care to the sick and injured and is delivering water, food, shelter and psychological support.

Aid on route to earthquake victims
Aid from you on route to the victims

At the same time we are preparing an aid plan for the victims in the medium and long term (reconstruction of homes, planting crops and reviving the countryside as a means of sustainable support for those affected). NPH has been offering care to those we have encountered on route, as well as those in the worst-affected areas.

The Haitians are accustomed to suffering and to keeping their spirits up, but they really need our help in the face of this new humanitarian disaster.

Local staff committed to their country

Our organizations in Haiti (NPH Haiti and the St. Luke Foundation) are staffed by trained local staff, with a very high commitment to their country and its communities. They speak the local languages, French and creole, which is essential for doing their work and showing their compassion with those in need.

NPH has the necessary experience on the ground: 35 years developing education, health and nutrition programmes, as well as our involvement in humanitarian emergencies. We help to improve the lives of more than 100,000 Haitians every year.

Aid delivered directly by NPH

Donations received from our supporters are managed directly by NPH Haiti and the St. Luke Foundation for Haiti, allowing us to ensure their efficient and effective use in improving and saving lives.

Thank you for your commitment

We are grateful for your support. Don’t forget Haiti.
And, please, keep the donations coming.

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