There was a serious humanitarian crisis in Haiti in October 2019, worse than anything since the 2010 earthquake.
The United Nations issued a statement saying, “We are deeply concerned about the protracted crisis in Haiti, and its impact on the ability of Haitians to access their basic rights to healthcare, food, education and other needs. Since the beginning of the school year in September, most children across Haiti have been unable to go to school. Roadblocks and violence have meant that people, particularly in regions outside the capital, have had serious difficulty accessing food, drinking water, medicine and fuel. The health sector has been hit particularly hard, with shortages of electricity, fuel, supplies, and the inability of many medical personnel to reach their places of work. We are also concerned about the impact that the closure of judicial institutions and other public institutions is having in the country, especially on vulnerable groups. We urge all parties to avoid hampering the delivery, including through humanitarian channels, of food and medicine for individuals in prisons, orphanages and other vulnerable groups such as people living with disabilities.” (https://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/press-briefing-note-haiti-unrest-1-november-2019)
I contacted JT to discuss the conditions and needs, specifically in the churches we work with who have no access to any kind of outside support or assistance other than the little bit we’re able to provide.
JT said that Hope for Haiti’s Children had initiated a significant food distribution program at Delmas, Cazeau, and other churches that house HFHC schools, but the churches we work with in the remote mountain villages, who have no access to any kind of outside support or assistance other than through us, were in dire straits. He also assured me that if we were able to provide any amount of financial assistance, it would be used to address the most serious needs in those churches, and he would – as always – provide us a detailed accounting of how any donations are used.
The Haiti Fund Board of Directors met to formulate a concrete action plan, and then I sent out the following email:
“Based on the urgency and seriousness of this need, Jim Cain, Louis Meilinger, and I will personally match, dollar for dollar, any contributions we receive between now and Nov 10 (which ironically is also International Orphan Care Sunday), up to $2000 in matching funds. First and foremost, please be praying for all our Christian brothers and sisters in Haiti; additionally, any financial assistance you can extend would be greatly appreciated, and a huge blessing to our friends and loved ones in Haiti.”
