By Laura Polynice
Haiti fades in and out of the US news, but the situation continues to be dire for the people of Haiti.
While an interim government was instituted in May and 400 Kenyan officers have arrived in Haiti, there has been no improvement in the security situation. In many areas, the gang activity has gotten worse. Some communities are standing firm and defending their towns from the gangs’ attacks, while other areas have been overrun by the gangs and the population has been forced to flee. On October 3, a gang attack in the community of Pont-Sonde, 45 minutes from PLH’s campus, left 115 men, women, and children dead.
(Source: NPR - Oct 10, 2024)
The UN reports, “Gang violence and political instability have resulted in a record 702,973 people internally displaced (IDPs) [forced to flee their homes and unable to return], making Haiti the country with the largest number of displacements globally due to crime-related violence.” With a population of just 11.7 million, this is a significant percentage of the population.
(Source: UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) - Oct 3, 2024. For more information, data, and charts, check out the interactive report.)
The gangs’ stronghold on the country continues to deepen the hunger crisis in Haiti. Nearly half of the population, 5.4 million people, are experiencing "crisis levels of hunger or worse."
(Source: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) - Sept 20, 2024)
Children are also missing out on an education as schools are frequently forced to close. Nearly 900 schools remain permanently closed, affecting almost 200,000 children.
(Source: UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) - Oct 3, 2024)
While it is hard to see how things will improve and what we can do to help stop so much suffering, Project Living Hope remains firm in its mission of empowering Haitians to build a stronger Haiti.
We have seen tremendous growth in the PLH athletics programs, virtual training workshops, and food relief efforts. Programs like these are key in keeping youth away from the influence of gangs and equipping individuals to build a better future for themselves and their family. Every person touched by these programs is a life changed and a positive step for Haiti.