Haiti

Jean-Valery Vital Herne

Population: 9,780,064

% living on less than $1/day: 55% (UN, 2001)

Campaign MDG focus:

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www.defimicheehaiti.org

 

Our Haiti Coordinator will be keeping us updated with news from the Haitian capital:

May 2010

How can I help bring change in the lives of individuals living in Haiti?

I have been struggling with that question for many months.  Since the earthquake in Haiti, it has become more vivid in my mind. In the work of advocacy against poverty it is possible for one to lose one’s sense of purpose. It is important to always have the big pictures of unfair trade, unjust working conditions, and economic injustice. However, one needs to remember that focal element of the work we’re doing is not the aforementioned issues. It’s about the individuals living in abject poverty around the world.

Last Monday, I was at meeting with a woman who has to feed, clothe and pay school fees for 50 children. After the earthquake she’s unable to take care of them.

On Wednesday, I visited a community in Port-au-Prince (Sans Fils.)  As far as I can remember, this area has always been associated with poverty. We were about 12 Haitian church leaders with members from the Center for Transforming Missions and the The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, discussing the pain of the population in that area. It was heartbreaking to see churches, schools and houses completely or partially destroyed. The painful feeling also was the difficulty for these communities to rebuild these lost buildings that symbolized hope and a better future.

From these two encounters, I’m reminded once again that my work is not mainly about changing unjust structures but rather seeing change in the existence of single individuals in Haiti living in inhumane conditions. That’s my calling a child of the Kingdom.

As Haitians are getting back to their “normal” course of life challenges to make a living on a daily basis still remains.

The church in Haiti is determined to be part of the efforts to reconstruct building, institution but above all rebuilding men.

Please pray for

- Political stability. The current president is attempting to remain in power longer than the constitution allows it. Tensions are arising

- Micah Challenge as we will start planning for a Consultation of the Protestant church on Haiti’s Reconstruction and the Church’s prophetic role. The consultation will be held the first weekend of July.

- A theological reflection project on Justice, Integrity, Good governance and leadership in Haiti will begin this month with the participation of theologians and other experts.

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11 March 2010

Celebrating in mourning times

Often time people find it difficult to understand how those facing impossible situations can be happy. Some are unable to bear the thought of a grieving widow smiling. Others cannot explain the joy on the faces of a community or in a nation while tears are flowing on these smiling faces.  How can one celebrate in times of mourning?

I and others have had the opportunity to experience these odd feelings in different occasions. Especially during these unprecedented troubling times in the history of Haiti, people still find the courage to smile even after dealing with personal losses at various levels

Among the many things that create such reactions, the memory of the lives of lost ones, what they’ve done, represented for their families, communities or countries and what they’ve passed on to others fuel joy and encourage. Thinking of the importance of women in Haiti, their impact on the country’s economy, how they’ve carried their family’s subsistence and welfare on their shoulders and above all their courage to suffer, their determination and willingness to fight for a better life should instill joy in hearts today.

March 8, International Women’s Day is not only a time to draw public attention on the disparities and injustice women all over the world are living in. Particularly in Haiti’s context, March 8, 2010 should be a time to celebrate in the midst of uncertainty, separation from lost ones or even when some are stirring the hearts and minds to bring forth political instability. Women from all walks of life have kept the country alive economically and socially, staying in the back scene, bashed and crushed, they continue to stand still whispering a song of hope. March 8, 2010 is a moment to celebrate women because they are Haiti’s building stone.

The photo below is an orphanage located in Port au Prince that is being led by a woman. I met her after the earthquake. She has children from 2 to 17. She started the orphanage in her home in 2004 after hurricane Jeanne destroyed the city of Gonaives.  She's not being supported by any organization and is dealing with many difficulties with these kids. As you'll see she finds strength to smile.

 

Prayer request

• Strength for the women who lost their spouses (mates), children and other relatives
• Better opportunities to have access to  funds to  work on restarting lost businesses
• Specific plan by the government, its local and international partners that targets real needs of women and their families
• Emergence of women leaders with a clear vision

3 March 2010

As people in Haiti are still counting their lost ones, as the uncertainty about tomorrow it rising in their hearts more problem come on their way. Severe flooding have caused  14 deaths. Departments that were not affected by the earthquake, like Cayes (153 km from Port-au-Prince) are receiving heavy rain. It is foreseen that the rainy season will severely affect people in spontaneous camps because of their hazardous housing conditions. The government and several NGOs are mobilized to buy tarpaulins and family size tents as rain is pouring over the country.

In addition to the difficult living condition of hundreds of people a new situation arises that threatens peace in the country. Less than a week ago people assisting a voodoo ceremony were attacked by “evangelical Christians.” The National Head of voodoo Mr. Max Bauvoir stated “If it’s war that [the protestants] want they’re going to have it.” Since the earthquake people have been giving their lives to Christ by the hundreds. Mr. Bauvoir expressed his displeasure to such trend. For more than 190 years Christians and voodoo adepts have been living along side without major clashes. There have been some tensions on both sides in the course of Haiti’s history but nothing like Mr. Bauvoir is stating. Moreover, the major reproached that is made regarding evangelicals is their silence and even peacefulness in toward violence.

Prayer requests

1. For God to intervene and bring peace to the hearts as threats of religious war is given (Psalm 122:7)
2. For wisdom and strength for Christian leaders who are involved in aspect of the relief efforts ( Psalm 92:10, Isaiah   40:31)
3. The government to have clarity while making decision in these troubling times (2 Chronicles 1:10)
4. For justice and good will in every decision making by authorities (Proverbs 14:34)

17 February 2010

Haiti, one month after what will be considered as the saddest day in the history of the nation; this tragedy led the entire nation on its knees. The Evangelical Community called the nation to fast for 3 days. The aim of this time of fasting and prayer is to repent for the country’s sin, to ask God for forgiveness and deliverance. Everything was closed on the 12, 13 and 14 of February.  It was the first time such an event occurred. Unfortunately the Haitian and international media put emphasis on the ecumenical service organized by the government which did not attract many people.

Churches were overflowed by the people who came to pray. But the main service was held in Champ de Mars. It is estimated that the people who came to pray outnumbered those who usually come every year to attend the carnival. Several people gave their lives to Christ on that day. The Christian church is reaping a big harvest of soul while providing physical and emotional care. What a true expression of Integral Mission.

On another note, beside the statistics that are becoming heavier each day, there is a lack of leadership on the government side. Up to now, the government is almost invisible and especially silent. As we’re receiving more aftershocks and more death is being counted, no concrete plan is exposed to the population for the next month not to say for the next year. The president is calling the population to be quiet when no evident sign is shown that:

1. People living in open air will have safe shelters for the rainy season
2. Schools buildings will be evaluated under the government’s supervision before the reopening expected for March 1.
3. A true plan for reconstruction is being considered seriously with a large participation of every sector in the country
4. With more than 40,000 amputations and countless orphans plans regarding these vulnerable people are worked on

As the different relief teams are still working in many affected areas, there are evident signs a great fatigue. As a case in point I’ve met doctors who work for 12 hours almost without any break. Please pray for God’s strength in the lives of those helping the wounded. Pray also for the church so that she might express the love of Christ in every aspect.

 

8 February 2010

Day 26 since the earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010. Exploring other cities beside Port-au-Prince helps get a better understanding of the damages. I visited Leogane last Friday, I was shocked to see the effect of the earthquake. With a population of 134,000,  80 to 90% of the city is destroyed[1]. Sadly, the population is very “familiar” to disasters whenever the rainy season comes the city floods. Unfortunately, it has been receiving rain since last week. One mother explains how the rain began late at night and their sheet shelter soaked. When her entire family ran to their cracked house an aftershock occurred. They slept outside in the rain.

Jacmel is another city hit by the earthquake. 50 to 60% of the city is destroyed. The president of the pastors’ league informed me that 100 churches and 20 schools are damaged.  According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 80,000 people are in need of shelter assistance in Leogane and 30,000 in Jacmel . Tents and tarp are really important but really scarce.

Though the Evangelical community is seriously affected by the disaster, church leaders are acting with courage. They are able to stand every Sunday and lead their congregations with courage and faith, even when they themselves suffer personal losses.  Building up people when personally crushed; consoling other when they’re sad and grieved.  They are true heroes.

Despite food, water and sanitation reach all groups in the population there are some specific concerns of the church that are not totally met. Many church building are partially or totally destroyed. Churches need tarpaulins because services are held in open air under the sun.  Churches also need assessments of the buildings that are still standing and skilled professionals to provide good building plans. However the church is still serving the overall population (Christians and non Christians) that turns to her for comfort.

As the government is trying  restore ‘life’ several challenge stand on its way:

1. The president announced the reopening of school for march 1, 2010. The Ministry of Education estimates that 90 percent of schools in West department and 60 percent of schools in Southeast department have been damaged or destroyed. The Ministry estimates that 450,000 children have been displaced by the earthquake. Location for school and programs adapted to the circumstances are important.

2. An large portion of the population needs tents and tarpaulins because the rainy season is coming soon.

3. A list of all spontaneous settlements has been compiled which so far contains 315 sites occupied by 468,075 people (91,112 families). Fifteen of these sites have a population of more than 5,000 people. These people are living in abject situation without proper sanitation and access to clean water. The total requirement is 25,000 toilets for 500,000.

4. The need for medical doctor and medicine is still important. Haiti’s Prime Minister declared on 3 February that the death toll could be as high as 200,000 people with some 300,000 injured.

The greatest challenge will be to use the ‘opportunity’ this tragedy gives the country to have a fresh start as the world's seven most developed nations have agreed to cancel their remaining debt with Haiti.

 

1 February 2010

19 days since the deadly earthquake in Haiti and the population still lives in a very difficult situation. Not one sector escaped that tragedy. The first week after the earthquake, I made a tour of Petion Ville, the most affluent city in Haiti. Many buildings hosting businesses collapsed and an odor of dead people was spread in the area by the wind. I thought I had a good sense of the earthquake’s impact, until I drove to another area in the south of Petion Ville (Delmas). Just one main road, looked like a cemetery.

However, nothing can compare to Port-au-Prince itself, Leogane, Petit Goave and Jacmel. I attended a church service on Sunday in one of the biggest camps (in downtown Port-au-Prince) in the entire country. This service was aired on major international TV networks. I have never seen people living in the conditions in which I saw men, women and children living in that camp.

The life as we knew it will definitely change. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

• 3 million people are affected by the earthquake.
• 2 million are in need of food assistance
• 800,000 to 1,000,000 people are displaced
• 196,595 people are injured
• 112,405 people are killed

These data are not solely numbers, but rather men, women and children who are totally vulnerable (Fifty-four percent of Haitians earned less than $1 a day before January 12, 2010) .

This earthquake put more focus on the importance of the MDGs, since the country is all the more vulnerable

• Many businesses collapsed
• 9,000 schools have been destroyed
• Uncounted students and university teachers died
• There are more vulnerable children as many parents died during the earthquake
• Cases of violence against women are already numbered
• There are threats of epidemics

The church is greatly affected. Many Christian leaders are dead and  many church buildings collapsed. Micah Challenge Haiti is still contacting church leaders in affected regions to have a good knowledge of the devastation in the evangelical community.

Among other heartbreaking stories, an orphanage in Leogane was almost totally destroyed, leaving 65 children on a camp. This is just a small picture of situations similar to what these kids are living.

While considering the best advocacy work we need to do in these times, we're helping NGO's  to reach vulnerable communities, like orphanages or camps that are not being assisted. We were able to help 2 orphanages get in contact with “Haiti Hospital Appeal” located in the north of Haiti. More than 110 children received food, water, clothes and medicine.

More than ever in Haiti’s history does the church need to bring forth a holistic message and good governance to be upheld as the country’s reconstruction is being planned by what remains of the government and the international community. Micah Challenge Haiti and the global family can definitely play a big part in it.

 

 

 

 

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