Haiti (MNN) — Protests continue in Haiti as demonstrators call for the President’s ouster. Thousands rallied in the streets last week and several people died.
The following updates came from UN officials yesterday in a daily press briefing:
Our colleagues report that the health sector is probably the most impacted, with hospitals facing significant challenges. Fuel shortages, lack of safe water and other essentials are also affecting orphanages, civil protection units and other emergency services…
Many schools have been closed for the past 2 weeks, leaving an estimated 2 million children and young people without any access to education.
Compassion International‘s national director says no staff or sponsored kids have been hurt by the ongoing unrest. Praise God for this good news, but please continue praying for Haiti.
Learn more about Compassion’s work in Haiti here.
What’s going on in Haiti?
Chronic fuel and food shortages, along with corruption and economic insecurity, are reportedly driving the current unrest but protests are nothing new in Haiti. Guilbaud Saint-Cyr, Compassion’s Haiti Director, says Compassion staff were prepared for the “lock-down.”
“Last year, we had the same situation; people were asking for the president to go,” Saint-Cyr says.
“Since that time, we [provided] laptops and [Internet] connectivity to most of our staff so they could work [from home].”
Although Compassion’s main office in Port-au-Prince remains closed due to unrest, staff in rural areas report no disturbances. Compassion partners with more than 300 churches throughout Haiti to help 120,600 kids in Jesus’ name. See an overview of Compassion Haiti here.
According to Saint-Cyr, serving “the least of these” in Haiti is a challenging – yet rewarding – endeavor. Saint-Cyr discusses his work in detail here.
“Working in this country is not something easy, but we are very grateful to God that He has appointed us…[to] be alongside to the churches.”
How can I help?
(Photo courtesy of Compassion International)
As described here, protests aren’t expected to end anytime soon. Please continue praying for Haiti and its people.
“I would like [people] to lift the country up so we could have peace,” Saint-Cyr requests. “And, that God could touch the life and the hearts of the people so they could have love for each other so we could have a better country.”
For 51 years, Compassion has been helping children escape poverty in Jesus’ name. You can support their efforts here, or sponsor a Haitian child through Compassion.
Header image depicts tires lit on fire during February 2019 protests. Photo obtained via Wikimedia Commons.
