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Haiti has reported 9272 cases of COVID-19 and at least 232 related deaths as of 1 December, although healthcare workers warn that the numbers could be much higher. Many Haitians have a deep distrust of government and public health authorities and prefer to self-treat at home. Clinics and hospitals were strained even before the pandemic, as many Haitians need care for chronic health problems such as malnourishment, diabetes and hypertension. The government has imposed a curfew from midnight to 4am and requires masks to be worn in public where social distancing cannot be maintained.
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Thank you for praying for children and families in Haiti who have been impacted by COVID-19—and the local staff and churches who continue to serve them in difficult circumstances.
For sisters Denise, 21, and Rosandie, 18, a pandemic in their community of Canaan meant they would be facing even more housing difficulties in an already weak infrastructure. Both were living with their older sister, Anita, but financial pressure set in and they were unable to afford rent. The sisters thought they only had one option left. Read more open_in_new
The situation
The impact of the tropical storm was extensive in Haiti, with over 6000 homes flooded and many injuries.
Global Compassion impact
Number of local church partners affected: 23 Number of Compassion assisted children affected: 2583
New information
Sadly, one Compassion assisted child, one caregiver and one sibling passed away; 14 caregivers, siblings and Compassion assisted children were injured. Those injured received medical attention and have recovered and those grieving the loss of family members were supported by the church. All affected families were supported with relief items—household items, basic supplies, and help repairing homes. The affected local church partners received support to clean and repair their buildings.
Prayer
Thank you for your prayers for the affected children, families and church partners.
The situation
Fortunately, the situation in Bel Air has been calm for the last six weeks.
Global Compassion impact
Number of local church partners affected: 1 Number of Compassion assisted children affected: 158
New information
Affected children and families received needed support from the local church partners, such as food, water, medical care, and post-trauma counselling. Funds from the Highly Vulnerable Children Fund and Disaster Relief Fund were utilised. Some families are still living in temporary locations until they feel more safe to move back to their homes in Bel Air.
Prayer
Thank you for your prayers for the safety of children, families, church partners and staff in Port-au-Prince.
Please note: Due to the current pandemic, most child development centres in Haiti are temporarily closed. Our local church partners continue to meet the urgent needs of the children through home-based care.
Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.
Compassion assisted children in Haiti typically attend program activities at their local child development centre before or after school. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Haiti.
8:00am - A time of prayer and devotion and breakfast. A typical breakfast usually consists of eggs, bread or buns and tea.
9:00am - Spiritual lessons, in which children sing songs and learn Bible stories. Children aged three to five are given an illustrated Bible with simple stories. Children aged six to eight receive an illustrated Bible with longer stories. Children aged nine to 14 are given a complete Bible. Students over the age of 15 receive a study Bible.
10:30am - Break time, when children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships.
11:00am - Social-emotional lessons ranging from conflict resolution to developing healthy self-esteem. Children often come from challenging home environments and are taught social and personal skills.
12:00pm - Lunch and social time. Children often receive sandwiches, juice or milk, or a hot meal of spaghetti or rice, beans, vegetables and meat. There is a special nutritional program for malnourished children.
1:00pm - Health lessons, in which children learn practical health and hygiene lessons, including how to prevent malaria and HIV.
2:00pm - Letter writing and career planning. Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests and set goals for their future.
Children are also invited to attend spiritual retreats during Carnival and Easter. Older students can choose vocational training classes, including painting, crafts, sewing, computer, music, photography, videography, cooking and foreign language classes. Parents and caregivers are offered income generation activities and parenting seminars each week.
of people live below the poverty line
of people lack access to proper sanitation
of people can’t read and write
Haiti rose up against French colonial control in the early 19th century to become the first independent Caribbean state. But it has struggled with dictators, coups and corruption ever since.
The government is facing not only the COVID-19 crisis but an energy crisis caused by a choked supply of diesel imports and a lack of a long-term energy strategy. While blackouts and grid disruptions are not new to Haiti, the timing means that hospitals battling COVID-19 are relying on buckets of water in the hallways and can’t use their generators for electricity.
This instability comes against a backdrop of historical destruction caused by earthquakes, floods and cyclones that regularly sweep the nation.
Haiti’s infrastructure is unable to cope with devastating events like the Port-a-Prince earthquake in 2010—and the subsequent cholera epidemic that killed more than 7000 people—and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Thousands have lost their lives and millions more have had their homes and livelihoods destroyed. These regular events make it very difficult for the nation to build the infrastructure it needs—hospitals, roads, schools and so on—to bring its people out of poverty.
Over half the population lives in poverty, with 40 per cent unemployed. Almost one-quarter of infants have low birth weight, and most people living in rural areas lack access to basic needs such as clean water and sanitation facilities.
Many of the nation’s children live on the streets, forced into prostitution, begging and crime to survive.
Yet the Church is rising again and again in response, meeting children’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs—providing them and their families with the immediate and long-term support they need to get back to their feet.
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