In the face of rampant violence which is paralyzing Port-au-Prince and isolating Haiti from the rest of the world, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti, in a message received by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), calls on the government to act and appeals to every Haitian to work for peace and overcome hatred.
In the face of the catastrophic situation and the continual deterioration of security in Haiti, the Bishops’ Conference of Haiti issued a “cry of alarm” for peace on November 15, 2024, in the form of a letter addressed to the government, to civil society, and to all people of goodwill.
“There is no real peace in the country,” decry the bishops, drawing a dark picture of the country: the capital Port-au-Prince is isolated, the schools are closed, activities paralyzed. Even the Toussaint Louverture International Airport is closed, “cutting off Haiti from the rest of the world.” According to media reports, gangs carried out an armed attack on an aircraft on November 11.
“Everyone is on their guard; we all feel threatened,” explains Msgr. Max Leroy Mésidor, president of the Bishops’ Conference and archbishop of Port-au-Prince, to the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). “For two years, we have been operating a pastoral strategy of survival, but since November 11, the violence has taken a serious turn.”
According to the United Nations, in a period of just a few days, more than 20,000 people in the Port-au-Prince region fled their homes and essential supply chains collapsed.
“We cannot hope to reap peace by sowing violence. Peace is above all a gift of God, but it equally demands the efforts of all people of goodwill,” write the bishops in their message. “We appeal to those who are in charge of governing the city to act with determination to re-establish security and guarantee the protection of citizens, in line with their primary mission of serving the common good.” And they continue: “We also invite members of the government, members of civil society, and protagonists from all sides, armed or unarmed, to recognize that it is time to resolve this problem of ongoing violence. Something must be done.”
For years, Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has been going through a deep political, social, and economic crisis. Armed gangs, which sow terror through their daily violence, are engaged in a fierce struggle to control territory and impose their domination. They have cut off the principal transport routes between the capital and the rest of the country, thereby destroying livelihoods and depriving the population of basic services. To date, it is estimated that almost 700,000 people have been displaced within the country.
In 2024, ACN supported the Church in Haiti through almost 70 projects. In particular, the charity supported diocesan radio stations, solar panel projects, and the training and subsistence of priests, nuns, and catechists.
