Haiti: A Humanitarian Crisis

By Shannon Conforti

November 10, 2021

This week I had a video call with some of our leaders in Haiti. Georges, Lycender, and Dr. Hashmide and I speak regularly, usually focusing on work and catching up on prayer requests. Because they remain focused on the tasks before them, it is rare to hear them complain. They each see how God has equipped them and calls them, and that supersedes any doubts they may have.

And yet.

Even the most faithful become weary. 

And my team of faithful and joyful leaders has definitely grown weary.

In this hour-long call, they shared the reality of their struggles, and I think it is worthwhile for me to share them with you. Story after story, I tried to keep up taking notes, but my heart broke with the reality of the difficult situation and I finally stopped writing to sit in the grief of it all with them.

According to Lycender, “the situation is crazy right now…everyday we wake up and it is getting worse.” This perception is supported by daily reports of more violence and instability. Earlier in the day, before our call, a police officer was kidnapped, and there were reports of schools closing throughout the country over fears of kidnapping and trafficking of children.  

Georges shared that they are trying to brainstorm how to help the people in Ranquitte, but pointed out that, “it seems like we are in a trap. Every way is trouble.” He is experiencing heightened stress that their efforts may start out well, but then get side-lined. For example, he shared of avocado farmers who had a good crop this year, but when they loaded them on the truck to take to PAP to sell, the truck ran out of gas and the avocados had to be left to either rot or get stolen. He said this is one example of many where the people work hard only to have their efforts fail due to one crisis or another. 

And Dr. Hashmide, always considering her patients, was dismayed at how few medicines they got this month for the price. She said it is impossible to budget for how many patients they can treat when the prices of supplies are rising so drastically and many needed items have become scarce. The clinic on campus still serves close to 1,000 unique patients each month, but they are going to have to make adjustments as they are running out of supplies. Thankfully our clinic has been able to remain open and has consistent power due to the solar panels. However, many hospitals and clinics that we work with have had to close due to the gasoline shortage impacting their generators.

Many Haitian leaders have chosen to leave the island and wait things out in more stable places. I asked our leaders why they choose to stay, and they all reminded me that God called them to serve their people, and they need to be faithful to His call as long as they can.

Our video call, though difficult, ended the same way most of our calls end: with prayers for one another and for the people of Haiti. 

I cannot overstate the value of these chosen and called leaders. Just like in every crisis they have faced before, they are committed to brainstorm creative and innovative ways to help serve the people most in need. Instead of leaving, they are turning toward the pain around them and choosing to serve.

These are the leaders who created a Seed Program last spring during a food crisis which has resulted in families having food for their families today.

These are the leaders who traveled in the night, after clinic hours, to visit sick patients and burn victims who were too sick and poor to travel to equipped hospitals. 

These are the leaders who mobilized the Emergency Relief team after the earthquake to travel with supplies to the hardest hit communities. 

These are the leaders who stood at the gate of campus during a riot to protect the medical staff, patients, and students who needed the services on campus. 

These are the leaders who pray, who struggle, and who work to the best of their abilities to keep going. All the success we have as an organization is because of them.

As Christians, we are called to share each other’s burdens (Gal 6:2). We don’t get to look away from tragedy and struggle. Instead, we are called to go toward it and do the hard work of being light in the darkness. With that in mind, please join me in prayer for Haiti each day, beseeching God on behalf of the people we love. May He turn His ear toward His people and break through the evil with a time of revival and rejoicing. And if you are able, please consider making a year-end, tax deductible donation to help cover the rising costs of doing ministry there. 

-Shannon Conforti
Executive Director
859-519-8253
shannon@christianflights.org