Ayana Davis of Episcopal Relief and Development (ER-D) spoke with Burton Joseph, program officer for the Diocese of Haiti, and the Rt. Rev. Jean Zache Duracin, Bishop of Haiti, on February 23.

"The insurgents already control about 50 percent of the country," Joseph told Davis. "It is rumored that they may take Port-au-Prince by Thursday [February 26]. The North has been cut off from the rest of the country.

"People don't have access to food and medical care. It is a very, very difficult situation. The streets are empty even during the day [in Port-au-Prince]," said Joseph.

"People predict that if the insurgents continue controlling areas throughout the country that people will go hungry, people will starve, or others will die in battles. There will be more displaced people needing food and shelter if Port-au-Prince is attacked. We want to make sure that we have the necessary resources and supplies in order right now--alcohol, bandages, shelter, and clothing. We are trying to coordinate with the hospitals in St. Croix Hospital (in Leogane) and St. Vincent's (in Port-au-Prince). St. Croix is running out of supplies and most of the hospitals are overwhelmed.

"We are preparing for the worst," Joseph warned.

Emergency funds advanced

ER-D advanced emergency funds two weeks ago to the Diocese of Haiti so that local parishes can provide food, temporary shelter, and medicines to children, women, elderly and other displaced people said Davis. "We are now working to provide immediate food, shelter etc. to some places like Gonaïves, Cap-Haïtien and Gorman where the needs are so great," Duracin reported in an email to ER-D officials.

Both Joseph and Duracin report that the situation in the northwestern city of Gonaïves, where the revolt began February 5, is "really bad" and that it very difficult to send food. "If they have children, it is much worse," said Joseph.

"In Gonaïves, children cannot go to school. We've given money to a priest in the city to buy food and school supplies. It is important that the children continue their education amidst the unrest going on around them," added Duracin.

"We are very grateful to the Episcopal Church and we thank Episcopal Relief and Development for the work they've been doing to help us," said Duracin.

Evacuations already in progress

Members of the Sisters of Saint Margaret, reportedly left Port-au-Prince on Saturday for a Jesuit monastery in the mountains above the city. The order, headquartered in Boston, has a convent on the grounds of Holy Trinity School, and a retreat house at Kenscoff. They have played a major role in the establishment and development of Episcopal Church institutions, especially at Holy Trinity School and Saint Vincent's School.

Tennessee native Justin Mutter, a missionary with the Episcopal Church's Young Adult Service Corps, returned to the US on February 21 because of what he described as "heightening political unrest and uncertainty." Mutter worked with Partners In Health and its sister organization, Zanmi Lasante, which provides primary health care in the central Haitian village of Cange, including a full-service hospital, rural Haiti's only HIV/TB treatment facilities ,a women's health center, a dozen schools, and several cottage industries. Due to a moratorium on development and humanitarian aid to Haiti, more than $500 million in approved international loans and grants has been blocked by international donors over a dispute between the administration of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the coalition of groups that oppose him, forcing the Ministry of Health to curtail services and leaving nongovernmental organizations such as Partners In Health to pick up the slack.

Mutter said he was advised by the executive staff of Zanmi Lasante/ Partners in Health to leave in order to minimize risk due to political violence as well as increasing social violence on the roads.  "Our Boucan Carre Zanmi Lasante car was recently shot at by highway robbers, and consequent[ly] totaled--thankfully no one was hurt--I was not in the car," Mutter reported in an email to the staff of the Episcopal Church Center. "Although rebel bands have not yet reached my area directly, my superiors thought it wisest that I depart while the roads are still open. …Kenbe fem ak kouraj [Kreyol for "Stay strong and courageous"], Justin."

Episcopal Relief and Development, a longstanding partner to the Diocese of
Haiti, has been assisting Haitians through established programs, and will
continue to provide support during the crisis, said Davis.

Request for intervention

Meanwhile, Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold has written US Ambassador to Haiti James B. Foley, asking him to intervene personally in the crisis.
 
"At this difficult time, we do not believe that we are called to take one side or the other but rather to uphold the democratic process begun in Haiti," Griswold wrote. "We believe that you can play a very important role by asking the parties to come to the table in the hope of continuing the democratic process so painfully begun in Haiti.  It appears that the two sides will not talk to each other except through an intermediary and that you could be that person.

"Others in the faith community may be contacting you as well on this matter.  While recognizing the difficulty of the task that we ask, I hope that you will respond positively and quickly to this request," the letter said.

The Episcopal Church in Haiti dates from 1861, when a group of 110 African-Americans immigrated to Haiti. There are Episcopal parishes with schools and clinics throughout the country. Its major institutions in Port-au-Prince are the Holy Trinity School; Saint Vincent's School; and College Saint Pierre, a preparatory school. Theological training is centered at its seminary at Montrouis. Hôpital Sainte Croix, a 100-bed general hospital located at Leogane, is operated in partnership with the Presbyterian Church (USA), and its regional public health and community healthworker training programs are located nearby at Darbonne. There is an agricultural school in Terrier Rouge.

Editor’s note: Please make checks payable to: Episcopal Relief and Development/Haiti Relief Fund, and mail to: PO Box 12043, Newark NJ 07101-5043. To make a credit card donation, please call 1.800.334.7626, Ext. 5129 or visit www.er-d.org. If funds for this project are oversubscribed, ERD will use these funds for similar life-saving projects.