In a statement obtained by ACN, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti urges the government to act and exhorts all Haitians to strive for peace and defeat hatred in the face of the widespread violence that is paralyzing Port-au-Prince and cutting off Haiti from the outside world.
The Bishops’ Conference of Haiti released a “cry of alarm” for peace on November 15, 2024, in reaction to a terrible situation and the ongoing decline in security in Haiti. The letter was sent to the government, civil society, and all goodwill individuals.
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The bishops paint a bleak picture, claiming that there is “no real peace in the country.” Activities have ceased, schools have been closed, and the capital, Port-au-Prince, is cut off. Even the international airport at Toussaint Louverture is closed, “cutting off Haiti from the rest of the world,” charge of the bishops. Media sources state that on November 11th, gangs attacked an airplane with weapons.
Monsignor Max Leroys Mésidor, noted in his address to the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The President of the Bishops’ Conference added, “Everyone is on their guard. We all feel threatened.” “For two years, we have been operating a pastoral strategy of survival, but since November 11th, the violence has taken a serious turn.”
The United Nations reports that in a matter of days, vital supply networks broke down and over 20,000 residents in the Port-au-Prince region evacuated their homes.
Draft a message for the bishops, “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.”
They continued, “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.”
Additionally, “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.”
Haiti, the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere, has been experiencing a severe political, social, and economic crisis for a long time. Armed gangs are fighting for dominance and area control, sowing fear via their everyday bloodshed. Nearly 700,000 people are said to have been internally displaced because of their cutting off of the main transportation links between the capital and the rest of the nation, which has destroyed livelihoods and deprived the populace of essential amenities.
ACN provided about 70 projects in Haiti to serve the Church in 2024. The organization specifically funded solar panel installations, diocesan radio stations, and the education and maintenance of priests, nuns, and catechists.
