AMERICA/HAITI - "We cannot remain indifferent to the tragic events of recent months": new appeal to international solidarity

Port au Prince (Agenzia Fides) - The "SOS Haiti" campaign, promoted by the Church of Brazil (Episcopal Conference, Caritas Brasileira, Conference of Religious, Movement for Basic Education and Catholic Education Association) has raised R $ 359,277,25 for the victims of the earthquake that hit the country last August. "The campaign here in Brazil was carried out with great success, because once again the Brazilian people showed their solidarity and their help to those most in need", said Carlos Humberto Campos, executive director of Caritas Brasileira.
In the note sent to Fides, Father Herve François, director of Caritas Haiti, explains that the Caribbean country has been in difficulty for several years and that the situation has worsened with the latest earthquake: "The country is in a multiform crisis, which gradually leads to recession and increases the need for humanitarian aid" (see Fides, 28/10/2021; 11/12/2021).
The Caritas network remains committed to responding to this emergency situation". Faced with the urgency to respond to the needs of the population, Caritas Haiti is taking on new commitments in the fight against poverty. We have maintained our presence and our actions to support vulnerable families in the communities", explains Father Herve François.
Caritas Haiti, with the support of Caritas Internationalis, is now launching an "Emergency Appeal", which aims to achieve six goals: food and nutrition security; house renovation and construction; protection; education and psychosocial support; capacity development; means of subsistence and income distribution. For Father Herve François, there is still a long way to go to rebuild the country. "Despite the resilience of Haiti and its Church, without solidarity our efforts will not be sustainable. We need everyone's help. For this reason, we count on everyone's support to help us express the Church's tenderness for Haitian families", concludes the director of Caritas Haiti.
"We cannot remain indifferent to the tragic events of recent months", write the Bishops of Haiti in their message for Christmas, and launch a new appeal to the international community and local politicians, to find solutions to the institutional, economic and social chaos that has plagued the country for years now.
The Bishops share the pain of those who are victims of kidnapping, rape and violence of all kinds, entrusting the souls of the innocent who have fallen under the blows of armed groups to God's mercy. "With all our strength we condemn these fratricidal acts. We demand that truth, order and justice be re-established together with the authority of the State", the Bishops reiterated, recalling the words of Pope Francis during the Angelus on October 31, when he asked "the leaders of nations to support this country, not to be left alone" in these moments of hardship, suffering and pain. The Haitian Bishops underline that "many of our compatriots are forced to leave the country thinking they can find the well-being to which they aspire elsewhere. Unfortunately, they are very often victims of abuse and discrimination. In communion with the Holy Father, we deplore these acts and ask that they apply to all the principles of respect for the dignity of the human person". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 21/12/2021)

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