Friends, it has been a difficult month in Haiti. As I write this, Haiti is in the midst of a nationwide strike and protest to demand a reduction in fuel prices and that acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry step down.
Gas prices in Haiti have soared in recent months as the government announced it will no longer heavily subsidize the cost of fuel. In response, the Haitian G9 gang took control of Haiti’s main fuel terminal, Terminal Varreaux, and have created a barricade. For most Haitians, gas has only been available on the black market and, at times, has cost upwards of $40 a gallon.
Accordingly, people cannot afford to buy gas to travel to work and organizations in Haiti, including healthcare providers, have had to close because they cannot find gas to run generators.
Gas is scarce, food is scarce, the threat of gang violence looms, and the government is unresponsive. This is the current reality for Haiti right now.
Haitian demonstrators are expressing their frustration with their circumstances and with what they perceive to be a broken humanitarian aid system in Haiti by ransacking, looting, and burning NGO facilities around the country. They are currently sparing healthcare providers, but NGOs that provide food and other services have been forced to abandon their operations ahead of angry mobs desperate for food or supplies.
Healthcare providers are also struggling. Since electricity is currently unreliable, many of them have to rely on generators to maintain operations. Without access to fuel, they are struggling to keep vaccines and medications refrigerated and to have the resources needed to keep the lights on during surgical procedures. Oxygen and other necessary medical supplies are also hard to come by.
Under these circumstances, many services have ceased and access to healthcare and social services is difficult.
Although this news seems dire, I want to emphasize that these demonstrations are a natural consequence of the circumstances impacting everyday Haitians. The Haitian government is without a parliament, without elected officials, and without judicial leadership. The people are suffering and they have taken to the streets to demand food, economic security, physical safety, and elected representation. They have been demonstrating for weeks, but circumstances have not changed, so the situation is escalating.
Healing Art Missions has always stood in solidarity with Haitians who wants to improve their lives and, although we do not condone violence or criminal activity, we stand with our Haitian friends again today and hope that their nationwide activism helps bring about the changes needed for their personal safety and well-being.
As this situation unfolds, we also are continuing to provide healthcare services in Haiti. Our work has not ceased. Please continue to read on to learn more about how Dr. Jacques is providing needed care in spite of the turmoil all around him.