Amid the horrific gang wars in Haiti, Caritas employees ensured that all children in the Austrian-built orphanage were brought to safety.
The terrible earthquake of 2010 with 300,000 deaths, the outbreak of plague and cholera, corrupt politicians who embezzle donations – and now criminal gangs against which the police are powerless: Haiti, the poorhouse under the palm trees, is the ‘chaos state’ par excellence. In the metropolis of Port-au-Prince, bandits control 90 percent of the city. They control the entrances to the port and airport, the central fuel depot and all arterial roads.
Greedy plunderers became stone-cold kidnappers
As early as 2012, then Caritas director Michael Landau and ‘Krone’ reporter Christoph Matzl experienced the terror of kidnappers firsthand. Only thanks to a daring killing spree by the taxi driver was it possible to escape from a controversial district. At that time, Monsignor Landau visited the Caribbean island to see first-hand the progress of the school and orphanage for those left behind by the catastrophic earthquake.
Looters have now seized everything available. And so the criminals turned to drug trafficking, protection fraud and kidnapping – even of children: girls as teenage prostitutes and boys as young bandits!
Caritas manager: “People are desperate”
The situation in Haiti has deteriorated dramatically in recent months. Children are especially affected. “We are experiencing the worst hunger crisis in years. About 5.5 million people currently depend on humanitarian aid – that’s half the population. Prices for basic foodstuffs have risen even further recently and are simply no longer affordable for many people. The situation is rapidly deteriorating due to the bandits’ escalating aggression. “People are desperate,” Caritas manager Daniela Pamminger summarizes the gloomy situation.
Added to this is an unprecedented wave of violence. “When people go out in the morning, they often don’t know whether they will come home in the evening. More than 1,500 people died in Haiti in the first three months of this year. Most of them because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said the Caritas employee, reflecting on the threat situation.
Children suffer not only from a lack of care and the constant fear of violence. It is impossible for a million children to go to school. Because 13,000 criminals – divided over 200 gangs – lie in wait in narrow streets for kidnap victims…
Nearly every school in Port-au-Prince is closed
Almost all schools in Port-au-Prince are closed. Online classes are being tried, but many households do not have computers or even electricity to take classes. “Against this background, it is generally difficult to provide humanitarian assistance. But the positive news is: Caritas and its partners continue to provide support,” says the Vorarlberger involved (still) confidently.
“Without aid there is a threat of famine”
Caritas director Klaus Schwertner does not believe that the situation in Haiti will improve any time soon, as he revealed in the ‘Krone’ interview.
„Crown”: Mr. Schwertner, what is the situation in Haiti right now?
Klaus Schwertner: Absolutely dramatic. We became aware of this when we had to evacuate our orphanage together with the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco. This example shows how dangerous the situation actually is.
Can Caritas still provide effective help?
Yes. Help is possible, but under the most difficult circumstances. Together with the religious sisters, we support the children and give them a roof over their heads.
What do you need most urgently right now?
Due to the escalating violence, it is now of great importance to protect the people and especially the orphans in the particularly affected areas. Of course, we must also ensure that humanitarian care is safe for those we care for. At the moment, international aid is far from sufficient. This means that there is an acute risk of famine.
How do you think things will progress in Haiti?
Currently, it must be assumed that violence and insecurity will continue. If we stop providing aid now, even more men, women and especially children will be affected by hunger and violence. At Caritas we want to continue to help. Our urgent request is that you support us in this. Every donation counts!
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
