Haiti (MNN)—On May 13, the Haitian National Police (HNP) said security concerns had resolved enough to reopen the Toussaint Louverture International Airport and gradually resume commercial flights.
Despite the announcement, American Airlines and JetBlue Airways delayed the resumption of service again. For Haiti With Love, Roseline DeHart explains, “The gangs had taken over the Port au Prince area, even the Port au Prince airport. Everything was shut down; no airlines, nothing because there’s so much gang violence down South.” Military planes began landing in Port-au-Prince, carrying civilians contracted to ready the area for the arrival of a multinational security support mission.
Urgency to restart
(For Haiti With Love’s headquarters, courtesy FHWL)
However, just 11 days earlier, the gangs now in control of Port au Prince launched another attack on the airport landing strip. The airport’s loss is crucial to quickly moving supplies into the poverty-stricken nation. DeHart says, “There was nobody going in. Everybody was trying to get out for their safety. It was just locked down.” But the arrival of the contractors means “the airport has opened back up; the airlines are opening up so we can take supplies down there again for the clinic.”
(For Haiti With Love’s burn clinic, photo courtesy FHWL)
Their arrival brings hope, especially for smaller ministries that have been devastated by the lockdown. “We ran out of supplies for the (burn) clinic,” says DeHart. “People were coming to us, hurting; we couldn’t help them. We couldn’t buy the supplies down there. There was nothing we could do.”
Refugees in the North
The United Nations estimates roughly 1.4 million Haitians are on the verge of famine, and more than 4 million require food aid. The gangs suffocate the country, reducing many people to eating once a day or nothing at all. “Pray that we get food down there to help the people and the people coming to live in Cap Haitien.” DeHart says many people coming to the North moved for safety, many with clothes on their backs. “They don’t have anything in Cap Haitien. We pray that we can help as many people as we can so we can continue to be God’s hands and feet in Haiti.”
Food program, For Haiti With Love (Photo courtesy FHWL)
Meanwhile, Spirit Airlines resumed flights in the North between Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport and Cap Haïtien, Haiti. Getting supply runs moving again is urgent. Thousands fled the gang’s violence in Port au Prince and took refuge in Cap Haitien. “There’s a lot more people now in Cap (Haitien). Before then (gang takeover), it had problems, so now it’s even worse.” To add to the pressure, “It’s been raining also for 15 days in Cap Haitien. There’s been flooding and mudslides.” The emergency is why officials began pushing people out of hazardous areas, especially during the rainy season. The loss of homes in the mudslide also adds to the number of people made homeless by the security situation in Haiti.
DeHart outlines the reason they stay despite the overwhelming circumstances. “For Haiti With Love has been in Cap Haitien for over 40 years, and we will continue to do it. When all the other missionaries are leaving Haiti, we always stand firm because we know God is able, and God can do miracles.”
