Camillian priest in Haiti: ‘Amid gang warfare Church must bring hope’

By Benoît Harel and Lisa Zengarini

Terror continues to grip Haiti, plunging the violence-ravaged Caribbean island nation deeper and deeper into anarchy and chaos.

Criminal gangs that occupy large swaths of Haiti control most of the capital Port-au-Prince, as of Monday, April 1. they even attempted to occupy the National Palace and reportedly succeeded in taking control of the capital's largest general hospital.

Extremely difficult situation

At least half of Port-au-Prince's health facilities are closed or operating below normal capacity. Among them, the San Camillo Home run by the Camillian Fathers located in La Plaine, in the commune controlled by the Croix de Bouquet gangs, on the outskirts of the capital. “The situation is extremely difficult, for us and for the patients we assist,” declares its director Father Robert Daudier.

Speaking to Benoit Harel of Vatican News, the Camillian priest explained that the compound is completely besieged by bandits. Hospital staff are only able to leave the facility to collect fuel, oxygen tanks and other vital supplies for patients after grueling negotiations with the gangs. Also, for security reasons, several healthcare workers residing in other neighborhoods are forced to sleep in the establishment.

We live day by day

“We live day by day and try to make do with what we have until we are offered the opportunity to go out and get what we need,” explains Father said Daudier.

In addition, hospital staff work under constant threat from gang members, although they also treat injured bandits: “They are extremely aggressive towards us,” he said.

Haiti has long been plagued by gang warfare, but violence has increased significantly since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, and in recent months the conflict has reached an unprecedented level as gangs dispute control of the capital.

300 gangs operating in Haiti

There are approximately 300 active criminal gangs on the island, several of which have formed alliances. The best known is the G9 Alliance, a coalition of nine criminal gangs created and led by Jimmy Chérizier, a former police officer, better known by his nickname “Barbecue”. Its main source of income is extortion of “protection money” and kidnapping for criminal purposes. Furthermore, the G9 has usurped control of essential public services, including electricity and water distribution.

According to a report from the UN International Organization for Migration, between March 8 and 27, 53,125 people left Port-au-Prince, joining the 116,000 people already displaced in recent months.

The Church strongly affected by the new wave of violence

Local Church institutions and activities have also been hit hard by the violence. After the repeated and unsuccessful attempt to occupy the National Palace, gangs targeted, Monday April 1, the Minor Seminary Collège Saint Martial, a Catholic institution, administered by the Fathers of the Holy Spirit, commonly called Spiritans. At the beginning of March, the “Saint François de Sales” Catholic hospital in Port-au-Prince was attacked by armed groups.

Bringing a message of hope for a better future in Haiti

Asked about his role as a priest in this time of distress for Haiti, Father Daudier noted that it is important that men of God like him make suffering Haitians feel that there are people who have faith. and who can give hope to others by serving and giving advice. .

“As a pastor, when I talk to people,” he said, “I try to give them hope for a better future. We must not abandon these people, we must find a way forward.

“I believe in the providence of God and I believe that I must serve others in word and deed,” he added.