"Every day we face enormous risks and when I hear that an institution has been attacked, I think about when it will be our turn," the Salesian who is the economer of the Blessed Filippo Rinaldi Vice-Province of Haiti says. A few weeks ago several nuns were kidnapped. The perpetrators entered their house and took them away. After a few days, they reappeared. And the same thing happens with the civilian population. They disappear and the perpetrators ask for money to release them. We live in the midst of the events and, like our brothers and sisters, we face the same difficulties. But we never considered the possibility of leaving the country because that would mean giving up our mission to help the most needy in difficult times. It is true that we are all vulnerable now, but it is our life choice. Being close to people and experiencing what they are going through is already a great sign of hope because we hope that we will succeed in helping them in their most urgent needs."
"We live constantly in a climate of insecurity, with forced displacement and famine," the Salesian goes on to say. The problems of food, sanitary kits and drinking water must be solved urgently. Just as it is very difficult to guarantee economic survival: the little money we had was earmarked for student enrolment. Now most Port-au-Prince schools can't open. As an Economer, what I ask of communities is drastic rationing, because we really don't know what will happen tomorrow. What is evident is that the gangs want to control the entire country. Most of the financial resources we have come from outside. It is very difficult to receive aid in the metropolitan area due to the closure of communication routes. However, something can be done in the rest of the country, especially in the North, where you can buy the products and distribute them to those closest to you, such as students, their families and collaborators."
Fr Auguste concludes by urging the entire international community to be part of the initiatives to help the Haitian population to get out of the serious situation in which it finds itself. "Haiti has been going through a serious political, economic and social crisis for years... and for this reason it is difficult to mobilize concrete and practical help that can deal with criminal gangs. We are grateful to all those who help us and for the interest they show in wanting to know about this crisis we are experiencing, in silence and in the face of the indifference of the international community."
Source: Agenzia Fides
