Update received April 24, 2023. Photo credit © Odelyn Joseph/AP
School is closed again due to violence in Source-Matelas and Cabaret area. Gangs have gained control of these villages, even the cement plant! They went to some villages in Cabaret and took control. As the violence seems to be escalating we will need to have a meeting to discuss about moving the kids if gangs move toward Arcahaie!
Heartbroken I am writing this. Yesterday at 10:20am, I had a call from Haiti directly from our school in Haiti that gangs came to Source-Matelas. All the kids were at school and started the day of learning. Suddenly at 11am there was a big panic, a lot of parents came to school gate to get their kids. Our staff did not know what was going when some parents said a group of gangs infiltrated Matelas.
It was a moment the staff did not know what to do – between keeping the kids for their safety or give the kids to the parents – the member of staff finally gave the kids to their parents and the situation quickly changed. The gangs got control of the Source-Matelas, parents tried to run away, not even knowing where the gangs were located or where to go. They walked for miles with their kids ages 3 to 19 years old.
Our drivers were at the school at that moment and got our kids and drove them to Arcahaie where they live. There were about 200 people who died, some decapitated, houses were burned, a lot of damage.
In Simonette, last night a family of fourteen took a boat to go to Leogane, in the south. On their way a heavy wind caused large waves on the ocean, their boat went under and eight people died – seven kids and one adult, four of the kids attend our school, a 5-month baby and two kids under 6.
We need to keep praying for comfort and peace to people in the village specially for this family which lost eight people it is really a tragic moment.
Some many people are still today looking for their kids and could not find them and gangs are still in Source Matelas taking some video and posting them on social media.
We need God to intervene and stand for Haiti and our community. we also need the support of the international community in this moment.
Thank you for all your support and together we are going to keep fighting for those in need.
