Help with Food
Update from Tony B, Program Manager in Haiti, unedited.
The schools in Haiti, including the 7 schools supported by Star of Hope, have closed since June 20, 2021, at the request of the Ministry of National Education following the increase in the spread of the coronavirus. The school year, therefore, ended two weeks earlier than the planned date in the school calendar. Before the schools closed, all students took the end-of-year assessment test and received their report cards. All students are on vacation except those in the final class who will participate in the official exams which will take place on July 12, they will all return to school on September 6, 2021, on the opening date of the next school year.
It is with a heavy heart that we report the sad and horrible news of the assassination of the President of Haiti. This crime will only push Haiti further into chaos. The assassination of the president made the population sad, angry, and indignant. As the official investigation unfolds, this crisis is worsening, creating more fear, criminality, and misery in the country. For the moment it is the Prime Minister, Claude Joseph who temporarily occupies the place of the president. He declared a state of siege throughout the territory of Haiti to ensure security in the streets and avoid any outcroppings of revenge and looting in the streets.
Since the assassination of the president, people hardly leave their homes and all activities have slowed down. The armed gang crisis on the streets makes people afraid to go out or travel long distances.
The economic crisis is worse than before because the trade of goods and services is cut off entirely between the capital and the provincial towns due to gang control. 3 out of 4 people are at risk of food shortage in Haiti. If nothing is done to change the situation, Haiti could soon experience an unprecedented humanitarian food crisis in the next two months.
At the moment, our 3,300 students and teaching staff are all on vacation. We have not heard from them since the schools were closed, but the school directors have informed us that the population in our projects is not in danger at this moment. But they told us that if needs become more pressing for intervention by Star of Hope, they will let us know.
The good news is that even with the school's closures, the construction work on the secondary school and the water reservoir are ongoing and making significant progress. School construction had started June 1st and the water reservoir began on July 1st. We praise God for His faithfulness and the ongoing protection of these most needed resources.
In the Lord's service always,
Tony B, Haiti
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