Dolian – The young student is Clara Joseph. She lives with her family in Dolian. Her father is unable to work due to illness. Her mother cultivates a piece of land so that the family can survive.
Clara couldn’t go to school because the family didn’t have any money. But then we built the Pestalozzi School in Dolian. Now Clara can attend classes regularly. We pay the teachers’ salaries and also provide a hot meal at lunchtime – this is often the only meal the children have each day.
Life in Dolian in the mountains is safe. It takes less than half an hour to walk (downhill, uphill takes longer) to Port-a-Piment, where the father of our project partner Butler Benoit works as a pastor. There is also a small hospital in Port-a-Piment, which is actually a first aid station. Getting there is the only way that is still safe. It is no longer possible to get to the capital, warlords and their gangs are lurking everywhere.
The way to the big hospital in Port-au-Prince is no longer feasible.
It would take about 8 hours by car, but the roads are impassable due to highwaymen.
In the middle of the mountains, the location is safe
Butler Benoit reports: “Armed gangs took control of the country’s capital over the country’s capital and sowed terror there. There is complete panic in several parts of the city. Thousands of inmates fled from the two largest prisons in Port-au-Prince after attacks by armed gangs.
The government has declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew. This situation is not without consequences, as it is leading to a massive displacement of people fleeing gang violence. It is a humanitarian crisis that is worsening as people no longer have shelter or food and children are traumatized.”
But life in Dolian is safe due to its mountainous location, and there is nothing to steal.
Cholera – mortal danger for children
Our schoolchildren are facing another danger: the quality of the drinking water has now deteriorated massively due to the rainfall and the increased drinking water consumption (because of the refugees).
Benoit continues: “There has been another increase in cholera cases in the region in recent days. People in Dolian also have stomach pains. I think it’s because of the water they’ve been drinking. The water is not drinkable. We need a filter.”
CiN will do everything it can to ensure the water quality.
The Christians who fled from the voodoo terrorists are integrated into the community in Dolian – and must not be plunged back into misery and despair.