“I had lost everything — my possessions accumulated over 30 years of work, my goods and, above all, my sense of security.” — Adeline, a displaced bookseller in Port-au-Prince
“Sometimes we go from 15 to 22 days without finding water.” — Estanis, president of an informal camp hosting displaced persons
These are the voices of Hatians living at the epicenter of one of the world’s most recent displacement crises. Haiti has long persevered in the face of natural disasters, economic hardship and political upheaval, but in February 2024, the nation experienced even deeper turmoil as an unprecedented wave of gang violence and political unrest engulfed the capital city, Port-au-Prince.
Since then, the crisis has only intensified. By the end of FY24, the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) had reported a staggering toll — over 700,000 Haitians had been forced from their homes and internally displaced. More than half of them were children.
Amid this devastating crisis, and even as many other humanitarian organizations withdrew, we continued to stand with the people of Haiti. In FY24, we served thousands of Haitian families through our unique “here and there” approach, extending love, service and care “there” in Haiti and “here” in our U.S. communities.
When violence suddenly drove families from their homes in Port-au-Prince, we were there. When whole communities were without water or money for food, we were there. And when those who had no choice but to flee their home country sought safety as refugees and asylum-seekers in cities across the U.S., we were there.
Together, we boldly responded “here and there” to meet urgent needs and walk with Haitian communities in hope and conviction toward more flourishing futures.
Responding “There” to Help Haitian Communities in Crisis
In Haiti, we walked alongside people like Adeline. She had worked as a bookseller in Port-au-Prince, but lost everything when her house was burned down in the unrest.
Following the fire, she found an emergency shelter for displaced persons, where she grappled with shock and trauma from the violence she experienced and the loss of her home. “I lived in constant fear of going outside, my body often shook, and I suffered from insomnia and a severe loss of appetite,” she said. “I didn’t know how to deal with this trauma and felt completely helpless.”
Thankfully, God brought Adeline to World Relief. For over 35 years, our dedicated teams in Haiti have worked alongside local partners and churches to meet urgent needs and bring long-term healing in the wake of disasters and crises. Building on this legacy, we partnered with the Fondasyon Kominote Kretyen an Aksyon (Christian Community Foundation in Action), a local Haitian non-profit funded by the Dutch Relief Alliance, to bring trauma healing to those experiencing suffering in the recent crisis, including Adeline.
Through this program, she began taking courses to learn about healing from trauma, starting her on the journey toward restoration. “These sessions helped me identify the signs of my own trauma, such as paralyzing fear, tremors and sleep and appetite disturbances,” she said. “Most importantly, they gave me tools and techniques to start healing.”
In FY24, our World Relief Haiti team has worked tirelessly alongside local churches, communities and partners to meet the urgent needs of displaced individuals like Adeline — physically, spiritually and emotionally.
Our FY24 impact in Haiti included:
- Providing clean drinking water to more than 40,139 people through water trucks and repaired water points.
- Distributing cash for food and providing protection services to 2,065 displaced persons fleeing gang violence in Delmas, Port-au-Prince, Pétion-Ville, Carrefour and Tabarre.
- Training 1,031 women and girls facing increased risks of violence to better protect themselves.
- Partnering with USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance to serve 193,466 people with food, agricultural support, economic recovery and water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Les Cayes.
Through these efforts, we responded to immediate needs and helped communities begin rebuilding with dignity and hope.
Responding “Here” to Create Communities of Belonging in the U.S.
Meanwhile, at offices throughout the U.S., we welcomed Haitians arriving as refugees, asylum-seekers and through the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) programs. In FY24, we helped 213 Haitians rebuild their lives in the U.S.
“The resilience of the Haitian community inspires us,” shared Aerlande Wontamo, senior vice president of U.S. Programs at World Relief. “We remain committed to proving the support they need to flourish, even in the midst of uncertainty. At World Relief, we believe that true welcome goes beyond meeting immediate needs — it’s about cultivating belonging and walking alongside individuals as they rebuild their lives.”
With the arrival of each new family, our staff partnered with volunteers, churches and community leaders to see that these families found flourishing and belonging.
“Moving to a new country is not easy, and we understand the challenges that many Haitian immigrants face when they arrive In the U.S.” said Adonis Maitre, case manager at World Relief Southern California.
As a Haitian immigrant himself, Adonis is acutely aware of the needs others from his community encounter when they first enter the country, including affordable housing, transportation, access to healthcare, English language classes, job training and more.
To meet these needs, our U.S. offices provided support including:
- rental assistance for newly arrived families
- food for individuals and families waiting on food stamps
- assistance with benefits applications
- orientations to public transportation systems
- assistance with school enrollment
- English language classes
- job readiness training and employment assistance
- community events to distribute clothing, household supplies and other essential items
Expressing the very heart behind our “here and there” approach, Adonis shared, “No one should feel lost, alone or hopeless in a new country.”
With your support, thousands of Haitians in Haiti and in cities across the U.S. weren’t lost in the chaos of the crisis. Together, we sought out and walked with women, men and children who had lost everything, ensuring that they could move towards flourishing even in the midst of fragility.
We recognize that the world’s greatest crises extend far beyond the borders of any one nation. Generous partners like you enable us to keep showing up and keep responding “here and there” to the most urgent needs. Thank you.