Camillian priest in Haiti: ‘Amid gang warfare Church must bring hope’

By Benoit Harel and Lisa Zengarini

Terror continues to grip Haiti plunging the violence-wracked Caribbean island-nation deeper and deeper into anarchy and mayhem.

Criminal gangs who occupy large swathes of Haiti, control most of the capital Port-au-Prince, and on Monday, 1 April. they even attempted to occupy the National Palace and reportedly managed to take control of the largest general hospital in the capital.

Extremely difficult situation

At least half of the health facilities in Port-au-Prince are either closed or functioning below normal capacity. Among them is the Foyer San Camillo run by the Camillian Fathers located in La Plaine, in the gang-controlled municipality of Croix de Bouquet on the outskirts of the capital.  “The situation is extremely difficult, for us and for the patients we assist”, says its director Father Robert Daudier.

Speaking to Vatican News’ Benoit Harel, the Camillian priest explained that the compound is completely besieged by bandits. The hospital’s staff manage to exit the facility to fetch fuel, oxygen tanks and other vital provisions for the patients only after exhausting negotiations with the gangs. Also, for safety reasons, several healthcare workers residing in other neighbourhoods, are forced to sleep in the facility.

We live by the day

“We live by the day and try to make do with what we have until we are offered the opportunity to go out and get what we need,” Fr. Daudier said.

Furthermore,  the hospital staff works under constant threats from gang members despite treating also wounded bandits:  “They are extremely aggressive with us,” he said.

Haiti has long been gripped by gang warfare but the violence has dramatically increased since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, and over the past months the conflict has surged to an unprecedented level as gangs vie for control of the capital.

300 gangs operating in Haiti

There are approximately 300 active criminal gangs in the island, among which several have formed alliances. The most notorious one is the G9 Alliance, a coalition of nine criminal gangs established and led  by Jimmy Chérizier, a former police office,  better known by his nickname "Barbecue.  Its primary source of revenue is extortion of "protection money" and abductions for ransom. Furthermore, the G9 has usurped control over essential public utilities, including the distribution of electricity and water.

According to a report from the UN's Interational Organization for Migration, between March 8 and 27, 53,125 people left Port-au-Prince, joining the Caribbean nation's 116,000 people already displaced in recent months.  

Church heavily affected by the new wave of violence

Local Church institutions and activities have also been heavilly affected by the violence. After the reiterated failed attempt to occupy the National Palace, on Monday, 1 April, gangs targeted the Petit Séminaire Collège Saint Martial, a Catholic institution, administered by the Fathers of the Holy Spirit, commonly known as Spiritans.  Early in March the "St. Francis de Sales" Catholic hospital in Port-au-Prince had been attacked  by armed groups.

Bringing a message ofhope for a better future in Haiti

Asked about his role as a priest at this time of distress for Haiti, Father Daudier, remarked that it is important that men of God like him make suffering Haitians feel there are people who have faith and can give hope to others by serving and giving advice. 

“As a pastor, when I speak to people,” he said, “I try to convey hope for a better future. We must not abandon these people, we must find a way forward.”

“I believe in the Providence of God and I think I must serve others with words and actions,” he added.