As Haiti experiences rising levels of gang violence and political instability, members of the Haitian diaspora in the United States are volunteering to assist Haiti, with many calling their donations ‘very generous’.
The nation has seen a rise in kidnappings, shootings, and other violent crimes in recent months, and armed gangs control significant portions of several urban areas. A string of political problems have further deteriorated matters, especially after President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021 and subsequent maneuvering for control of the government.
In this crisis, Haitian citizens living in the United States have been mobilizing themselves to help their country’s people with humanitarian aid, financial aid, and other resources. Some have encouraged diaspora donations to help deliver sorely needed medical resources. They have brought medical supplies by plane and ferry and have even collaborated in the defense against some of the violence.
‘The diaspora’s response has been phenomenal, not surprising…Despite their challenges in the US, Haitian-Americans have been very generous to the Homeland,’ said Jean Pierre, a Haitian-American activist living in Miami. ‘This suffering the Haitian people are going through is heartbreaking.’
The diaspora, for example, has organized grassroots teams to provide humanitarian aid to the most affected communities by delivering food, medicines, and other basic supplies to Haitian refugee camps.
Moreover, Haitian-Americans have been using their networks and contacts in the United States to mobilize attention to the situation in Haiti and push for international assistance. Individuals and organizations have been using social media, holding public events, and lobbying by drawing upon their transnational connections and American citizenship to elevate the voices of those calling for peace, security, and justice in their home country.
‘The solidarity and the support of the Haitian diaspora are what helped draw attention to what was happening to our people,’ said Marie Célestin, the Haitian-American leader of New York City’s community-based human rights organization called ABOW-NY (Action for Bordeaux-Aveyron-World). ‘We just don’t want to be bystanders when our brothers and sisters are suffering, and we want to maintain solidarity with Haiti and improve the way our future is.’
They refuse to give up on Haiti, and it’s not just about their roots, the efforts they pour into keeping alive the rich history of a culture and a language, or even about the people they miss. It’s about their determination to do something to help fix what breaks down, crushed, and is on the brink of extinction. They proudly bear the stormy skies of Haiti on their shoulders and the constant beating of the sun on their hearts. Their pain is real, yet their resilience, compassion, and determination shine brightly against the suffocating clouds of adverse conditions.
Source: www.usatoday.com March 14, 2024
