By Jenny Jenkins

Civil unrest and violence are not new to Haiti.  Over the years, the country has had many such struggles. The difference this time is how long it has lasted and without any hint of an end in sight.

Because of the current conflict the usual supply lines are blocked and the gang control of available routes is costly. Drivers and distributors have to pay high “tolls” to get their products through the gang-controlled area or take a chance and try to go around the gang-controlled roads. So, when transport and delivery costs go up, food prices go up as well.  

In the countryside, folks are struggling to make ends meet. At Port Au Prince jobs are not accessible and the usual opportunities are not available to bring in money for the household. Since the pandemic shutdown, over three years ago, many humanitarian programs have not resumed. Our ministry has been able to feed school kids in the mountains through the generous contributions of another organization that packages nutritionally enhanced rice meals but even they are struggling to get their product through the gang territory. One container load was hijacked and stolen in transport. There are many challenges during this time of unrest. People in the countryside don’t have money to buy food as they used to. With supply lines disrupted they can’t get their produce to market at a reasonable cost and just don’t have the money coming in to make those ends meet.

In recent months, through the blood pressure and diabetes follow up clinics we hold on the mountain region, I have observed that the folks are losing weight. I have talked with the church leaders about the growing food insecurity and cost of food. To put it bluntly, folks are hungry. They can’t afford to eat what they used to, food is available but inaccessible due to its cost. And I can see the physical effects on them just looking. Their faces are very revealing. These are folks that I have known and worked with for the past 13 years.  What comes to my mind is the scripture in John 21:17 …”Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep…” Jesus said “feed my sheep”. These are His sheep…

Let’s feed them! But, how?

As we work in partnership with and through the local church, church leaders’ input is invaluable. Meeting with leaders and looking at the need, discussing how to best meet the need without creating a new dependency is a priority. The plan is to address it through cooperation and collaboration with the local church leaders. One strategy is to put together feeding kits including staple goods such as rice, beans, oil, corn and other items to feed a family of four for about a month. These kits would be distributed through the local church to church families and, as an outreach ministry of the local church, to other families outside the church so that they may come to know the love of Christ in a tangible way.

Jenny Jenkins is a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel who has been serving in Haiti since 2008. Learn more about her ministry at cbf.net/jenkins.