TEA, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – In March, four South Dakota-based ministries who all work in the nation of Haiti came together to pray for the country as it faced turmoil from gangs uniting in rebellion against their Prime Minister, leaving innocent people caught in the middle.
Since then, ministries have faced hardship caused by the gang presence, instability and violence. Many lives have been lost since the rebellion began, including two American missionaries at the end of May. Few have been able to leave the country, but one family who works with Haiti Alive made it out and has been temporarily visiting South Dakota, staying with Executive Director and Co-founder of Haiti Alive, Bruce Blumer.
On Sunday, the Hyppolite family spoke to members of Invitation Church in Sioux Falls about what has been happening in the country. William and Nathalie Hyppolite are both physicians and they live on La Gonave Island. While the island is close to the Haitian capital of Port Au Prince, where gangs have a stranglehold, they’re separated enough from immediate danger. However, William said that when they need to travel to the mainland for supplies, they encounter gangs and he recalled a time when he was interrogated by two gang members.
“You usually take the boat to go to La Gonave,” explained Dr. William. “Now, it’s under control of the gangs and they have my name as a person of interest because I’m working for the Haiti Alive as a physician and we are building houses. They put my name on the list, they have to find and capture him because they think they can get a lot of money from me. It’s like an interview, but they had guns. The people who stopped me didn’t know who I was and I let them know I had to go to Saint Marc and I would go back quick. I don’t know if they trusted me or not. They just let me leave. One hour after, the captain of the boat called me to let me know to not go back because there was ten people with guns waiting.”
With gangs occupying the airport in Port Au Prince, the only way out of the country is taking a helicopter to the Dominican Republic and then catching a flight to America. Nathalie left Haiti to give birth to their second child, Hope. When Nathalie left, she was the only physician left at the clinic where she worked because other employees or patients could not travel past the gangs to get there. Nathalie is able to stay in the United States. through a special work visa program. William and their son Nathan stayed back in Haiti until last month when they were able to get out on visas. They were able to take the method of a helicopter, then a plane to the United States.
“I’m here right now. I don’t know for how long, but we will see. We also have a new government in Haiti. We hope that things are going to get better,” Dr. William described.
Traveling from town to town or out of the country is difficult and dangerous because of the gangs. The Hyppolites know of a college who was shot in the leg Saturday and another colleague had their mother kidnapped earlier on Sunday. Te Hyppolites feel like they were fortunate to get out of the country and will wait things out.
“For now, it’s like every city is locked down,” said Dr. Nathalie. “To pass you have to pay gangs or to be kidnapped.”
When the gangs kidnap individuals, they call the family of the hostage to ask for large sums of money. The Hyppolite family heard stories of a kidnapped individual being held for 300,000 USD, while the family of the hostage is only paid 300 USD per month. They hear stories of captured individuals being beaten by gang members. The gangs steal food and money, causing even further problems for innocent Haitians because they don’t risk traveling, but need food.
The Hyppolites miss home and wish to be in La Gonave helping, but it’s too dangerous to go back right now. It’s up to the new government to restore order. The new government was formed just this past week and recently appointed a new police chief to do more to protect their officers. Back on La Gonave Island, Haiti Alive has six workers still taking care of their school, village and clinic for the time being.
”Haiti Alive is making a big difference in the life of those people and now their situation is very difficult to have food and even though we have money, we can’t buy food or make them come to La Gonave,” Dr. Nathalie said.
Haiti Alive is asking for prayers for security and a peaceful end to the struggle in Haiti along with food for their village in the meantime.
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