One of the hardest parts of the current situation is the toll it’s taking on Haiti’s most vulnerable.

In the past few days, we have seen more gas stations open, however the crisis period is not over. It is still extremely difficult to get fuel, long lines can last an entire day, some people even leave their vehicles in the line overnight. Everyone’s goal is to fill up their vehicles and reserve recipients because the concern is that the fuel shortage may worsen again in the upcoming days because more fuel trucks and drivers were kidnapped last week. This continues to break the system for all supplies.

Sadly, the impact of the situation in Port-au-Prince is deeper than one can imagine. Even though the provinces may not be directly affected by the action of the gangs, the stoppages put the most vulnerable population even at a greater risk. For instance a single mom who borrows funds at high interest to start a small rice business – she buys a 27.5 lbs sack of rice and she resells it by cups. Everyday, she must sell a few cups of rice in order to guarantee a meal for her family. With the current situation, she is unable to go sell her rice, and she has no choice but to dip into the rice in order to keep her children alive. After couple days of the lockdown, even if she is able to sell the rest of the rice, due to the increased cost of the rice sack she is not able to purchase another sack of rice and in the midst of all this she must repay the loan with interest. She might never fully recover from this – her only source of income was vanished in a matter of days.

Thank you for your prayers for Haiti. Our God is our only hope.
Juska and Jona