WCC Executive Committee statement on Haiti

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
James 5:11

The Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches, meeting in Cyprus on 21-26 November 2024, calls all WCC member churches to prayer and Christian solidarity with the people of Haiti. We pray for God’s compassion for the people of this troubled land, and an answer to their cries.

Though burdened throughout its history by the legacy of colonialism, slavery, and recurrent occupations by the United States of America, Haiti has also been a beacon of freedom for those suffering these oppressions. Haiti became the first sovereign state in the Caribbean, the second republic in the Americas, the first country in the Americas to officially abolish slavery, and the only country in history established by a revolt by enslaved people. However, its people have been ground down by the imposition of oppressive and illegitimate reparations to France, and have suffered through generations of political instability, war, international isolation, and the brutal dictatorial rule of the Duvalier family (1957–1986). The Haitian peoples’ suffering has been compounded by recurring natural disasters and outbreaks of disease. In 2024, Haiti has faced severe economic and political crises, escalating gang violence, and the collapse of its government and its institutional infrastructure, resulting in the breakdown of social cohesion.

As reported by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), currently approximately 5.5 million Haitians require humanitarian assistance. Extreme violence perpetrated by armed gangs is extending to more parts of the country as the Government’s presence continues to erode. The increasing violence exacerbates the persistent lack of essential basic services. Hospitals and schools operate intermittently at best. People are afraid to go to work, individuals in need of medical care avoid seeking treatment and parents are reluctant to send their children to school, fearing stray bullets or kidnappings. An estimated 1 million children are out of school, heightening the risk of gang recruitment for half a million children who reside in gang-controlled areas. Hospitals and public institutions are becoming targets, as are the professionals who staff them. Many are displaced and are leaving the country. And as so often, women bear the disproportionate burden of the surge in violence in Haiti. Rape cases increased by 49% from January to August 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. 

“The earth is given into the hand of the wicked” (Job 9:24). “I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me” (Job 30:20).

The mandate of a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti has recently been extended by the UN Security Council for a further 12 months, and we deeply appreciate the contributions of personnel to this mission especially by Kenya and Jamaica.

The Executive Committee:

1. Calls on WCC member churches, ecumenical and interfaith partners worldwide – and especially in the United States of America and France – to:

• Offer persistent and fervent prayers for Haiti, especially for those affected by violence, displacement, and systemic injustice.
• Help raise awareness of the situation in Haiti, which is too often forgotten or ignored.
• Engage in advocacy efforts urging their governments to take constructive actions to address Haiti’s humanitarian and political crises, including sustained support for peacebuilding efforts.

2. Requests the WCC general secretary to:

• Consult with Haitian churches, ACT Alliance, specialized ministries, and other relevant partners to discern and implement effective ways for the WCC to support the ministry of the churches in this context and to express solidarity with the Haitian people.
• Advocate for the international community to provide robust and coordinated support for Haiti, including through increased personnel and funding for the Multinational Security Support Mission and its transformation into a UN peacekeeping mission – as requested by the Haitian authorities – and further efforts to stabilize governance, rebuild institutions, and address humanitarian needs.

3. Encourages ecumenical partners, specialized ministries, and UN system entities to:

• Expand humanitarian assistance to those affected, prioritizing food security, education, medical care, and protection for vulnerable populations, especially women and children.
• Support programmes that strengthen the resilience of local communities, foster social cohesion, and address root causes of violence and poverty.