Advisory: Upheaval in Haiti

July 8, 2021 — Gunmen assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and wounded his wife in a July 7 raid on their home. This is all happening at a time when Haiti is experiencing economic, political and social distress. Compassion’s programs may be interrupted temporarily.

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, and his wife wounded, after a July 7 raid on their home. Details around the assassination are slim, and the succession plan for the Haitian president has been thrown into turmoil because of COVID-19 and political uncertainty. This is all happening at a time when Haiti is experiencing economic, political and social distress, with gang violence spiking in Port-au-Prince, inflation out of control and food and fuel becoming scarce. As a precautionary measure, Compassion Haiti offices have been temporarily closed, but all our Haitian staff are safe. The Haitian government has declared a state of siege, closing the border for travel and imposing martial law. This means Compassion’s programs may be temporarily interrupted. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, church-based program gatherings were already limited in Haiti. Compassion will continue to deliver food and hygiene kits and check on families — either virtually or in person — as allowed.