Armed groups now control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, including key roads leading in and out of the city, making it nearly impossible for people to find safety.
For the past 14 years, Rose, a humanitarian worker with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has been on the ground, helping the most vulnerable and has witnessed the toll of the crisis firsthand.
“Whenever I think back to a workday in the field, the first image that comes to mind is the suffering of families, the degree of vulnerability of these disadvantaged people living in inhumane conditions.
An IOM staff member greets displaced people at an aid distribution site.
It breaks my heart to see children, infants, mothers and elderly fathers arriving at displacement sites after fleeing different places due to gang conflicts. Their struggle to feed their families and the precarious conditions in which they sleep deeply affect me.
What pains me most as a humanitarian worker is sometimes realising that we are unable to fully meet the needs of these vulnerable people who rely entirely on humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, funding and resources are limited.
As a humanitarian worker I’m looking for a balance between the amount I invest emotionally in my work and the need to step back to protect my mental health.
I take care of myself by engaging in activities like music, sports, meditation, or any other pastime that relaxes me.
One smile at a time
Since my teenage years, I have always had a passion for working in the humanitarian field.
A displaced mother tends for her baby in a former school in downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
IOM has helped many displaced children and youth gain access to education, giving them learning opportunities and supporting their personal development.
I firmly believe in the possibility of positive change, even in the most desperate situations.
Every small improvement in people’s situation, every smile I see reinforces my conviction that what I do is meaningful.
For example, many people have been able to access safe and secure housing through IOM’s assistance, improving their living conditions and providing a more stable environment for their families.
I met a mother who told me that leaving the displacement site brought her immense joy.
For her, it was not just about having a roof over her head – it was about reclaiming her dignity.
Cité Soleil in downtown Port-au-Prince is one of the most dangerous places in the Haitian capital.
Raising her children, especially her young daughters, who had almost no privacy when they were sleeping and showering had been her biggest daily struggle.
Her story deeply moved me and reinforced my commitment to working tirelessly to support these families who are in such great need of our assistance.
‘Listen to the voices of the forgotten’
Haiti, this land of resilience and courage, is today facing overwhelming challenges and unimaginable suffering. Our children cry, families struggle and I see the broken hearts of people who face the indifference of the world around them.
I implore you, the world, to open your eyes to Haiti’s reality. Look beyond the numbers and statistics. Listen to the voices of the forgotten, crying out in the silence of distress. Haiti needs your solidarity, your compassion.
Together, let us make the echo of hope resonate across Haiti’s valleys and mountains.”
