Stories
January 14, 2025 • 2 min read
Communities in Port-au-Prince have been severely impacted by Haiti's ongoing security crisis. Criminal gangs have terrorised local communities, conducted kidnappings, assassinations, sexual violence, and theft. Gangs have also blocked vital humanitarian corridors in the city, restricting access for aid agencies. Corridors such as the #8 national road which links the Ganthier and Fonds Parisien zone to the metropolitan area. Regaining access to these humanitarian corridors is crucial.
In July, an attack by the 400 Mawozo gang displaced over 20,000 people in Ganthier. This ruthless attack targeted public buildings such as the police station, customs office and homes – plunging the area further into crisis. With local communities desperate for humanitarian assistance, aid efforts have long been hindered by ongoing insecurity, armed clashes, and barricades blocking access to the area.
Reaching out to local communities
Responding to these challenges, GOAL teams reached out to local stakeholders (community leaders, the Haitian National Police and resistance groups) to establish a humanitarian corridor. Previous attempts to operate in this corridor were unsuccessful. Fortunately, GOALies had formed positive working relationships with communities in Ganthier responding to the 2022 cholera crisis. This familiarity proved crucial in earning trust and regaining access to this vital corridor.
Despite this proactive engagement, GOALies continue to encounter significant barriers to reach communities in need. In October, teams were held up by roadblocks and armed groups who questioned the mission’s purpose and threatened to deny access. Fortunately, diplomacy prevailed – GOAL staff were able to convince the group and proceeded to deliver 503 hygiene kits to hundreds of people in the Ganthier. With living conditions deteriorating rapidly, the hygiene kits will help prevent the spread of disease and restore dignity to local families.
Now that access has been restored, with support from UNICEF, GOAL teams are expanding a WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) programme in the Ganthier area.
GOAL’s humanitarian aid delivery arrives in the Ganthier
Establishing a humanitarian corridor
This initiative not only addressed immediate needs but also created a vital humanitarian corridor along Route Nationale #8, enabling partners agencies and charities to reach communities in need. In November, GOAL teams successfully facilitated a follow-up mission extending to the Haitian-Dominican border, further demonstrating the strategic importance of this access.
Commenting on the successful, yet dangerous mission, Dieudonne Leroy, GOAL Haiti’s Head of Safety, said “The population of Fond Parisien have expressed deep gratitude, emphasizing that GOAL was the first organisation to carry out such an activity in the area in such a complicated context.”
Ernso Jacinte, GOAL Haiti’s Humanitarian Access Manager, concluded, “Beneficiaries have encouraged state authorities to continue collaborating with GOAL to deliver assistance in Fond Parisien. They have acknowledged the bravery of GOAL staff – staff who risked their lives to provide aid and have requested additional support, including food assistance and sanitation activities, which are urgently needed in the community.”
As gang violence and insecurity continues, humanitarian access remains an ongoing challenge across Haiti. Fortunately, GOAL teams are using their extensive experience to build trust, regain access and deliver vital support to communities in need.
