Within Haiti’s chaos, a mission of mercy fulfilled with rescue of orphans | Opinion

the Miami Herald Editorial Board
·2 min read
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Here’s some good news from Haiti.

While the ravages of gang violence and political instability have inflicted untold hardship upon that nation, it’s heartening that the needs of some of its most vulnerable citizens — a group of poor, disabled, orphaned children — have been answered.

Good news indeed.

After facing supply shortages and threats to their lives from the violent gangs that have taken over much of Haiti, the children were deemed dispensable by the ruthless gangs, who robbed and ransacked their orphanage.

But help finally arrived on Thursday when the 59 orphans and their caregivers were taken out of harm’s way and evacuated to safety in Jamaica.

The HaitiChildren orphanage has been appealing for months to Haitian authorities to get the kids out. Since September, Miami Herald Caribbean Correspondent Jacqueline Charles has been tracking and detailing for South Florida readers those unsuccessful efforts.

For children who have already endured so much, the harrowing conditions in Haiti had grown dire — with children reportedly dying due to blocked roads that preventing the child from reaching medical care. Yet, as the country teeters on the edge of disaster, help arrived through the unrelenting efforts of individuals committed to protecting innocent lives.

Susie Krabacher, founder of HaitiChildren, refused to abandon the children entrusted to her care despite immense challenges. Working with diplomatic and religious figures, she spearheaded the months-long campaign to relocate the orphans.

The group will now be housed at Mustard Seed Communities, an internationally renowned Catholic charity in Kingston, until they can return to a safer Haiti.

Krabacher’s determination shows us what humanitarianism can look like, and that those with means and influence can and should aid society’s most vulnerable.

The Jamaican government also answered the call for compassion by opening their doors to shelter the children. And the religious charity, Mustard Seed Communities, opened its doors, understanding that such acts of goodwill can make an immense difference in an increasingly fractured world.

They remind us that mercy can triumph where politics fail. Those who worked hard to save those most in need showed great humanity.