November 20, 2024: As the turmoil in Haiti continues to escalate, Lifeline Children’s Services is grieved by the impact that the instability is having on vulnerable children and families. The situation in Haiti is nothing short of tragic. For decades, the country has been burdened by natural disasters, poverty, corruption, and escalating gang violence.
Given the ongoing deterioration of conditions on the ground, it is understandable that the U.S. government has imposed a travel ban. However, we must not overlook the thousands of vulnerable children, many of whom are orphans, who call Haiti home. Hundreds of these children have already been matched with U.S. families through intercountry adoption, eagerly awaiting the chance to join their new families. As any parent knows, the threat of danger does not deter you from protecting or rescuing your child.
We urge the U.S. State Department to work with the Haitian government, the government of the Dominican Republic, and other international partners to find a solution that will expeditiously allow these children to be reunited with their families, even amid the unrest.
