Members of the St. Michael's Haiti Committee have learned not to say “it can’t get worse”.  Conditions in Haiti have been deteriorating for several years with the rise of gang activity, the assassination of Haiti’s president, the collapse of the government, multiple natural disasters and the rise of citizen kidnappings. Haiti has a centralized economy with most goods going through Port au Prince (PAP), which has become a battleground between rival gangs.  Shipments of goods out of PAP and throughout the country, including food and fuel, have been blocked by gangs who control the city.  Inflation has run rampant along with the scarcity of all basic products.

The troubles have metastasized into the country side.  The small community of Torbeck where St. Paul’s School is located, five miles from the city of Les Cayes, has been directly affected by the chaos.  Protests and violence have gripped Les Cayes  and brought the region to a standstill.  Locale Haitians in Torbeck have essentially no access to food, fuel and water and are afraid to leave their homes.  After weeks under these conditions, St. Paul’s parishioners are literally starving.

St. Paul’s priest, Father Fred Menelas reluctantly contacted the St. Michael’s Haiti Committee with a desperate plea for help.  The committee responded quickly authorizing $10,000 for food relief.  Lackson Chery, the St. Paul’s facility manager, scouted the road between Torbeck and Les Cayes and when it was clear, Father Fred and Lackson quickly travelled to Cayes and purchased food supplies.  Father Fred and Lackson plan to distribute food (rice, beans, oil and spices) on Saturday.  Saturday’s are sometimes  informal 'truce-day” were people can leave their houses and get supplies, if available. Most people cannot afford the inflated prices, leaving them without food, water and fuel.