Antenor Farmine School classes in the middle city of Hathi are now full of children’s moans, dishes and overnight whispers, not from children’s studies.
More than 700 displaced people have taken shelter in this dilapidated building. These people now sleep on the same floor where the kids were multiplied.
These people include Ednes DG who is a former teacher and trained accountant. He believes that education can become the most powerful path of peace and prosperity for this overwhelmed Caribbean country.
In March 2025, the violence began in Sout-Dw and Mirbalis changed his entire life. They were among those 6,000 people who escaped from murder, rape, robbery and arson.
He said, “Everything I have done in years of years, everything was destroyed. I left completely empty.”
Portia Port-O-Prince, the capital of Heoti, has been occupied by violent groups. However, recently, their influence has begun to spread to the rural region, where cities like Henchha and Sout-DU are located.
Edenses got shelter in the same school where he once taught the kids – but now that school has lost its original identity.
The tables kept in the school have now turned into bed and classes have turned into refugee camps. The families trapped in the crowd are forced to stay in the room that has never been created for people to survive.
And nevertheless, in this crowd, the Edans made a new beginning – not only for themselves, but also for the children around themselves. He again began to teach children with a whiteboard, a marker and deep loyalty.
He says, “I like to teach me from childhood. This is the most important thing to me. I will continue to teach them until these kids are with me – this is their real opportunity.”
Uncertainty
Adness Djir, who once dreamed of moving his small business at a time, is now living in uncertainty. “That dream is over now. Violence has changed everything now I have to go somewhere else I have to start my life again … but I will share knowledge as long as I am here.”
Now every day is a new challenge for him.
He explained, “I can’t make any more plans. Every day brings new difficulty. And I think every night – while sleeping at night, I think you will get food tomorrow.”
Contains plenty of water and food. Women and children wait a few hours in a long queue standing in heavy containers.
Toilets and bathrooms are not equal – clean -clean crisis is becoming serious, especially for children and elders.
The condition of the food is equally uncertain. “There are many nights when I have to sleep without an empty stomach. Yet I teach – because these kids are with me,” she said.
It is not easy to provide relief to displays. The main road between the port-o-prince and the hunter is closed due to insecurity, causing the supply routes to be cut off and the entire community is cut off from the outside world.
In these difficult situations, the United Nations International Migration Institute (IOM), 17 relief camps, tents, blankets, dishes and water cans have assisted more than 800 families.
IOM parties are working at the ground level with the local administration, community and displaced, to understand the needs of the people and provide necessary assistance.
Also, local committees are being trained for conducting camps, the maximum insecure camps are being transferred to safe places and mental health assistance is also being provided.
Rich protection is necessary
“This crisis situation, these children do not have their own choice, but now they have to deal with it. So I think education is their largest defense.”
When violence takes away the opportunities for education, when the family breaks and when sensitivity is prevalent – spreading education becomes a resistance to peace.
“If we want a change we need citizens who can think better. I don’t know if my job is enough then this is what gives me life aims yes yes, I think I need to leave them one day.”