He and others spoke with Eline Joseph, who works for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Port-au-Prince with a psychosocial support group for people displaced by violence and insecurity.
She talked to UN News about her work life and supporting her family.
“I must say that my job is becoming more and more difficult because I cannot move freely and take care of displaced people, especially those located in red zones, which are too dangerous to visit.
Daily life continues on the streets of Port au Prince, despite the unrest.
The insecurity in Haiti is unprecedented – extreme violence, attacks by armed gangs, kidnappings. No one is safe. Everyone is at risk of becoming a victim. The situation can change every minute, so we must always be vigilant.
Loss of identity
Recently, I met a farming community forced from their fertile land in the hills outside Petionville due to gang activity. [a neighbourhood in the southeast of Port-au-Prince] where they grow vegetables.
One of the leaders told me how they had lost their way of life, how they could no longer breathe the fresh mountain air and live off the fruits of their labor. They are now living in a displaced persons area with people they do not know, with little access to drinking water, proper sanitation, and the same food every day.
He told me that he was no longer the same person, that he had lost his identity, which he said was all he owned in the world. He says he doesn’t make any sense anymore.
I have heard a number of desperate stories from men who were forced to watch their wives and daughters being raped, some of whom were HIV positive. These men could do nothing to protect their families and many felt responsible for what happened. A man said he felt worthless and had suicidal thoughts.
Workers from the United Nations’ local NGO partner, UCCEDH, assess the needs of displaced people in downtown Port-au-Prince.
I heard children waiting for their fathers to come home, fearing that they might have been shot to death.
Psychological support
Work on IOM group, we provide psychological first aid to people in distress, including individual and group sessions. We also make sure they are in a safe place.
We offer relaxation sessions and recreational activities to help people relax. Our approach is people-centered. We take into account their experiences and introduce elements of Haitian culture, including proverbs and dances.
I also organized counseling for the elderly. One woman came up to me after the session to thank me and said that it was the first time she had had the opportunity to express the pain and suffering she was experiencing.
Family life
I also have to think about my family. I was forced to raise my children within the four walls of my house. I can’t even take them out for a walk just to get some fresh air.
When I have to leave the house to go shopping or go to work, my five-year-old daughter looks me straight in the eyes and makes me promise that I will return home safe and sound. This makes me very sad.
One day, my 10-year-old son told me that if the president, who was murdered at home, is not safe, then no one is safe. And when he said that and told me that he had heard that the bodies of murdered people were being left in the streets, I really had no answer for him.
At home, we try to have a normal life. My children practice playing musical instruments. Sometimes we will have a picnic on the porch or go to the movies or sing karaoke.
With all my heart, I dream that Haiti will once again be a safe and stable country. I dream that displaced people can return to their homes. I dream that farmers can return to their fields.”
