Jamaica
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Highlighting the Realities Faced by Our Children
LATEST NEWS
This page provides a detailed timeline of events, communications, and media coverage related to the interactions between Mustard Seed (MS) and Haiti Children (HC). It includes key moments such as news articles, official letters from both organizations, internal correspondence, and public statements.
The purpose of this timeline is to present a clear and factual account of what has transpired, ensuring transparency and accuracy. This compilation is intended to help media representatives and other stakeholders understand the sequence of events and the context surrounding the conflict between MS and HC.
We believe that sharing this comprehensive overview will support informed reporting and allow for an accurate representation of the situation.
Thank you to the Miami Herald for covering the story of 59 of HaitiChildren's Orphans who needed rescue from Haiti for life-saving medical care.
Haiti gangs take aim at disabled children: ‘Put those kids out of their misery or we will’
October 04, 2023
Dear Supporters,
Born with cerebral palsy and a build-up of fluid in his brain, Wasserman, 7 years old, hadn’t eaten in days when he and two other severely disabled children were rushed from their orphanage outside Port-au-Prince to a hospital in the Haitian capital because they were suffering from uncontrollable seizures.
As they passed a soccer field near a shantytown along a major thoroughfare, their truck suddenly stopped. Heavily armed men had taken over the road and were ordering traffic to turn back.
“The gangs cracked our windshield and threatened to shoot our tires if we didn’t turn around,” said Susie Krabacher, who has been caring for Haiti’s disabled, abandoned and orphaned children since 1994 and was tracking the trip three weeks ago from her home in Aspen, Colorado. “Even though we had a dying kid in the car, they were just laughing at us.”
Effort to move disabled Haiti kids to Jamaica meets resistance; prime minister is silent
September 18, 2023
Dear Supporters,
An effort to transfer dozens of disabled Haitian children to safety in Jamaica, after three died because of escalating gang violence, remains deadlocked, with the head of Haiti’s child welfare agency reprimanding the orphanage for not reporting the deaths and the prime minister remaining silent.
And what little government there is in the country has been unable protect its citizens from the chaos.
Two years after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, the violence in Haiti, by all accounts, grows worse daily.
Haiti’s government must step up and rescue 62 disabled children from gang violence | Opinion
September 20, 2023
Dear Supporters,
Haiti’s gang violence has no shortage of victims: Women and girls who are raped, men and boys recruited into a life of crime, Christian missionaries taken hostage, in fact, an entire nation is under siege.
And what little government there is in the country has been unable protect its citizens from the chaos.
Now, gangs are targeting a new group of vulnerable people: 62 disabled children living in an orphanage called Haiti Children, outside Port-au-Prince. This time, there are ways to protect these most helpless young ones. But Prime Minister Ariel Henry has yet to take charge of finding the best approach.
Haiti Children’s Journey to Jamaica: A
Timeline of Key Events
The Crisis in Haiti Spring 2023
As gang violence and chaos escalated across Haiti, particularly around Port-au-Prince, the children at the HaitiChildren Village faced imminent danger. With the once-thriving village reduced to a ghost town, Susie Krabacher, founder of HaitiChildren, realized that the disabled children in their care were at even greater risk. Gangs had raided, the village multiple times, looting their supplies and threatening the lives of the children, who were unable to flee due to their disabilities. Letters were drafted to the Prime Minister of Haiti and the President of the Dominican Republic, and forwarded to Father Gregory at Mustard Seed via WhatsApp (which was never responded to).
MESSAGE TO FR GREGORY
LETTER TO HAITI PM
LETTER TO DR PRESIDENT
Haiti Children Reaches out for Support | Summer 2023 through January 2024
Susie solicited the help of Senators Bennet and Moreno over the summer months to help with visas for the children - sadly, to no avail - the hope was permission for the children who were most severely disabled to seek medical asylum in Jamaica.
On November 6, 2023 - Arielle Villedrouin of IBESR emailed permission for the disabled to leave Haiti. Due to delays receiving signed approval from the Prime Minister of Jamaica affecting evacuation plans, a young soul was lost and another child placed in medical care at Haiti medical facilities incapable and reluctant to care for them. On December 29, 2023, Susie sent her second plea for Arielle to keep her word in obtaining the signature as promised.
On January 3rd 2024, Susie wrote another plea to the MS sponsors Pascucci and Barnard, sharing with them her January 3rd plea again sent to Madam Villedrouin and her efforts working with Ambassador Luis Moreno seeking the Prime Minister's signed approval to accept the children of Haiti Children into Jamaica.
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The Evacuation Begins | March 2024
After relentless efforts, Susie was granted permission by the Haitian government to evacuate 59 children with special needs, along with 13 caretakers. In March 2024, these children embarked on a 36-hour boat ride, seeking refuge in Jamaica. The rescue operation was harrowing, with gangs attempting to stop the group and hold them hostage, but thanks to the support of organizations like the Sentinel Foundation, Tim Tebow Foundation, and security, the evacuation was successful.
[LINK to VIDEO & PHOTOS OF ARRIVAL IN JAMAICA]
Arrival in Jamaica |
March 25, 2024
Upon their arrival, the children--many of whom are non-mobile--were met with a safe haven provided by Mustard Seed Communities. Susie recalls the overwhelming emotion as the children who could walk ran toward her, while others crawled to her. This moment marked the beginning of a new chapter for the children, far from the violence that had ravaged their home in Haiti.
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Gratitude and Financial Transparency
(April through 2024)
Haiti Children expresses deep gratitude for the support that made it possible to relocate 59 children from the dangerous streets of Haiti to Jamaica, with a letter of special thanks to the Sentinel Foundation and another anonymous donor. A financial report detailing the costs incurred in Jamaica is available here.
Despite initial promises of free care from the Jamaican orphanage, Haiti Children sent $100,000 to support the children. However, the orphanage has refused to provide financial documentation and requested an unjustifiable annual payment of $767,000 in August 2024. These developments have raised serious concerns about the transparency and integrity of the care the children are receiving.
The Rift with Mustard Seed
However, after initially settling in, tensions arose due to the corruption within Mustard Seed Communities. Their mismanagement and ethical breaches led to a rift between the organizations, prompting Haiti Children to seek a more suitable and stable environment for the children. Despite the challenges, Haiti Children remains committed to the well-being of the children and continues to provide high-quality care as we explore new opportunities for a permanent home in Jamaica or elsewhere.
Pictures / Videos of Children Being Mistreated by Mustard Seed
May 12, 2024 -
Bed-bound child beaten with belt by Mustard Seed qualified caregiver
June 8, 2024 - Unsupervised and neglected child suffering after drinking bleach
Small child in mud trying wash
Child in bed covered by flies due to filthy living conditions at Mustard Seed
Piles of trash at the Mustard Seed-maintained facility
Susie Krabacher Denied Entry To Visit Orphans, Leading To Overnight Detainment and Mistreatment
On Susie's second visit to Jamaica on May 8, 2024, she had spent 3 days traveling before being unlawfully detained after receiving videos showing children in advanced stages of malnutrition. A doctor had recommended immediate hospitalization for these children and one had been scheduled for surgery on May 9, 2024, but the orphanage did not act on the recommendation. Instead, the healthier children were showcased publicly, while the 20 most severely malnourished children were kept out of view.
While detained, Susie was subjected to mistreatment after being falsely accused of intoxication, despite airline charges proving no alcohol had been purchased on her flight. They also denied Susie's offer to do a breathalyzer. Susie was manhandled, thrown in a cell, and denied medical care after notifying them of the damage they had done to her wrist.
Her husband had contacted their attorney, Chrishna James, who came to the airport after midnight but was not allowed to see Susie. Mustard Seed had been informed via letter on a Zoom call prior that Susie was coming to Haiti.
Deportation of
Innocent Caregivers
In collaboration with the Jamaican government, the orphanage deported 13 of Haiti Children's caregiving and medical staff, despite prior permission for them to stay. Among the deported was a nurse unjustly imprisoned for five days. These actions have hindered Haiti Children's efforts to establish a safe facility in Jamaica and obstructed medical care for the children. We are collaborating with International Human Rights Attorney, Malene Alleyne to have our staff reinstated. Alleyne, stated: "What we are facing now is a rupture in the rule of law that is extremely serious. These Haitians were stigmatized and returned to Haiti without due process. We need accountability and answers to ensure such violations do not go unchecked."
Continuing Our Mission
Even with the challenges posed by Mustard Seed and the ongoing situation in Haiti, Haiti Children continues to be one of the leading organizations serving abandoned and disabled Haitian children. Our facility in Haiti remains fully operational, and we are determined to continue offering essential services like education, rehabilitation, and care for the children left behind. Our efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of every child under our care are unwavering.
Ongoing Efforts
While the immediate rescue was a success, 34 children and caretakers remained in Haiti due to their non-medical status, Susie and her team continue to work tirelessly to bring them to safety, ensuring that all children under Haiti Children's care receive the protection and support they deserve.
Quote From Our Supporters
We ask you to join us in this fight by continuing to support and believe in our mission. Together, we can protect our children and ensure their stories are heard.
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